'Crime Rings Enlist Hackers To Hijack Trucks' (msn.com)
- Reference: 0180246545
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/11/30/2357209/crime-rings-enlist-hackers-to-hijack-trucks
- Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/crime-rings-enlist-hackers-to-hijack-trucks/ar-AA1R6W0t
Long-time Slashdot reader [1]schwit1 summarizes [2]this article from The Wall Street Journal :
> By breaking into carriers' online systems, cyber-powered criminals are making off with truckloads of electronics, beverages and other goods
>
> In the most recent tactics identified by cybersecurity firm Proofpoint, hackers posed as freight middlemen, posting fake loads to the boards. They slipped links with malicious software into email exchanges with bidders such as trucking companies. By clicking on the links, trucking companies unwittingly downloaded remote-access software that lets the hackers take control of their online systems.
>
> Once inside, the hackers used the truckers' accounts to bid on real shipments, such as electronics and energy drinks, said Selena Larson, a threat researcher at Proofpoint. "They know the business," she said. "It's a very convincing full-scale identity takeover."
"The goods are likely sold to retailers or to consumers in online marketplaces," [3]the article explains . (Though according to Proofpoint "In some cases, products are shipped overseas and sold in local markets, where proceeds are used to fund paramilitaries and global terrorists.")
"The average value of cargo thefts is increasing as organized crime groups become more discerning, preferring high-value targets such as enterprise servers and cryptocurrency mining hardware, according to risk-assessment firm Verisk CargoNet."
[1] https://www.slashdot.org/~schwit1
[2] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/crime-rings-enlist-hackers-to-hijack-trucks/ar-AA1R6W0t
[3] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/crime-rings-enlist-hackers-to-hijack-trucks/ar-AA1R6W0t
Dominic and his crew... (Score:2)
Would be in awe of this. No more having to try to slow down trucks while a guy shoots harpoons into the passenger seat and then jump into the cab to tranquilize the driver and steal the entire truck and trailer!
Modern mafia (Score:2)
"It just fell off the back of a truck, I swear". Yeah okay. Anyway same thing, but with less violence.
What are they stealing? (Score:2)
> such as electronics and energy drinks
I'm pretty sure I don't understand the economics of at least one of these things that make them a theft target -- unlike something that [1]may be making a resurgence [theregister.com].
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2002/10/09/thieves_snatch_163_4_5m/
Re: (Score:3)
They are easy to offload and hard to trace once you get away with the initial theft. Sell to a sketchy local distributor who sells them on to stores (convenience stores, mom-and-pop bodegas, etc.)
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, the energy drinks aren't going to make anyone wealthy, but it's still a payday. The retail value of a trailer full of Red Bull is about $130,000. Figure they'll get maybe 10% of that from some retailer and you clear $13,000, tax free. Low risk, because it's not drugs or guns or whatever. Not bad for maybe a couple hours work.
Re: (Score:2)
Are you crazy?
Red Bull is at least $3/can.
A trailer full of Red Bull is about 70,000 cans. That's around $200K.
Sell for 1/3rd value and you have a good year's tax-free salary from one truckload.
Re: (Score:2)
Eh, make that $370K, do a third Calin's more like $125k or so, tax free, when sold at 1/3 value.
Re: (Score:2)
High value, easily to sell, fungible.
Is anything secure? (Score:2)
The question this raises is whether its only a matter of time before the internet is simply an insecure network where nothing of value can be safely shared.
Re: (Score:2)
No. Nothing is secure.
Nothing has ever been secure. Before the internet and after the internet, security has been an illusion.
Consider pickpockets. They used to go for your wallet. These days, they go for your phone.
In the past, people tried to steal money by altering checks. Now, they send you fake payment links.
What has changed as a result of new technology, is *how* things are stolen, not *whether* they are stolen.
Wait until they are driverless (Score:2)
Canâ(TM)t wait to see what they do once the trucks are autonomous.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes of course, there will be criminals that take advantage of the vulnerabilities of self-driving vehicles, just as they have taken advantage of the vulnerabilities of all technologies that came before. But the automated vehicles will then be equipped with new safeguards and new countermeasures, and the arms race will go through yet another cycle.
Re: (Score:2)
Then wait until they are driverless, armed and trained to shoot.
Fast and the Furious 11 gonna be lit (Score:2)
If their computers don't have RGB lights that make their hacking go faster, I'm going to be disappointed.
Chickens and eggs (Score:2)
Someone around me recently stole an entire truckload of chicken eggs. I think the value was over $1M. They never did find the eggs or the egg thieves, as far as I can remember.
Who drives? (Score:2)
> Once inside, the hackers used the truckers' accounts to bid on real shipments,
So the hackers enter bids in the name of real truckers. Don't these truckers "close the loop" on the paperwork? They didn't bid on that load, so why are they picking it up?
Re: (Score:2)
It depends.
Like anywhere else in the world, some can, some can't.