Fergie's Tech Blog

Russian Business Network: Shadowy Firm Seen as Conduit for Cybercrime

Brian Krebs writes in The Washington Post:

Law enforcement agencies say these kinds of Internet companies are able to thrive in countries where the rule of law is poorly established. "It is clear that organized cybercrime has taken root in countries that don't have response mechanisms, laws, infrastructure and investigative support set up to respond to the threat quickly," said Ronald K. Noble, secretary general of Interpol, an organization that facilitates transnational law enforcement cooperation. He declined to discuss the Russian Business Network specifically.

The company isn't a mainstream Internet service provider, as Comcast and Verizon are. Rather, it specializes in offering Web sites that will remain reachable on the Internet regardless of efforts to shut them down by law enforcement officials -- so-called bulletproof hosting.

Though there are thousands of Web sites that bear the Russian Business Network name on registration records, the company is unchartered and has no legal identity, computer security firms say.

Much more here and here and here.

Note: Brian Krebs gets my praise for this in-depth exposé. Kudos. - ferg

posted by Fergie @ 10/12/2007 08:57:00 PM