Cyber Criminals Frustrated By Russian Crypto Currency Rules

Russian authorities introduced a new law regulating crypto currencies. This law may be connected with the Russian government’s desire to seek control over the Dark Web markets and its ransomware sector that became prolific over the past two years. 

As many of the cyber criminal economy operating from Russia, using crypto currency to transfer wealth this law will effect ransomware gangs in the region.

Recently Russian security services arrested members of the REvil group at the request of the US, and this had an effect on cyber criminals who had spent years viewing Russia as a place where they could victimise foreign targets without punishment. The  new laws may have effects on money launderers employed by criminal bands. 

One key recommendation of the Bank of Russia's is to ban local exchanges as just one means of promoting financial stability, national security and consumer protection.

The Bank of Russia's paper is not largely directed at cyber crime. Instead, it takes a realistic look at the potential dangers of crypto currency on an emerging nations' economies and energy security.  The Bank makes three major recommendations:

  • A complete ban on crypto currency mining in Russia.
  • Shutting down local crypto currency exchanges.
  • Additional penalties to existing laws barring the use of crypto currency to make direct purchases, although it would not prevent the purchase or ownership of crypto currencies from foreign exchanges.

The Bank fears that widespread investing in crypto currency would substantially reduce the national money supply, reducing local investment, and the volatility of the market could wipe out local wealth entirely. 

It also notes that Bitcoin mining presents a risk to its energy security, potentially requiring more electricity than the country is able to create. By establishing the cryto law the Russian government has built a legal base to take over ransomware criminal businesses.

According to research by Recorded Future there are 50 or more crypto-currency exchanges in Moscow City, a financial district in the capital, that in its assessment are engaged in illicit activity. Other exchanges in the district are not suspected of accepting cryptocurrencies linked to crime.

Al Jazeera:      SCMagazine:      Advintel:      NYTimes:  

You Might Also Read: 

Crypto Currency Fraud Costs £Millions:
 

« Google Sued over 'Deceptive' Location Tracking
Is US Cyber Security Actually Improving? »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

National Cyber Security Centre (NKSC) - Lithuania

National Cyber Security Centre (NKSC) - Lithuania

NKSC is the main Lithuanian cyber security institution, responsible for unified management of cyber incidents, monitoring and control of the implementation of cyber security requirements.

Executive Women's Forum (EWF)

Executive Women's Forum (EWF)

The Executive Women's Forum is the largest member organization serving emerging leaders and influential female executives in the Information Security, Risk Management and Privacy industries.

GreatHorn

GreatHorn

GreatHorn offers the only cloud-native security platform that stops targeted social engineering and phishing attacks on communication tools like O365, G Suite, and Slack.

Matta

Matta

Matta is a cyber security consulting company providing information security services and solutions including vulnerability assessments, penetration testing and emergency response.

THEC-Incubator

THEC-Incubator

THEC-Incubator program is designed for international and ambitious tech startups in the Netherlands. Areas of focus include Blockchain and Cyber Security.

BoldCloud

BoldCloud

BoldCloud's award winning Cybersecurity Advisory services and Layered Security approach adds new critical layers of protection for your data and your business.

YesWeHack

YesWeHack

YesWeHack offers companies an innovative approach to cybersecurity with Bug Bounty (pay-per-vulnerability discovered) to identify and report vulnerabilities in their systems.

Scythe

Scythe

SCYTHE is a next generation red team platform for continuous and realistic enterprise risk assessments.

MONITORAPP

MONITORAPP

MONITORAPP is responsible for complete web security. Protect your business environment with Application Security Solutions from MONTORAPP.

Defscope

Defscope

Defscope is an Azerbaijani company entirely focused on cybersecurity offering training, security consulting, and other professional services.

Outseer

Outseer

Outseer is a leading technology company in the fight against payments fraud. Outseer reliably determines authentic customers from fraudulent behavior.

Oxford Internet Institute - University of Oxford

Oxford Internet Institute - University of Oxford

The Oxford Internet Institute is a multidisciplinary research and teaching department of the University of Oxford, dedicated to the social science of the Internet.

Kennedys

Kennedys

Kennedys is a global law firm with expertise in litigation/dispute resolution and advisory services, particularly in the insurance/reinsurance and liability sectors, including cyber risk.

People Driven Technology

People Driven Technology

People Driven Technology is a customer-obsessed organization. We leverage our decades of business, technology, and engineering experience to deliver outcomes for our clients.

View

View

View is the leader in smart building technologies including OT cybersecurity to securely connect buildings to the cloud and manage building networks and OT devices.

Vorlon

Vorlon

Vorlon's agentless patent-pending solution facilitates risk profiling of apps, and provides AI-driven behavioral analytics with response recommendations.