Attacking Criminal Networks On the Internet

Hugh Pickens writes "Computer Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University are developing techniques to analyze and disrupt black markets on the internet, where criminals sell viruses, stolen data, and attack services estimated to total more than $37 million for the seven-month period they studied. To stem the flow of stolen credit cards and identity data, researchers have proposed two technical approaches to reducing the number of successful market transactions. One approach to disrupting the network is a slander attack where an attacker eliminates the verified status of a buyer or seller through false defamation. Another approach undercuts the cyber-crooks' network by creating a deceptive sales environment. 'Just like you need to verify that individuals are honest on E-bay, online criminals need to verify that they are dealing with "honest" criminals,' says Jason Franklin, one of the researchers."

Comments

Wht can't criminals be "honest"?

[nate nice]

I've never really understood why there's this belief that criminals have trouble being honest. Often, a criminal is only such because society labels them that way and thus dishonest. But in reality, many of them are very nice people performing honest business transactions (unregulated at that!) for their clients. Many drug dealers, prostitutes, pirates, hackers, etc are very honest people in the sense they aren't scamming their customers. They will provide great value to them in fact.

Supporters of the free market can look to the very successful black market as an example of unregulated trade working well. Often in the black market, as this article eludes to, your reputation is everything. So there is no benefit in ripping someone off.

I've worked with many "honest", good people in my black market transactions.