High-tech Criminals in Vietnam to Target More of Social Networks

Nguyen Tu Quang, Director of Bach Khoa Internet Security Center (BKIS), said on January 17, 2008 that with blogs, photo and video-sharing websites, and online forums becoming increasingly popular, cyber criminals find them ideal to launch attacks from. Vietnam Net reported this on January 18, 2008.

According to the BKIS center's predictions, as Vietnamese people increasingly subscribe to sites for social networking, they will become the preferred targets for hackers this year (2008). The center also said that cyber crime would not only increase in 2008 but would be ever more complicated. Further, hackers might work with security traders to change the security indexes, transaction results, or even release fake information.

Tu Quang said that online miscreants would frequently use social networks to spread illegal information resulting in breach of personal privacy and security of the nation. Hence, he added, service providers like Google and Yahoo! would be required to work with legal enforcement in Vietnam if they intend to expand their presence in the country.

Tu Quang also predicted that rootkits, adware, and spyware would deliberately attack some of the target groups in 2008. Viruses would mainly originate from Windows, Internet Explorer and USB errors, he said.

Director Tran Van Hoa of the High-tech Crime Investigation Division of the Public Security Ministry said that in an emerging high-tech crime, attackers hack into bank databases of developed countries to seize personal account information. Vietnam Net reported this on January 18, 2008.

Following this, the hackers would send someone under a false identity to open fraud accounts with local banks in Vietnam. They would then transfer large amounts of euros or dollars from the hacked accounts to the newly opened accounts and withdraw the funds within hours, Van Hoa added.

The division noted that there was a rise in use of fraudulently acquired credit cards by miscreants in Vietnam for making online payments. In addition, the lack of appropriate legal enforcement made it harder for the cyber crime police department to settle the problem.

According to Tu Quang, cyber crime in Vietnam would be more economically driven and organized, while hackers flaunting their skills would subside.

Related article: Hack.Huigezi Virus Attacks China PCs Rapidly

» SPAMfighter News - 1/30/2008