Computer crimes in former Warsaw Pact countries
Date: February 24, 2004Source: Computer Crime Research Center
By:
Julian Bajkowski, Senior Reporter, Computerworld Australia, questioned Director of Computer Crime Research Center, Dr. Vladimir Golubev.
Julian Bajkowski: Do you think such anti-spam laws are useful and can realistically achieve anything? Do any countries in the East (former Warsaw Pact) have any laws to deal with spam? If so, are they effective?
Dr. Golubev: Anti spam and anti internet crime law will really be efficient only in case when there would be technical opportunity to identify spammer. In the East (former Warsaw Pact) governments have come to understanding of such problem as spam and other computer crimes, though laws are not adopted yet.
Julian Bajkowski: Australia is also working with other countries to establish legal agreements to combat spam. Do you think that agreements in law between countries can provide an effective deterrent to sending spam?
Dr. Golubev: The problem of fighting spam and other cyber crimes (not requested info) cannot be solved without international cooperation. I think that such agreements between countries will be a resulting role in fighting spam.
Julian Bajkowski: Does either Russia or the Ukraine have any anti-spam or anti-cybercrime laws?
Dr. Golubev: Unfortunately, not yet. There is approach to spam and computer crime as a social and anti public phenomenon in Ukraine and Russia.
Julian Bajkowski: From where you sit, where does the majority of spam originate from?
Dr. Golubev:We receive much spam from Nigeria, Russia and the USA. First place (42,6%) is for mails with pills and other medicines ads, second place is for separate item - viagra - 22%. Third place - advertisement of different porn sources and accessories.
Julian Bajkowski: Do you think the level criminal activity in the spam industry has increased recently? How would you describe this criminal activity?
Dr. Golubev: Sure it did increase. Nowadays spam is about 10.2 billion EURO losses or about 25.5 EURO per one user, new report of MessageLabs company. If spammers' activity will grow the same rates, I think, it will be difficult to use e-mail for most Internet users in nearest 6-12 months.
Julian Bajkowski: Russia and the CIS are often identified by anti-virus and computer security companies (eg Symantec) as the original source much of the world's cyber criminality. Do you feel this is true? How do you view the situation?
Dr. Golubev: I do not agree with such statements, i think they are not true.
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