@article {847, title = {Crimeware Marketplaces and Their Facilitating Technologies}, journal = {Technology Innovation Management Review}, volume = {4}, year = {2014}, month = {11/2014}, pages = {28-33}, publisher = {Talent First Network}, address = {Ottawa}, abstract = {The cybercrime community has evolved from one in which criminals develop their own tools into one in which crimeware {\textendash} tools and services to carry out or facilitate illegal online activity {\textendash} can be readily bought, sold, traded, hired, or licensed in online marketplaces. Crimeware marketplaces are expected to grow significantly in the near term, and they will offer an increasing number of services and tools that target mobile computing devices. This article examines the actors, value chains, and modes of operation in underground crimeware marketplaces, and it identifies three facilitating technologies that are likely to significantly expand the reach of cybercriminals. Anonymous e-currency (e.g., Bitcoin) enables anonymous financial transactions; anonymity networks (e.g., Tor) enable anonymous Internet access; and mobile computing provides access to a very large number of potential target devices. }, keywords = {anonymity, Bitcoin, crimeware marketplaces, cybercrime, dark web, underground economy}, issn = {1927-0321}, doi = {http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/847}, url = {http://timreview.ca/article/847}, author = {Mahmoud Gad} }