In Brazil, cybercriminals operate in plain view

Early in the morning on October 20, over a thousand of Brazil’s federal police carried out arrests across 24 of the country’s 26 states. Dubbed a ‘mega-operation,’ more than one hundred people were charged with participation in a child pornography ring run through the deep web. However, researchers say that while the deep web might be more commonly used for crimes like child trafficking, illicit arms trades, and assassin hire in other parts of the world, it’s not all that common in Brazil.

On the contrary, research from security software firm Trend Micro suggests that Brazil’s deep web doesn’t provide much in terms of a supply of drugs, weapons or child pornography. Its effort is far more concentrated on personal finances and information, according to the firm’s 2015 whitepaper on the topic. More common are offerings of technology including exploit kits and malware for sale, along with technology to intercept payments and payment details as well as information loads that can be used to commit identity theft.

“The focus is principally credit card fraud, as well as banking fraud,” explains Alfredo Oliveira, a threat analyst for Trend Micro in Brazil. Brazilian programmers and hackers working in these areas have ways of siphoning money from accounts...