The Role and Function of Social Networks in the Russian Malware Community

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Presented at AUScert 2010 by

Max Kilger

A great deal of research has focused on the malicious software and attack tools generated by Russian hacker groups to engage in attacks against economic systems, government, and civilian targets. Technical explorations of malware provide insight into defensive postures to reduce these threats, though there is still a great deal that is unknown about the social dynamics of hacking in this part of the world. This presentation will attempt to expand our understanding of the peer networks, demographic composition, and skills of the members of eight groups from the Eastern European and Russian hacker community using open source data. The findings give significant insight into the education, physical locations, and social relationships between hackers and malware writers. The social networks that undergird this community will also be explored in depth, including the proximity and distribution of skilled and unskilled hackers. This presentation will benefit law enforcement, security professionals, and the intelligence community by shedding light on the social world of the Russian hacker community.