Trend Micro supports ICSPA launch as founding member

Trend Micro, a global leader in cloud-based security software and services, is today delighted to announce its membership of, and support for the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance (ICSPA).

The ICSPA brings together businesses, governments and law enforcement officers from all over the world, and by investing in new training an international exchange of expertise will create a powerful network to counter global cybercrime.

It plans to disrupt cybercriminals’ activities by providing law enforcement agencies with more resources, tools and expertise in countries that face the greatest challenges, thus helping them to be more successful in their fight. 

Research from Trend Micro indicates that businesses and individuals face a growing threat from cybercrime. The dangers to enterprise have been amply illustrated this year alone, with intrusions into several major corporations such as RSA, Citibank, Sony, the European Council and Epsilon to name but few. These attacks often result in the theft of valuable intellectual property or customer databases. 

Stolen personal information and financial details are offered for sale in a wide range of underground online forums. The more popular forums often have many thousands of members and also host advertisements for online shop fronts trading in stolen information. These forums operate on a similar basis as legitimate online auction sites where buyers and sellers give and receive feedback in order to establish “trust” before making a purchase. 

Trend Micro's research demonstrates how cheaply cybercriminals sell the proceeds of their activities – and just how much money they can make out of it: 

$800 buys an EU passport

$500 buys a UK driving licence

$80 - $150 buys a credit card “dump” - data that can be written to the chip or magnetic strip

2 cents – 15 cents  buys a credit card blank

$180 million in 12 months is what one gang made from peddling fake security software, designed to fool the victim into believing that their PC is already infected 

This latter scam is a particular growth area for cybercriminals. For the victim it means they unwittingly give away their personal information and credit card details to purchase the bogus software, infect their computer and to make matters worse, pay for it. One such campaign analysed by Trend Micro diverted 300 million visits to the malicious landing pages in just one month. 

"What sets the ICSPA apart from other organisations is the support we receive from industry, government and law enforcement, so we welcome Trend Micro's active participation in supporting us to achieve our goals", said the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Chairman of the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance. 

Anthony O’Mara, Senior Vice President of Trend Micro EMEA, said: “The fight against cybercrime requires a sophisticated and coordinated effort from all those concerned, but it also requires organisations with exceptional expertise to really take the lead. Trend Micro is proud to be a founding member of the ICSPA and applauds the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Prime Minister David Cameron and the other organisations involved for their support for this important initiative.” 

In welcoming the launch of the ICSPA, UK Prime Minister, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP, said: “Our government has already injected an additional £650m to help improve our national infrastructure and protect against cybercrime, but the very nature of this threat calls for more than a national response; it demands a truly global response and that is what the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance is all about. By forging new relationships between businesses, governments and law enforcement officers all over the world, by investing in new training, and by building an international exchange of expertise, the ICSPA is forming a network powerful enough and wide enough, to face down cybercrime.”