Ransomware groups have increasingly become fragmented due to recent law enforcement measures according to data from the latest internet -organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) from Europol.
The 10th edition of the report is investigating important developments, changes and emerging threats in cyber crime in the past year. The 2024 edition describes important issues such as cyber attacks, online fraud and exploitation of children, while future challenges are also predicted with regard to new technologies, cryptocurrencies and illegal online content.
The research emphasizes how the disruption caused by legislative enforcement led to Ransomware groups having rebranding and distribution. This, in combination with frequent removals from dark web forums and market places, has accelerated the fragmentation of cyber threats.
As a result, millions of people throughout the EU are confronted daily risks, including attacks on small and medium-sized companies, digital skimming aimed at e-mercants and banks, and various forms of phishing and fraud. In particular, there is a significant increase in online sexual extortion aimed at vulnerable minors.
The IOCTA 2024 also points out that multi -layered extortion tactics are increasingly prevented, with stolen data being threatened with publication or auction, leading to potential revictimization. The report notes that some perpetrators are younger and increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) to help their activities.
AI-assisted children’s material for children (CSAM) also offers new challenges for law enforcement, because it makes the identification of victims and perpetrators more difficult with changed or fully artificial content.
In addition, the report takes the growing use of cryptocurrencies in various crimes and the complications of the regular end-to-end coding (E2EE) communication platforms.
Read more about the position of Europol about E2EE: End-to-end Coding Sparks Care under EU-Wet enforcement
“To quickly and effectively tackle the most important threats in the IOCTA 2024, law enforcement needs the right knowledge, tools and legislation. While criminals adapt, law enforcement and legislators also have to innovate to stay first and try to capitalize on new and developing technologies,” the agency wrote.
“This in turn requires training to produce the specialized possibilities that are necessary to investigate technically challenging or complex cyber crime, such as those with regard to the abuse of cryptocurrencies or the dark web.”