Exploring and Estimating the Revenues and Profits of Participants in Stolen Data Markets

• NCJ Number: 249774
• Journal: Deviant Behavior Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Dated: February 2016 Pages: 353-367
• Author(s): Thomas J. Holt; Olga Smirnova; Yi Ting Chua
• Date Published: February 2016
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2010-IJ-CX-1676
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Examining the Structure, Organization, and Processes of the International Market for Stolen Data Online

Annotation

Researchers have begun to explore the problem of mass data breaches, where consumer information is acquired by cyber criminals and sold in open markets on-line.

Abstract

Although studies document the social processes of the market and relationships between buyers and sellers, few have considered the revenues earned from market transactions. This study explored these issues using a sample of threads from 10 Russian language and 3 English language Web forums used to sell stolen data. Estimates were generated on the total number of transactions completed by participants along with the advertised prices for the two most common forms of personal information sold. The findings demonstrated that buyers may earn a range of revenues from the sale of stolen data, although this figure was smaller than the potential profits earned from fraudulent use and identity crimes by data buyers. The implications of this study for cyber crime research and policy are explored in detail. (Publisher abstract modified)