The dark web is filled with black activities; one of the main reasons people use dark web services is the availability of cybercrime in bulk. But do you know what kind of services of cybercrime on the dark web are available and why it is rising very rapidly? If you don’t, then you are at the right spot, so read this guide without any further delay.
Cybercrime on the Dark Web
Primarily, the dark web world is projected to help governments communicate anonymously. Unfortunately, the dark web has become a notorious world after people turned those capabilities to other malicious purposes. The popular things you can find on the dark web are drugs, firearms, cybercrime services, child sexual exploitation, and others. If we talk about cybercrime on the dark web, it concentrates on many cybercriminals and threat actors who share ideas, thoughts, tips, tricks, and services as well through hidden forums and marketplaces.
The Evolution of Cybercrime on the Dark Web
For decades, cybercrime has become a growing threat ever since the Internet was widespread. Cybercriminals continuously adapt and innovate the tech advancements that lead to more strong forms of cybercrime on the dark web. As per the reports in 2020, almost 80 percent of firms in the USA were the victims of an online attack. The dark web has become a go-to world for criminal activities such as selling stolen data, credit card fraud, DDoS: distributed denial-of-service attacks, phishing scams, RaaS: ransomware as a service, and many others.
Why Cybercrime Rises on the Dark Web
Cybercriminal activities have continued to rise in recent years in terms of employing the next generation. Asian countries are the most prominent places where cybercrime on the dark web initiates. It is due to the dark web cybersecurity laws being lax in these regions, and local law enforcement is not motivated to follow leads of this kind. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercrime increased massively because of fear of the virus. Some items, including vaccines, hydroxychloroquine, and PPE, have been sold illegally.
Moreover, cryptocurrencies have made it easier for cybercriminals to get payments anonymously without being tracked by law enforcement agencies. As a result, the evolution of cybercrime on the dark web has led to a massive rise. In addition to that, the strictness of cyber security threats that firms face right now. The increase in the value of Bitcoin (BTC) has also encouraged its use in dark web marketplaces.
The private nature of the dark web makes it impossible to track anybody, which is why many people use its black services. Currently, privacy has become more sought after, and people find anonymity and freedom from real oversight from more powerful entities on the dark web.
The Ecosystem of Cybercrime on the Dark Web
A skilled offender may execute each of the cybercrime functions while it is unlikely. To reduce the risk of being caught, offenders develop and master the skills for different stages of an attack. This group benefits the criminal liability at every stage. In the cybercrime world, there are many stages to attack a system.
Spammers rent out spamware services that phishers, scammers, and fraudsters use to steal credentials. While the data brokers trade this stolen data on the dark web. The initial access broker buys this data to gain the initial entry to the systems before selling these access details to the ransomware attackers. These attackers engage with brokers who hire out ransomware attackers’ software and malicious malware.
The dark web markets openly trade these services, and monetizers launder the cryptocurrency and turn it into a fiat currency. While negotiators show as both victims and offenders, and they settle the ransom amount. However, this ecosystem of cybercrime on the dark web is constantly evolving.
What Kind of Cybercrime Services Are Available on the Dark Web?
Cybercrime services on the dark web are not new, but high technological advancements continuously bring them into the market. Here we have shared the popular services of cybercrime on the dark web.
Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is a multi-phase cyberattack in which the hacker does;
- Gain access to a target environment via a system.
- Maintain remote communication with a target.
- Escalating privileges to get admin permissions on the network.
- Install malware that encrypts multiple files to decrypt them.
Many ransomware services are available on the dark web, just like it is the sale of legal software. In the dark web marketplaces, you will get updates, technical support, malware, and access to the C&C servers. One of the most ransomware packages is Ranion, and its payment is based on monthly and yearly subscription plans.
Selling Access to Servers
Another popular service of cybercrime on the dark web is access to servers that offer credentials. Once they get access to the server, cyber criminals use it to run ransomware to install more discreet malware, such as banking trojans or spyware.
Financial Services
Financial services are also sold on the dark web, which includes credit card numbers together with name, expiration date, and CVV code. This data is important for cybercriminals on the dark web to buy products or services on other sites. However, the credit card data can be bought individually or in bulk; the more cards you buy, the lower the price will be. The last two digits used to find the worth of the data are the bank’s country of origin and, when known, the balance of the account. As per the reports, almost 4.9 million stolen credit cards will be available to buy on the dark web in 2021.
Moreover, cryptocurrency services are also available on the dark web. These digital accounts require detailed data when registering, so many fraudsters make a business of creating accounts with fake IDs and drivers’ blockchain accounts to exchange platform accounts.
Personal and Social Media Data
Cybercriminals use fake identities for credit card fraud, registering for sensitive financial web services, and anything that needs a real identity. Fake documents are sold as a physical item or just a convincing scan. Fake documents include physical passports, nationality identity cards, official company identity, and others. Moreover, social media accounts and data like Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and TikTok are sold on the dark web.
Malware and DDoS attacks
DDoS (distributed denial of service) was one of the earliest types of cybercrime on the dark web. DDoS attacks overpower targeted resources with malicious traffic. It disrupts access for valid users and often makes the affected service or apps inaccessible. The malware traffic in a DDoS attack comes from a network of computers under the control of a botnet. Each computer on this botnet is typically infected with malicious software that allows outside control of the device. Most DODS vendors on the dark web provide an intuitive user interface. It allows customers to simply select a target and specify the duration of the attack. However, the price of a distributed denial-of-service attack depends on the potential target.