Darkmarket closed shop recently. If you hadn’t heard from them, don’t worry much. This web site operating from different places worldwide managed to join all sorts of credit card crooks and provided different levels of seller verification, escrow services and malware consulting.

It finally went offline and their owners put in custody thanks to the effort of different law enforcement units throughout the world. It’s in moments like these that the combined efforts of the IT security industry and law enforcement can really be appreciated.

For the cybercriminals, it is of course, just a drop in the ocean, and I’m sure the underground will recover (in fact, it has probably already done so!) but this is definitely a step in the right direction and that feels reassuring.

The arrest of these two individuals, one in London and the other one in Turkey, sends a message to all cybercrooks out there: no matter where you are, you are not above the law.

Source:  TrendLabs

– The Department of Homeland Security Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Computer Emergency Readiness Team has issued a warning about potential e-mail scams and search engine poisoning campaigns that could be circulating regarding the Haitian earthquake disaster.

The scam e-mails might contain links or attachments which might direct users to phishing or malware-laden Web sites. Fraudulent search engine results might return similar malicious Web links to phishing and malware Web sites.

Do not follow unsolicited Web links or attachments in e-mail messages. Maintain up-to-date antivirus software. Review the Federal Trade Commission’s Charity Checklist at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel01.shtm.

Verify the legitimacy of the e-mail by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number. Trusted contact information can be found on the Better Business Bureau National Charity Report Index at www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/national/

Source:  Coshocton Tribune