Brian Krebs just posted a great story covering the recent raid on Chronopay and the effect that raid is having on many scummy operations, most of which are related directly to Chronopay:
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/08/fake ... um+PostingQuote:
On July 2, BestAV, one of the larger fake AV distribution networks, told affiliates that unforeseen circumstances had conspired to ruin the moneymaking program for everyone.
“Dear advertisers: Last week was quite complicated. Well-known force majeure circumstances have led to significant sums of money hanging in the banks, or in processing, making it impossible to pay advertisers on time and in full.”
The disruption appears to be partially due to an international law enforcement push against the fake AV industry. In one recent operation, authorities seized computers and servers in the United States and seven other countries in an ongoing investigation of a hacking gang that stole $72 million by tricking people into buying fake AV.
There may be another reason for the disruption: On June 23, Russian police arrested Pavel Vrublevsky, the co-founder of Russian online payment giant ChronoPay and a major player in the fake AV market.
The whole thing is worth a read.
This is quite the year! (And I said that about the same time last year.)
SiL
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:13 am 
