Carding as a phenomenon has undergone a long evolution since its inception. Technologies, methods and tools have constantly changed under the influence of technological developments, tightening security measures and changes in legislation. Let's consider the main stages of the evolution of carding for educational purposes to understand how this activity has transformed over time.
1. Early Stage (1990s): The Birth of Carding
Features:
Simplicity of methods: The first cases of carding were associated with physical access to cards.
Main methods:
Skimming: Installing devices on ATMs or terminals to copy the data from a card's magnetic stripe.
Physical card theft: Direct theft of cards from wallets or mailboxes.
Goals:
Buying goods in stores.
Cash withdrawal from ATMs.
Technology: Minimal use of computers; everything was done offline.
Reasons for success:
Banking systems were just beginning to implement security technologies.
Low public awareness of fraud.
2. The second stage (2000s): The emergence of the Internet
Features:
Massive Internet Spread: Carding has moved into the online space.
Main methods:
Phishing: Creating fake websites to collect card data.
Database Leaks: Hackers hacked websites and stole user data.
Selling data: The first darknet forums and markets for selling stolen data have emerged.
Goals:
Making purchases in online stores.
Withdrawal of funds via electronic wallets.
Technologies:
Using simple scripts for attacks.
The first wave of anti-detect browsers and proxies.
Reasons for success:
Mass adoption of online payments without sufficient protection.
Growing popularity of online stores.
3. The third stage (2010s): Professionalization and globalization
Features:
Complex schemes: Carding has become more organized and technically complex.
Main methods:
Attacks on payment systems: Hacking of large processing companies.
Using Botnets: Automating Attacks and Testing Data.
Drops and logistics: Organization of delivery of goods through trusted persons.
Cryptocurrencies: Using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for money laundering.
Goals:
Large-scale withdrawal operations.
Mediation in the sale of data and organization of schemes.
Technologies:
Anti-detect browsers (for example, Multilogin, Dolphin Anty).
Residential proxies and RDP.
Data encryption and using Tor.
Reasons for success:
The growth of online payments and digital services.
Increasing number of vulnerabilities in security systems.
4. The fourth stage (2020s): High technology and artificial intelligence
Features:
Highly automated: Using machine learning and AI to analyze data and bypass defenses.
Main methods:
Social Engineering 2.0: Phishing Attacks Using Personalized Data.
API exploitation: Attacks on application programming interfaces of banks and services.
Deepfake and Voice Attacks: Using technology to imitate voice or video.
Growing dependence of society on digital technologies.
Increasing number of vulnerabilities in IoT devices and cloud services.
5. The Future of Carding: What's Next?
Features:
Integration with new technologies:
Blockchain: Scammers can exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts.
Quantum Computing: The Possibility of Breaking Modern Encryptions.
New goals:
Stealing data from metaverses.
Attacks on NFTs and digital assets.
Methods:
Using AI to create complex phishing schemes.
Exploiting vulnerabilities in decentralized finance (DeFi).
Risks to society:
The rise of cybercrime.
Difficulty of counteraction due to the high technological nature of the attacks.
6. Conclusion
The evolution of carding demonstrates how criminal activity is adapting to changes in technology and society. From simply copying data from magnetic stripes to using artificial intelligence and blockchain, carding has become more complex and dangerous. This highlights the importance of constantly improving security measures and educating users.
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The evolution of carding as a cybercriminal phenomenon has gone through several technological and organizational stages, reflecting the development of both digital technologies and counteraction methods. The analysis provided is based on open sources: Europol reports, Group-IB research, and academic works on cyber forensics.
1. The era of physical skimming (1990s – 2005)
Technologies:
Mechanical skimmers on ATMs
Copying magnetic track of cards
Characteristic features:
Local crime groups
Low automation of processes
Countermeasures:
Introduction of EMV chips
Installation of anti-skimming devices
2. The era of online expansion (2005-2012)
Innovations:
Massive hacks of retailer databases
The emergence of specialized forums (CarderPlanet)
Trends:
Globalization of criminal networks
Division of labor (hacking/cashing)
Countermeasures:
PCI DSS Standard
3D-Secure Enhancement
3. Automation period (2013-2018)
Technological leap:
Banking Trojans (Zeus, SpyEye)
Automatic bots for checking cards
Organizational structure:
Hierarchical cybercrime syndicates
Malware Franchising
Protection:
Behavioural Transaction Analytics
AI fraud monitoring systems
4. The era of crypto-adaptation (2019-2024)
Modern methods:
Cashing out via DeFi protocols
NFT money laundering
New risks:
Cyberslavery in Southeast Asia
Using Generative AI for Phishing
Struggle:
Regulation of VASP (crypto exchanges)
Cooperation of international CERTs
Future Trends (2025-2030 Forecast)
Expected threats:
Attacks via IoT devices
Exploiting Quantum Computing Vulnerabilities
Protection prospects:
Biometric payment systems
Decentralized identifiers
For professional study we recommend:
Europol Report "Internet Organized Crime 2024"
MIT Study: "The Economics of Underground Markets"
Course "Digital Forensics" on the Coursera platform
This material is intended solely for:
Cybersecurity specialists
Developers of security solutions
Criminologists and law enforcement officers
It is important to note that every technological innovation in carding immediately causes counter improvements in security systems, creating a constant “arms race” in the digital space.
Carding, as a type of fraud, has undergone significant evolution since its inception in the 1990s. This evolution is associated with the development of technology, changes in banking system protection methods, and the growing popularity of electronic payments. Let's look at the main stages of carding development:
1. Early Stage: The Emergence of Carding
Period: 1990s.
Features: Carding appeared with the beginning of e-commerce. At that time, online stores did not have developed security systems and accepted any payments, including those made using counterfeit cards. Carders used card generators to create fake data and paid for purchases with them.
Examples: At the end of the month, stores discovered that payments had failed because the cards were fictitious.
2. Tech Developments: Skimming and POS Attacks
Period: 2000s.
Features: With the development of technology, fraudsters began to use devices for skimming (reading data from cards) and infecting POS terminals with malware. This allowed them to obtain card data with physical access to the devices.
Examples: Skimming devices were installed on ATMs and infected POS terminals were used in stores.
3. The rise of ranged attacks
Period: 2010s.
Features: With the growing popularity of online shopping, carders began to actively use phishing, web skimming and banking Trojans. These methods allowed them to steal card data remotely, without physical access.
Examples: Web skimming, as in the case of British Airways, where 380,000 card details were stolen.
4. Modern stage: Complexity of schemes and darknet
Period: 2020s.
Features: Carding has become more organized. Specialized forums and darknet sites have appeared where card data is sold. Social engineering methods are also developing, such as calls from "bank employees" or "security services".
Examples: Using the darknet to sell card data and cash out funds through product carding (purchase of goods for subsequent resale).
5. The Future of Carding: Artificial Intelligence and Automation
Potential Threats: With the development of artificial intelligence and automation technologies, carders may begin to use more complex algorithms to hack systems and analyze data.
Predictions: Increase in attacks on systems using machine learning and automated bots.
Conclusion
The evolution of carding shows how fraudsters adapt to changes in technology and security systems. To minimize risks, it is important to improve cybersecurity, use complex passwords, antivirus programs, and be attentive to suspicious activity.
