Connect with us

Technology

Inside the Russian-Speaking Underground: The Frontline of Global Cybercrime

Published

1 year ago

on

Trend Micro’s new research paper highlights cybercriminal underground’s expanding reach 

DALLAS, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today launched a new research paper, delivering a unique and comprehensive look into the Russian-speaking cyber underground, an ecosystem that has shaped global cybercrime over the past decade.

For the full report, please visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/the-ever-evolving-threat-of-the-russian-speaking-cybercriminal-underground

Set against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, the research paper explores major trends reshaping the underground economy: the long-term impacts of the pandemic, the fallout of mass breaches and double extortion ransomware, the explosion of accessible AI and Web3 technologies, and the widespread exposure of biometric data. As both cyber criminals and defenders grow more sophisticated, new tools, tactics, and business models are driving unprecedented levels of specialization within underground communities.

The Russian-speaking underground stands apart as a uniquely organized, highly collaborative, and deeply cultural network of actors operating with their own internal codes of ethics, vetting processes, and reputation systems.

“This isn’t just a marketplace, it’s a structured society of cybercriminals where status, trust, and technical excellence determine survival and success,” said Vladimir Kropotov, co-author of the research and Principal Threat Researcher at Trend Micro.

“The Russian-speaking underground has cultivated a distinctive culture that blends elite technical expertise with strict codes of conduct, reputation-based trust systems, and collaboration that rivals legitimate enterprises,” said Fyodor Yarochkin, co-author and Principal Threat Researchers at Trend Micro. “This isn’t just a collection of criminals, it’s a resilient, interconnected community that has adapted to global pressure and continues to shape the future of cybercrime.”

The research dives deep into key criminal operations gaining momentum in this space, including ransomware-as-a-service schemes, phishing campaigns, account brute forcing, and monetizing stolen Web3 assets. Intelligence gathering services, privacy exploitation, and the merging of cyber and physical domains are also examined in detail.

“Geopolitical shifts have rapidly transformed the cyber underground,” said Vladimir. “Political conflicts, rising hacktivism, and changing alliances have eroded trust and reshaped collaboration—spurring new ties with other groups, including Chinese-speaking actors. Spill-over into the EU is growing.”

As geopolitical tensions rise and cybercriminals embrace more advanced technologies like AI and Web3, understanding the inner workings of the Russian-speaking underground has never been more urgent.

Trend’s Russian-speaking Cyber Underground paper – the 50th in its Cybercrime Underground research series spanning nearly 15 years – provides unmatched depth and historical context for threat intelligence communities, business leaders, law enforcement, and cybersecurity professionals tasked with protecting critical infrastructure, enterprise assets, and national security.

About Trend Micro 
Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s AI-powered cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, Trend’s platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 70 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world. www.TrendMicro.com. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inside-the-russian-speaking-underground-the-frontline-of-global-cybercrime-302422681.html

SOURCE Trend Micro

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

AFP Launches No Code AI for Finance Certificate to Upskill Finance Teams

Published

54 minutes ago

on

April 29, 2026

By

New certificate empowers financial professionals with real-world AI skills that don’t require programming expertise

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) announced the launch of its No Code AI for Finance Certificate Program. Taught by an AI expert with a background in finance and operations, the virtual on-demand program goes beyond theory, providing practical applications of AI in finance.

Key takeaways

Practical curriculum: The certificate course, developed through feedback from finance practitioners, provides hands-on exercises and lessons on building a data foundation, training and interpreting machine learning models, generating insights with generative AI and embedding ethics in AI adoptionSelf-paced learning: Once registered for the certificate, eight hours of on-demand content across four modules are available in AFP Learn.Professional recognition: The certificate course is eligible for 9.6 CTP, FPAC and CCM Credits and provides a Digital Badge and printable certificate upon successful completion.

Why it matters
The finance function is at a critical turning point. Data volumes are growing while finance professionals are increasingly being asked to do more with less. The No Code AI for Finance Certificate equips teams to scale their impact by automating labor-intensive workflows and speeding up processes while maintaining accuracy.

Comprehensive curriculum
The certificate program includes four modules that are tailored to the specific needs of finance professionals:

Data Foundations for Trustworthy Finance Analytics: Learn about decision cycles AI can shorten, mitigation tactics for AI hallucinations, and the difference between supervised, unsupervised and generative tasks.Understanding the Full Machine Learning Process and Its Results: Learn to frame finance machine learning problems correctly, choose and defend the right success metrics for each task and translate model results into business-ready insights.Generative AI for Finance: Smarter Questions, Faster Insights: Learn to write prompts for GenAI, generate and refine GenAI-supported data-prep code, pressure test insights with GenAI and apply guardrails for GenAI.From AI Capability to Adoption & Ethics by Design: Learn to select and prioritize a first AI pilot, design an operating cadence, draft an ethics and risk control sheet, and define ROI and adoption KPIs.

