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Unveiling the Global Cybercrime Landscape: Morocco Ranks 48th in World Index

Thursday 18 April 2024 - 10:33

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In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal PLOS ONE, researchers from the University of Oxford and other esteemed institutions have unveiled the first-ever World Cybercrime Index (WCI), shedding light on the intricate global landscape of cybercriminality. This pioneering index offers a comprehensive assessment of the countries most significantly impacted by various forms of cybercrime, providing invaluable insights for policymakers and law enforcement agencies worldwide.

The study, which gathered data from 92 cybercrime experts across the globe, evaluated nations based on five major categories of cybercrime: technical products/services, attacks and extortion, data/identity theft, scams, and cashing out/money laundering. The findings reveal a startling disparity in the distribution of cybercrime worldwide, with certain countries emerging as hotbeds of illicit online activities while others remain relatively unscathed.

Morocco secured the 48th position globally and ranked 7th among African nations on the WCI, with a score of 0.45. This ranking underscores the nation's vulnerability to the ever-evolving threats posed by cybercriminals and highlights the need for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard its digital infrastructure.

Russia topped the index with a staggering score of 58.39, followed by Ukraine (36.44), China (27.86), and the United States (25.01). African nations Nigeria and Ghana also featured prominently, ranking 5th and 13th globally, with scores of 21.28 and 3.58, respectively, further emphasizing the continent's susceptibility to cybercriminal activities.

The authors of the study emphasize the significance of their findings, stating: "By accurately identifying which countries are cybercrime hotspots, the public and private sectors could concentrate their resources on these hotspots and spend less time and funds on cybercrime countermeasures in countries where the problem is limited."

Moreover, the WCI provides a valuable tool for policymakers and law enforcement agencies to target their efforts more effectively in combating the scourge of cybercrime. As the authors note, "An index of cybercriminality by country would allow for a genuine dependent variable to be deployed in studies attempting to assess which national characteristics–such as educational attainment, Internet penetration, or GDP–are associated with cybercrime."

This pioneering study not only unveils the intricate global geography of cybercrime but also lays the foundation for future research to identify the factors driving cybercriminality in specific locations. As the digital realm continues to evolve, initiatives like the World Cybercrime Index offer a crucial roadmap for nations to fortify their defenses against the ever-present threat of cybercriminals, ensuring the safety and integrity of their digital ecosystems.