We all know that the prices of key commodities such as oil, gold, steel and wheat don’t just impact individual business sectors as they fluctuate according to supply and demand: they also power international trading markets and underpin the global economy. And it’s exactly the same with cyber-crime. The prices of key commodities in the cyber-crime economy – such as stolen credentials, hacked accounts, or payment card details – not only reflect changes in supply and usage, but also influence the types of attack that criminals will favor. After all, criminals are just as keen to maximise return on their investments and create ‘value’ as any legitimate business. A recent report gave the current average prices during 2020 for some of these cyber-crime commodities on the Dark Web. Stolen credit-card details start at $12 each, and online banking details at $35. ‘Fullz’ (full identity) prices are typically $18, which is cheaper than just two years ago due to an oversupply...