Each module includes downloadable assets to help learners apply the lessons to their day-to-day work.

Key quote
“At AFP, we recognized a clear need for training that addresses finance-specific applications of AI. This certificate acts as a bridge to connect financial professionals to the transformative power of AI, ensuring they remain the indispensable strategic partners their organizations require,” said Pat Culkin, President & CEO of AFP.

Ready to lead AI adoption in your finance team?
Enroll in the certificate program and begin working toward the No Code AI for Finance Certificate.

FAQs
Who should enroll in this certificate program?
The program is designed for financial professionals at all levels looking to integrate AI into their workflows.

Are there any prerequisites for the course?
There are no prerequisites for this course. It is accessible to professionals of all technical backgrounds. No coding knowledge is required.

How is the course delivered?
The course consists of eight hours of on-demand content across four modules, which can be completed at the learner’s own pace.

How much does it cost to enroll in the certificate program?
The certificate program is $295 for AFP members and $495 for non-members.

About AFP®
Headquartered outside of Washington, D.C., and located regionally in Singapore, the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) is the professional society committed to advancing the success of treasury and finance members and their organizations. Established and administered by AFP, the Certified Treasury Professional and Certified Corporate FP&A Professional credentials set standards of excellence in treasury and finance. Each year, AFP hosts the largest networking conference worldwide for about 7,000 corporate financial professionals.

Media contact
Joe Hodanich
Senior Director, Digital Strategy & Content
Association for Financial Professionals
Email: jhodanich@financialprofessionals.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/afp-launches-no-code-ai-for-finance-certificate-to-upskill-finance-teams-302753219.html

SOURCE Association for Financial Professionals

Continue Reading

Technology

KT Corp. Files 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-F

Published

54 minutes ago

on

April 29, 2026

By

SEOUL, South Korea, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KT Corporation (NYSE: KT), South Korea’s largest integrated telecom and digital platform service provider, announced that it has filed its Form 20- F Annual Report on April 29th, 2026 for the year ended December 31, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States. The report can be accessed on KT’s English website at https://corp.kt.com/eng in the Investors section under Business Report as well as the SEC’s Edgar database at www.sec.gov. Shareholders may also request a hard copy of the Form 20-F Annual Report that includes audited financial statements of 2025, free of charge, by sending an e-mail to the Company’s IR department at ktir@kt.com.

About KT Corporation (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT)

KT Corporation is the leading integrated telecommunications and platform service provider based in South Korea. Principal services include mobile, Broadband, IPTV, B2B communications, and fixed-line telephony. The Company has industry-leading market presence in Broadband, media services, and fixed-line telephony by maintaining the No.1 market share positions. Also, the Company is the No.1 player in B2B communications and offers a wide range of digital transformation services (DC, Cloud, AI, etc.). Additionally, the Company possesses a well-balanced portfolio of diverse subsidiaries focusing on media/content, financial services, real estate developments, and commerce industries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and the industries in which we operate. The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “project,” “should,” and similar expressions. Those statements include, among other things, the discussions of our business strategy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity and capital resources. We caution you that reliance on any forward-looking statement involves risks and uncertainties, and that although we believe that the assumptions on which our forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and, as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions could be incorrect. The uncertainties in this regard include, but are not limited to, those identified in the risk factors discussed above. In light of these and other uncertainties, you should not conclude that we will necessarily achieve any plans and objectives or projected financial results referred to in any of the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to release the results of any revisions of these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

IR department:
+82-70-4193-4036
ktir@kt.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kt-corp-files-2025-annual-report-on-form-20-f-302757200.html

SOURCE KT Corp.

Continue Reading

Technology

SK TELECOM CO. LTD. FILES ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F

Published

55 minutes ago

on

April 29, 2026

By

SEOUL, South Korea, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On April 29, 2026, SK Telecom Co., Ltd. filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-F can be viewed on www.sktelecom.com, as well as from the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Printed copies of SK Telecom’s complete audited financial statements (including footnotes) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025 can be requested, free of charge, by written request to skt.ir@sk.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sk-telecom-co-ltd-files-its-annual-report-on-form-20-f-302757201.html

SOURCE SK Telecom Co., Ltd

Continue Reading

Trending