Chinese cybercriminals are increasingly targeting mobile users

Chinese Cybercriminals are finding new ways to send malicious apps to mobile users via a vast underground network of tools and services, according to a new report. Such underground forums are thriving worldwide, particularly in Russia, China and Brazil.


Security firm Trend Micro outlines the popular methods used by Chinese gangs to make money from the mobile web.

The Mobile Cybercriminal Underground Market report outlines some of the key businesses operating in this vast and sophisticated network.

GSM modem with 16 SIM card slots:
Cybercriminals often use a GSM modem, a device attached via USB to a computer,A GSM modem can send out thousands of spam text messages every hour to multiple users.

Spam devices:
It includes the selling of premium-rate phone numbers. Such numbers are used in conjunction with malicious apps that reply to text messages and then delete confirmation messages so users end up paying vast sums to cybercriminals without realising. This spam can be used to advertise various products as well as tricking users into visiting malicious websites.

SMS forwarders:
These are Trojans designed to steal authentication or verification codes sent via text messages. They monitor text messages sent from online payment service providers and banks and intercept authentication or verification codes which are then forwarded to cybercriminals.

Boosting apps:
The app-rank boosting services, which can promote a malicious app by creating several dummy accounts to download and write good user reviews for it.

The report concludes: "The barriers to launching cybercriminal operations are less in number than ever. Toolkits are becoming more available and cheaper; some are even offered free of charge.

"Cybercriminals are also making use of the 'deep web' to sell products and services outside the indexed or searchable world wide web, making their online shops harder for law enforcement to find and take down."

- BBC