Ranked among the top 10 nations for cybercrime, India and the United States

April 13 :
According to the first-ever 'Cybercrime Index' (WCI) published in the journal PLOS ONE, the United States and India have been named as worldwide hotspots for cybercrime activity. Among the countries most vulnerable to cyberattacks, the United States ranks fourth with a score of 25.01 while India ranks tenth with a score of 6.13. Russian Federation, Ukraine, and China are in that order of importance.

When discussing the results, Dr. Miranda Bruce, who was also a co-author of the study, emphasised how crucial the index is for efficiently allocating resources to counter cyber threats. Cybercrime is prevalent in different parts of the world, and our study sheds new light on that topic. She went on to say that this will improve cybersecurity efforts worldwide by allowing for more targeted allocation of resources.

Cybercriminals are notoriously difficult to catch because of their evasive behaviour, according to University of Oxford associate professor Jonathan Lusthaus. Dr. Lusthaus emphasised that cybercriminals' physical locations are often impossible to determine since they hide behind phoney accounts and technical barriers. "The geographical distribution of cyber threats is illuminated by our study, which was informed by professionals involved in cybercrime intelligence and investigation."

In the future, experts hope to learn more about the factors that cause some nations to become cybercrime hotspots. The significance of examining national traits in understanding the dynamics of cybercrime was emphasised by another co-author, Professor Federico Varese of France's Sciences Po.

"The World Cybercrime Index is a crucial step towards understanding the localised dimensions of cybercrime production," Professor Varese added. "We can gain insight into the drivers of cybercriminal activities by exploring factors such as educational attainment and levels of corruption."

Thanks to a collaborative effort between academic institutions and funding from the European Union's CRIMGOV project, the index was created by specialists at the University of Oxford and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra. For lawmakers and cybersecurity professionals, it's a crucial tool for crafting effective responses.

This study, titled "Mapping the global geography of cybercrime with the World Cybercrime Index," highlights the need for international cooperation to address the changing cyber threat environment. The index is a useful tool for countries fighting cybercrime; it shows how to strengthen digital infrastructure around the world and how to keep cyberspace safe.