Cyber Attacks

Evolution of Cybercrime Investigations

July 13, 2024

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Cybercrime costs trillions, rising yearly. Criminals operate globally, teaching their methods. This article explores major cyberattacks from 1962 to 2024 and how investigators use advanced technology to combat them.

Cybercrime is a multi-trillion dollar business with the global annual cost of cybercrime predicted to reach USD 9.5 trillion in 2024 and USD 10.5 trillion by 2025.

With crime masquerading as legitimate organizations in all corners of the globe, some especially bold online criminals teach others to do the same, even offering their services as pop-up ads.

Along with the explosion of cybercrime, are advancements in cybercrime investigation techniques, like those employed by Digital Forensics offering cyber security services.

A Short History of Cybercrime

France claims the first cyber crime, all the way back in 1834 when hackers got into the French telegraph system and stole financial market information. However, it really took off during the 20th century and continues to grow and evolve as the internet and our online lives change and thrive.

As of 2020, billions of dollars have been lost due to cybercrime. As technology continues to evolve, so does the sophistication of cybercrime techniques. In response, investigation measures must also evolve to keep pace. Keep reading to find out about how investigators are doing their best to control crime online.

Here is a historical look into some of the most prominent cyber attacks:

1962 – The MIT database was hacked.

1971 – the first computer virus was created.

1981 – Ian Murphy was the first person convicted of a cybercrime.

1988 – Robert Morris carried out the first major cyberattack.

1989 – the appearance of Ransomware.

1994 – a password sniffer was used for the first time.

1995 – the first hacker tried to rob a bank.

1998 – the U.S. government was hacked for the first time.

1999 – the Melissa virus struck.

2000 – DDoS attacks took down several major retailers.

2000 – the ILOVEYOU virus attacked.

2005 – HSBC experienced a security breach, affecting 180,000 customers.

2008 – The data of 134 million users was compromised when Heartland Payment systems were hacked.

2010 – the first digital weapon Stuxnet worm attacked nuclear plants in Iran.

2010 – the Zeus virus struck.

2010 – Operation Aurora was launched by the Chinese.

2011 – the Sony Corporation was hacked.

2013 – Edward Snowden released sensitive government information from several countries.

2013 – Target Corporation was the victim of a phishing attack.

2013 – Adobe users’ credit card information was released online due to being hacked.

2014 – Celebgate occurs.

2015 – SamSam ransomware appeared.

2015 – Ashley Madison database hacked and released.

2017 – WannaCry affected more than 200,000 Windows devices.

2017 – Facebook and Google employees were tricked into wiring hundreds of millions of dollars to hackers.

2018 – GitHub saw traffic of 1.3 terabytes per second in a DDoS attack.

2018 – Coinhive crypto-jacking attack.

2018 – Marriot Hotels suffered a breach affecting personal data of 500 million guests

2019 – Capital One suffered the largest data breach in history.

2020 – High profile X (Twitter) user accounts included in phishing attack.

2022 – The Government of Costa Rica called a state of emergency after attack by the Conti Ransomware Gang.

2023 – The ongoing MOVEit cyber attack has affected 2000+ organizations and exposed the data of 60 million people.

2024: Ticketmaster suffers data breach via Snowflake vulnerability.

2024 – Hackers steal call logs and text messages belonging to all AT&T customers.

Advanced Cybercrime Investigation Technology

As cybercrime evolves, so too does the practice of counteracting and investigating it. That includes a wide range of crimes, from online blackmail to online sextortion to data theft and much more. With a number of techniques available, there are multiple ways to address the issue.

Memory Forensics

This method involves analyzing RAM to find details like open network connections, running processes, and encryption keys. This allows for an in-depth investigation of cyber crimes while also offering a view of what a system looks like in real time during a cyber attack.

Blockchain Forensics

Criminals use this to commit crimes dealing with cryptocurrency with the response being blockchain technology that traces online transactions so they can be analyzed for malicious activity. Tracking the flow of funds is useful for investigating crimes taking place on the dark web, as well as those that involve ransomware.

Cloud Forensics

Cloud forensics emerged as a way to investigate and track data that is stored in the cloud. Experts can collect, analyze, and preserve relevant evidence when they are investigating online crime scenes.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can be used to go through the infinite amounts of data that can be found online. This is especially helpful for analyzing data as it relates to cybercrime investigations. They can detect anomalies, recognize patterns, and flag potential threats, freeing investigators up for tasks that must be completed by humans.

Threat Intelligence

Integrating threat intelligence techniques into cybercrime investigation is useful for identifying and responding to threats. By being aware of threats as they evolve, as well as attack patterns, experts can shore up their defences and reduce the risk of a cyberattack.

Summary

The same tools used to combat cybercrime are also being used by cybercriminals. For that reason, continued work on improving investigative techniques, as well as staying aware of cybercrime activity offers protection, though nothing is fail-safe, so being cautious online is always important.

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