The Mob Museum in Las Vegas, known for its exploration of traditional organized crime, has launched a compelling new exhibit, “Digital Underground,” shedding light on the rise of cybercrime and its profound impact on modern society. While lacking the iconic artifacts of its predecessor, this exhibit delivers a riveting look at how criminal organizations have adapted and thrived in the digital age.
From Early Hackers to Modern Ransomware
“Digital Underground” traces the evolution of cybercrime, beginning with the early days of hacking in the 1970s and culminating in the sophisticated ransomware operations of today. These organizations are responsible for staggering financial losses, stealing over $150 million every day worldwide. The exhibit effectively visualizes these faceless crimes, demonstrating how criminal networks have moved beyond physical locations to operate across borders and exploit vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure.
A Live Cyberthreat Map and Historical Context
One of the exhibit’s highlights is a real-time cyberthreat map, dynamically displaying ongoing attacks around the globe. This interactive element underscores the immediacy and scale of the threat. Complementing the live map, a large mural and supporting panels detail the operational strategies of these criminal enterprises and explain how they continue to proliferate. Corporations and government bodies currently face approximately 1,900 cyberattacks each week, highlighting the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures.
“Cybercrime has become one of the most pressing, pervasive and profitable threats of our time,” says Geoff Schumacher, The Mob Museum’s Vice President of Exhibits and Programs. “‘Digital Underground’ provides important historical context, compelling artifacts, and a live look at how these crimes are carried out today, making it clear that organized crime is no longer limited to the streets, it thrives in the digital world.”
Tracing the Roots of Modern Cybercrime
The exhibit doesn’s just showcase the present-day threat, it also reveals the surprising historical roots of contemporary cybercrime. The disruption of MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment in 2023, where hackers locked people out of hotel rooms and demanded millions in ransom, wasn’t an isolated event. As “Digital Underground” illustrates, these same actors were previously involved in phone scams dating back four decades.
Artifacts of the Digital Age
Beyond the historical narrative and live threat map, “Digital Underground” also includes tangible artifacts representing milestones in cybercrime history, including:
- A floppy disk containing an early computer virus, demonstrating the beginnings of malware.
- A Cap’n Crunch cereal toy whistle, cleverly used to trick pay phones into providing free long-distance calls—a precursor to modern phishing techniques.
- A book by Joseph Popp, the creator of the first ransomware in 1989, providing insight into the evolution of this increasingly dangerous threat.
The “Digital Underground” exhibit is a stark reminder that organized crime has successfully expanded its reach into the digital realm, transforming the landscape of modern security and necessitating a deeper understanding of its evolution and impact. The exhibit demonstrates that the threats of the modern digital era have much in common with the tactics of traditional organized crime, adapted for a new age.
For further details on the exhibit, visit the museum’s website
