Buying malware is now easier and cheaper than it ever was, with some tools distributed for free, others offered for a few hundred dollars, and some advanced software being sold for mere $50, according to a report from CyberNews shedding some light on the malware market.
It turns out, one doesn't have to possess any specialized technical knowledge to buy or create malware, as authors usually provide customer support with paid malware tools, including free updates and troubleshooting services. All that is needed is an online wallet with Bitcoin.
The researchers said that many malware marketplaces are easy to find and are open to anyone. The majority of tools offered on such websites are inferior quality, made by amateur hackers. However, there are “invite-only message boards, accessible only via the TOR network and run by veteran Eastern European cybercriminals who offer high-grade products used by serious clientele.”
The malware marketplaces are offering a wide variety of malware ranging from data stealers and banking trojans to ransomware and state-of-the-art modular malware bots. Below is a price list:
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Data stealers: $50 – $100
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Remote Access Trojans (RATs): $800 – $1000
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Barebones modular malware bots: $400 – $600
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Full-package modular malware bots: around $2500
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Banking trojans: $5000
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Ransomware builders: $800 for a month or $2500 for a lifetime subscription
For all above mentioned tool tech support is included in the price, and “almost all premium malware sellers provide buyers with in-depth tutorials and ideas about using their products for technically unskilled buyers.”