SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infoblox Inc., a leader in cloud networking and security services, today announced a significant breakthrough in cybercrime investigation with the unmasking of a threat actor that the company has named "Vigorish Viper." Vigorish Viper is a Chinese organized crime syndicate that utilizes a sophisticated technology suite to take advantage of the global $1.7 trillion illegal sports gambling economy, with links to money laundering and human trafficking operations across Asia. This Infoblox discovery marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against global cybercrime using DNS intelligence.
"Vigorish Viper represents one of the most sophisticated and important threats to digital security that we have discovered to date," said Dr. Renée Burton, Vice President, Infoblox Threat Intel. "Infoblox Threat Intel used cutting-edge DNS research to discover the technologies underpinning the syndicate. Vigorish Viper created a complex infrastructure with multiple layers of traffic distribution systems (TDSs) using DNS CNAME records and JavaScript, which makes it incredibly difficult to detect. These systems are complemented by their own encrypted communications and custom-developed applications, making their activities not only elusive but also remarkably resilient."
Vigorish Viper is a name derived from the gambling world's exorbitant fees levied on unlucky bettors. The term vigorish, or vig for short, is used by organized crime syndicates to refer to these fees. Viper refers to the complex combination of TDSs and convoluted brand relationships that the actor employs to route users to content. Vigorish Viper leverages sponsorship of popular European sports teams to advertise for their illegal gambling sites, which primarily target Greater China.
Dr. Renée Burton added, "This work is particularly important because it connects the physical crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, and fraud, to online crime in a way that hasn't been done before. We can now see that organized crime is executing a cunning strategy that uses unwitting European clubs to fuel their criminal cycle."
The research report from Infoblox details the discovery of Vigorish Viper, how it operates from a technical perspective, its ties to organized crime, and its role in the European football sponsorship scandals. Key findings include:
"DNS analytics led to the discovery of Vigorish Viper and constitutes the best mechanism for tracking the actor's infrastructure. Stopping Vigorish Viper is also most effective via DNS because the actor changes rapidly," added Burton.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, despite gambling being almost completely illegal in Greater China, it is estimated that citizens in the region bet nearly US$850 billion annually. This staggering figure underscores the scale and complexity of Vigorish Viper's operations, with significant implications for global cybercrime.
Details on this threat actor can be found in Infoblox Threat Intel's latest research report here.
"Infoblox remains committed to providing actionable intelligence to expose threat actors leveraging DNS for their operations," Burton emphasized. "Our ongoing tracking and exposure of threat actors demonstrates the critical role DNS plays in combating sophisticated cyber threats, and underscores the industry's need for continued innovation in DNS and cybersecurity technologies."
Under the leadership of Dr. Renée Burton, Infoblox Threat Intel has become a proud originator of DNS-based threat intelligence. Infoblox Threat Intel's researchers use a unique approach that combines a profound understanding of DNS data, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and reverse engineering. This potent mix of skills and expertise enables Infoblox Threat Intel to generate robust threat intelligence, fortifying Infoblox's Threat Defense solutions. Learn more about Infoblox Threat Intel and explore how its research is shaping the future of cybersecurity by visiting https://www.infoblox.com/threat-intel/.
About Infoblox
Infoblox unites networking and security to deliver unmatched performance and protection. Trusted by Fortune 100 companies and emerging innovators, we provide real-time visibility and control over who and what connects to your network, so your organization runs faster and stops threats earlier. Visit infoblox.com, or follow us on LinkedIn or X.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Infoblox Exposes: Chinese Cybercrime Syndicate Linking European Football Sponsors, Human Trafficking and a Trillion-Dollar Illegal Gambling Economy
Infoblox Exposes: Chinese Cybercrime Syndicate Linking European Football Sponsors, Human Trafficking and a Trillion-Dollar Illegal Gambling Economy
