Wannabe cyber-criminals in Brazil can receive online training in the dark arts from as little as $46, the only place in the world this is possible, according to new research from Trend Micro.
The security vendor’s latest report in a series on the underground economies of the world concentrates on the South American nation.
Brazil has a highly developed black market historically focused around banking fraud, given the relatively large proportion of the population that bank online (41%).
However, its cyber-criminals are more blatant than their peers elsewhere in the world, the report said.
It explained:
“While Russian and Chinese cyber-criminals hide in the deep recesses of the web and use tools that ordinary users do not such as Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels, Brazilian cyber-crooks use more popular means to commit fraud. Even though the platforms they use such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Skype, and WhatsApp seem more traceable, they appear more effective. Their owners value user privacy and so do not succumb as easily to external pressure, making investigators’ task of going after cyber-criminals tougher to perform.”
Uniquely in the world, budding Brazilian cyber-criminals can also get online training in programming and how to commit fraud, Trend Micro said.
This apparently includes how-to videos and even hands-on training via the dark web.
One provider the security giant discovered was selling training in how to create fully undetectable (FUD) remote access tools like njrat for just R$120 (US$46).
The most popular course is apparently one in online banking fraud which costs around R$1,499 (US$579).
The report continued:
“Another 10-module fraud training course on practically everything cyber-criminal wannabes need to know to start their digital fraud career with the aid of interactive guides and practical exercises (e.g., simulating attacks) is also offered for R$1,200 (US$468).”
Trend Micro’s report, The Brazilian Underground Market, is available to download here.