Every year, millions of phones are stolen. While thousands of iPhones are shipped to China and broken down for parts, criminals can make more money selling a device that has been unlocked and wiped. Now researchers have unpicked part of the underground web of cybercrime services that can help provide access to stolen iPhones. Across the web and on Telegram, there’s a “thriving” ecosystem of software sellers helping power the market for stolen iPhones by providing “unlocking” tools and the technology to produce phishing messages to help get access to a phone, according to findings from researchers at cybersecurity firm Infoblox. The company says it has tracked “dozens” of groups selling unlocking tools, mostly with a focus on iPhones, and has linked more than 10,000 phishing websites to the activity. Traffic to these domains increased 350 percent last year, the researchers say. “Reselling is a hundred percent what they’re going for,” says Maël Le Touz, a staff threat researcher at Infoblox, who says people from all around the world appear to be buying access to the pay-per-use software. The average cost is below $10. Over the last few years, the number of phones being stolen has risen—for example, with around 80,000 devices being taken in London in one year. While Apple and Google have improved their protections for stolen devices, a variety of more- and less-sophisticated thieves can still make money from stolen handsets: If a phone is unlocked or a thief has its passcode, they can potentially steal money from online bank accounts or crypto wallets; those snatching phones on the streets or in bars can make hundreds of dollars selling them on. Tap the 🔗 in bio to read the full story