When you hear about the dark web, it may conjure up images of hackers buying stolen data from users or sex and drugs being sold. The dark web is a part of the internet that’s hidden from surface web search engines and requires a specialized browser like Tor to access.
Legality
The dark web consists of websites that aren’t indexed by search engines and require a special browser to access. It’s a place where illegal activities occur, such as cyberattacks, theft of intellectual property and more.
The sites on the dark web are often encrypted, and many of them are anonymous. It’s a haven for criminals who are trying to avoid being tracked by law enforcement agencies and companies that monitor their activities.
However, it’s also home to legitimate marketplaces that sell legal products and services, such as cryptocurrency and encryption. It’s also a place where people can discuss political news and government criticism without fear of repercussion. And it’s a good tool for citizens in hostile countries who are unable to express their views freely. It’s even been used for hacking, which is often illegal in some countries. This is why many people use a VPN when browsing the dark web. This encrypts their internet connection and prevents breadcrumbs from leading back to their real-world location.
Risks
While some parts of the dark web offer legitimate services and goods, other areas can be dangerous. Criminals can snoop on your activity and steal data or infect your devices with malware. It’s also possible to stumble across illegal activities that are triggering or distressing, and even cause psychological damage.
Threat actors monetize stolen personal information in the dark web, and sell access to corporate networks, passwords, and other credentials on forums and marketplaces. Such information can be used for fraud and other crimes that damage a company’s reputation and financial well-being.
In addition, cybercriminals use the dark web to design attacks against corporate systems. According to research from Recorded Future, 75 percent of discovered vulnerabilities are discussed on forums or social media sites before being posted to a public list like NVD (National Vulnerability Database). As a result, it’s important for businesses to monitor the dark web for the latest threats, and have 24/7 automated alerts in place so they can take immediate action.
Insights
While the dark web is used for illegal activities, it also houses many legitimate services. These include tools hosted to combat censorship, which can be invaluable for individuals living in countries with strict government control and surveillance. They can be essential to protesters, activists and whistleblowers who need to remain anonymous to protect their privacy. The dark web also hosts email and chat systems that provide secure communications for journalists, civil rights groups, lawyers and others.
The dark web also houses cybercrime commodities, including botnets, stolen credentials and simple exploits. According to Shefrin, criminals can purchase these assets on marketplaces and forums that operate as invitation-only. He adds that the marketplaces often detail vulnerabilities a week before they are released in the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), giving criminals a head start on attacks.
As a result, it’s important for individuals and businesses to adopt strong cybersecurity practices, such as using password-protected software, updating their devices, keeping personal data off social media, and not clicking on suspicious links or downloads. MSPs can also help their clients stay safe by leveraging dark web monitoring services that provide alerts and risk assessments.
Conclusions
The dark web is a portion of the internet that uses encryption to prevent tracking and can only be accessed through software such as Tor. It contains illicit marketplaces, hacking forums and communities, as well as a host of malicious content such as malware, viruses and scams.
OSINT researchers can use a variety of methods to study the dark web. Language and content analysis, coupled with infiltrating closed communities to observe activities can yield valuable intelligence. However, the threat actors often change their tactics and strategies based on law enforcement efforts. Consequently, OSINT analysts must continually adapt their methodologies.
Cyberattackers use the dark web to buy and sell stolen data. Attackers also search for backdoor access to a target system on these marketplaces. They may also look for specific vulnerabilities in the systems they want to attack, explains Blackbird AI’s Boutboul. By monitoring these marketplaces, cybersecurity professionals can identify threats and take action to protect their networks.
