The Intersection of Cybercrime and Human Trafficking

When used as a cybersecurity analogy, pig butchering represents a strategic approach to dissect and secure valuable assets. This threat has become so commonplace that TV show celebrity John Oliver recently dedicated an episode on Last Week Tonight to warning the public about it.

First, let’s delve into pig butchering as it relates to phishing attacks. Phishing attacks often involve fake emails, websites, or messages that appear legitimate, aiming to lure unsuspecting victims into providing confidential information. Phishing tricks individuals into revealing passwords, credit card numbers, or personal data.

Cybercriminals find and fool their victims by extracting valuable data from a sea of digital noise. They employ social engineering techniques to manipulate human psychology, exploiting trust and familiarity to gain access to sensitive information.

Phishing often intersects with human trafficking, creating a multifaceted threat landscape. Cybercriminals frequently exploit human trafficking victims as unwitting tools in their phishing schemes. For example, traffickers may force their victims to participate in phishing campaigns by coercing them to send fraudulent emails or messages that deceive recipients into divulging personal or financial data. Or they force them to participate in romance or other online scams.

The use of human trafficking victims complicates cybersecurity efforts. Victims of human trafficking may be manipulated or threatened into compliance, making it challenging for them to report or resist participating in criminal activities. Local police and government officials may receive payments from the traffickers in return for protection and for turning a blind eye to the plight of the trafficked victims.

This rapidly increasing threat requires a diligent response from organizations to protect their assets and reputations. Phishing is one of many cybersecurity threats explained in our new “Cybersecurity Basics” course. This training details the current cyber threats, how to spot them, and most of all, how to avoid them. It provides best practices to help keep your networks, systems, devices, and data secure. Common risks are described in a friendly, conversational style that educates without overwhelming or getting overly technical.

Ongoing cybersecurity training is a necessity in today’s interconnected world. Contact us today to preview our engaging, easy-to-understand course.