Priya Patel
TLDR:
Key Points:
- A new “Cybercrime Index” ranks countries based on cyber threat level
- Top three countries with highest cybercriminal activities are Russia, Ukraine, and China
A new “Cybercrime Index” has been introduced, ranking countries based on the threat level posed by cybercriminals. The Index reveals that many countries, led by Russia, Ukraine, and China, are the primary hubs for cybercriminal activities globally.
The World Cybercrime Index, developed through a partnership between the University of Oxford, and UNSW, and funded by the European Union-supported CRIMGOV project, provides a detailed ranking of countries based on their cybercrime capabilities and activities. The top ten nations identified as the most threats are Russia, Ukraine, China, the USA, Nigeria, Romania, North Korea, the UK, Brazil, and India.
These experts assessed five major cybercrime categories: technical products/services, attacks and extortion, data/ identity theft, scams, and cashing out/money laundering.
The study maps the current landscape of global cybercrime and sets the stage for future research into the causes behind why certain countries emerge as cybercrime hotspots. The ongoing collection of data will assist in identifying new hotspots and potentially enable early interventions in at-risk countries before a significant cybercrime problem develops.
This pioneering research offers a new tool in the global fight against cybercrime, providing valuable insights into the geographical and contextual factors that foster cybercriminal activities. As cyber threats continue to evolve, such indices will be crucial for international cybersecurity efforts, helping to pinpoint where resources and interventions are most needed.
