The metaverse can not only be used to facilitate crime in the physical realm, but can also be used for various other dangerous forms of cybercrime, warns a new warning from Interpol.
Interpol’s executive director of technology and innovation, Madan Oberoi, explained that member countries are becoming increasingly concerned about possible crimes in the metaverse and are already offering possible remedies.
There are many ways the metaverse could be abused for crimes, he said: “Some of the crimes may be new to this medium, some of the existing crimes will be resolved by the medium and taken to a new level.”
Phishing has evolved
One of the most popular methods of fraud — phishing — can take on a whole new meaning when virtual reality and augmented reality are thrown into the mix, Oberoi said. Moreover, the issue of children’s safety cannot be underestimated.
There are also ways for threat actors to use virtual realities to plan and practice future physical attacks: “If a terrorist group wants to attack a physical space, they can use that space to plan and simulate and launch their exercises before to attack.’
Many games come with the ability to create maps, and with virtual reality, criminals can explore specific locations in frightening detail.
Interpol’s European partner – Europol – says it is also on track to tackle future crime and recently warned that if the metauniverse uses blockchain technology to record user interaction, it may be possible to “track everything someone does on basis of an interaction with him – providing valuable information for stalkers or extortionists.”
Blockchain, the technology that underpins Bitcoin (opens in new tab) and other cryptocurrencies, stores data in a decentralized ledger, making it immutable and incorruptible.
Through: Reuters (opens in new tab)
https://www.techradar.com/news/interpol-says-the-metaverse-could-open-up-a-whole-new-world-of-crime/
