Tracking Dark Web and Virtual Asset Crimes... Operating Cyber Platform Response TF

Strengthening Crime Tracking for Dark Web, Virtual Assets, and DDoS
Initiating Advanced Response Technology Development

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters announced on the 6th that it will form and operate a 'Special Task Force (TF) for Cyber Crime Platform Response' to tackle cyber crimes such as the dark web, virtual assets, and DDoS attacks.

The Cyber Crime Platform Response TF is composed of three divisions: dark web tracking, virtual currency analysis, and DDoS attack tracking. It plans to research response technologies and investigative techniques for tracing the origins of cyberterror attacks.

This TF consists of investigators who have been hired based on their experience as network, system, and software development experts from private IT companies or selected as next-generation information security leaders. It also plans to maintain close cooperative relationships with domestic and international cyber-specialized organizations such as the Korea Internet & Security Agency and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The police view that in the case of the dark web, since the IP addresses of servers and users are not exposed, it is exploited for crimes such as the distribution of malicious programs, drugs, child sexual exploitation materials, and illegal filming transactions. Especially, as the number of users has been continuously increasing recently, they intend to respond accordingly.

According to the National Police Agency, the number of dark web addresses increased approximately 700% from 92,405 in 2018 to 760,033 in four years.

Virtual assets are being abused as a means to purchase and sell various illegal media or to receive criminal proceeds such as ransom-demanding malicious programs. In addition, in the case of DDoS attacks, recently, anonymizing attack methods that forge even the IP addresses of the attack sources while transmitting large amounts of data have emerged. Currently, the security industry is focusing more on prevention and response rather than tracking.

The National Police Agency stated, "Through the operation of this TF and the advancement of technologies and techniques, the police will play a central role in investigating large-scale and serious transnational crimes such as the WellcupToVideo case and ransomware incidents."