The Global Cybercrime Industry

This book is about the global cybercrime industry, which according to some estimates, is a US$1 trillion industry and is growing rapidly. It examines economic and institutional processes in the cybercrime industry, provides insights into the entrepreneurial aspect of firms engaged in cyber-criminal activities, takes a close look at cybercrime business models, explains the global variation in the pattern of cybercrimes and seeks to understand threats and countermeasures taken by key actors in this industry. This book's distinguishing features include the newness, importance, controversiality and complexity of the topic; cross-disciplinary focus, orientation and scope; theory-based but practical and accessible to the wider audience; and illustration of various qualitative and quantitative aspects of the global cybercrime industry.

Zusammenfassung
The Internet's rapid diffusion and digitization of economic activities have led to the emergence of a new breed of criminals. Economic, political, and social impacts impacts of these cyber-criminals' activities have received considerable attention in recent years. Individuals, businesses, and governments rightfully worry about the security of their systems, networks, and IT infrastructures. Looking at the patterns of cybercrimes, it is apparent that many underlying assumptions about crimes are ?awed, unrealistic, and implausible to explain this new form of criminality. The empirical records regarding crime patterns and stra- gies to avoid and ?ght crimes run counter to the functioning of the cyberworld. The ?elds of hacking and cybercrime have also undergone political, social, and psychological metamorphosis. The cybercrime industry is a comparatively young area of inquiry. While there has been an agreement that the global cybercrime industry is tremendously huge, little is known about its exact size and structure. Very few published studies have examined economic and institutional factors that in?uence strategies and behaviors of various actors associated with the cybercrime industry. Theorists are also debating as to the best way to comprehend the actions of cyber criminals and hackers and the symbiotic relationships they have with various players.

Inhalt
The Global Cybercrime Industry and Its Structure: Relevant Actors, Motivations, Threats, and Countermeasures.- Simple Economics of Cybercrime and the Vicious Circle.- An Institutional Perspective on Cybercrimes.- Increasing Returns and Externality in Cybercrimes.- Institutional Field Evolved Around Cybercrimes.- Information and Communications Technologies, Cyberattacks, and Strategic Asymmetry.- Global Heterogeneity in the Pattern of the Cybercrime Industry.- Structure of Cybercrime in Developing Economies.- Institutional and Economic Foundations of Cybercrime Business Models.- The Global Click Fraud Industry.- Concluding Remarks and Implications.