Europol Warns of Soaring Criminal Demand for Data
▼ Summary
– Europol warns that rising demand for stolen data is fueling a cybercrime economy focused on fraud, ransomware, and exploitation.
– The 2025 report highlights data as the “central commodity” of cybercrime, driven by poor digital literacy and complex IT systems.
– Stolen credentials and PII are used for extortion, fraud, and child exploitation, creating a vicious cycle of breaches and account takeovers.
– Data is traded on underground platforms, acquired via social engineering, infostealers, and exploits, with brokers facilitating access and sales.
– Europol recommends E2EE backdoors, harmonized EU metadata standards, and digital literacy programs but omits corporate security improvements.
Europol has issued a stark warning about the rapidly growing criminal appetite for stolen data, which is driving a thriving underground economy centered on fraud, ransomware, and exploitation. The agency’s latest 2025 Internet Organised Crime Assessment reveals how cybercriminals are leveraging personal and financial information to fuel a wide range of illegal activities, from financial scams to child exploitation.
The report, drawing on intelligence from Europol’s investigations and EU threat assessments, highlights how data has become the lifeblood of cybercrime. Whether it’s login credentials, personally identifiable information (PII), or corporate records, stolen data serves multiple purposes, acting as both a target and a tool for criminals. Once obtained, this information is weaponized for extortion, unauthorized system access, business email compromise (BEC), and even espionage.
One of the most alarming trends is the self-perpetuating cycle of data breaches. Compromised credentials often lead to account takeovers, which in turn expose even more sensitive data. This stolen information is then traded on underground marketplaces, specialized forums, and encrypted messaging platforms, creating a booming black-market economy. Cybercriminals acquire data through tried-and-tested methods like social engineering, infostealers, and vulnerability exploitation, with initial access brokers (IABs) and data brokers streamlining the illicit trade.
Europol warns that demand for stolen data is surging, threatening to destabilize legitimate economies and erode public trust in digital systems. The agency’s proposed solutions focus on policy changes, including mandating backdoors in end-to-end encryption (E2EE), a controversial measure that security experts argue would weaken privacy protections for everyone. Other recommendations include standardizing EU rules for metadata retention and promoting digital literacy programs, particularly for young users and parents.
Notably absent from the report is any emphasis on corporate accountability, despite the rising tide of enterprise data breaches. Recent figures from the Identity Theft Resource Center show that U.S. companies alone saw 1.7 billion records compromised last year, underscoring the urgent need for stronger business security measures.
As cybercriminals refine their tactics, the battle over data security shows no signs of slowing down. With illicit trade networks expanding, law enforcement and businesses alike face mounting pressure to adapt, before the underground economy grows even more entrenched.
(Source: InfoSecurity Magazine)
