The dark web has no shortage of criminal activity, scams, phishing sites, suspicious links, and malware designed to trick newbies. And because there’s very little use of HTTPS on the dark net, verifying whether or not a website is genuine using an SSL certificate is not feasible. Obviously, finding these .onion websites is the first challenge, as they won’t show up in Google search results.
In a short period of time, it has shown impressive growth in terms of user interface usability, making it appealing to users of all levels. The platform accepts several popular cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, monero, and litecoin, providing flexibility and anonymity in transactions. Last year, Kaspersky experts witnessed a significant uptick in stealers and extortion activities on the dark web market. The dark web, which is what I’m discussing here, is a small subset of the deep web, and refers to websites that are specifically trying to stay out of sight. It’s a place where you’ll find data leaks and illegal trades, but also legitimate, legal online activities users want to carry out without attracting the attention of law enforcement agencies or governments.
According to Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence (DFI), one of the most concerning cybersecurity threats related to dark web activity in the Middle East in the first half of 2024 was the activity of hacktivists. The region has seen an increase in these threats due to the current geopolitical situation, which is likely to continue to rise if tensions do not ease. While some of this growth may be attributed to the reposting or combining of older leaks, cybercriminals are clearly interested in distributing leaked data – whether new, old, or even fake. Consequently, in 2025, we are likely to witness not only a rise in company data hacks and leaks through contractors, but also an overall increase in data breaches. One former US law enforcement official involved in the original AlphaBay investigation, who asked not to be named, also expressed doubts.
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Ratings are easily manipulated, and even sellers with long track records have been known to suddenly disappear with their customers’ crypto-coins, only to set up shop later under a different alias. As the DNM builds a small pool of users and sellers, it will snowball into a lucrative operation IF the service remains reliable and secure. Besides ever increasing hosting costs, the site will have to contend with authorities, attacks from hackers, and the occasional disgruntled market administrator. If your personal data ends up for sale on the dark web, it can lead to serious consequences like identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to your online accounts. Some dark web listings claim to offer services like hacking-for-hire or even hitmen.
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Here, a wide array of goods and services are exchanged, with a focus on privacy and anonymity. The dark web market saw a rise in posts related tostealer malware, which is designed to pilfer sensitive information such aslogin credentials, financial details, and personal data. Cybercriminals sellthis data to other malicious actors for identity theft, financial fraud andother illicit activities. DarkMatter is a darknet marketplace built for those who demand both power and discretion. With a futuristic design and advanced encryption protocols, DarkMatter provides a seamless, secure trading environment. Known for its deep vendor network, fast transactions, and stealth-first philosophy, DarkMatter is engineered for users who take anonymity seriously.
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Many listings involve stolen personal information, including credit card data, Social Security details, and full identity profiles. Dark web markets work much like regular e-commerce websites but with extra layers of anonymity and encryption. Buyers browse listings, place orders, and pay with cryptocurrency — typically Bitcoin or Monero — to obscure transaction trails. Dark markets continually adapt and evolve to stay ahead of law enforcement and security measures.
Popular Markets
- Researchers Daniel Moore and Thomas Rid of King’s College in London classified the contents of 2,723 live dark web sites over a five-week period in 2015 and found that 57% host illicit material.
- This suggests that sellers with more diverse sources of income, such as multisellers and market-U2U sellers, are able to produce a higher income.
- Specifically, to be classified as a multiseller, a user must be classified as a seller in at least two markets simultaneously.
- Nodes are sellers that are active within the time period, and an edge is placed between two sellers if at least one transaction occurs between them during the period.
- In 2025, 95% of markets prefer XMR over BTC’s public ledger, with transaction volume up 60% since 2023.
Dark web buyers and vendors haven’t exactly flocked back to AlphaBay’s since its return. A few weeks into the relaunch, it has just under 500 listings, compared to more than 350,000 at AlphaBay’s 2017 peak. But DeSnake argues that dark web markets typically gain an influx of new users only when another popular market shuts down or is busted by law enforcement; neither has happened since AlphaBay came back. At KELA, we help you identify and mitigate risks by providing actionable intelligence from the darknet. Our solutions empower you to monitor illicit darknet marketplaces and track emerging threats, ensuring you can take proactive measures to protect your organization and reputation.
The Dangers Of Darknet Marketplaces
Named after the ancient guardian of the underworld, Anubis offers a protected environment where anonymity reigns supreme. With encrypted messaging, trusted vendor ranks, and a minimalist, no-nonsense interface, Anubis stands as a quiet but powerful force in the darknet world. TorZon is a well-known name in the darknet landscape, recognized for its streamlined marketplace experience and long-standing presence in the community. Since its emergence, TorZon has focused on providing a secure and anonymous environment for users seeking privacy and stability. With a clean interface, reliable uptime, and active vendor support, it continues to stand out as a trusted hub for darknet commerce. Ruheni Mathenge specializes in writing long-form content dedicated to helping individuals and businesses navigate and understand the constantly evolving online security and web freedom worlds.
Indicators Of Compromise In Threat Intelligence
We also assisted the joint INTERPOL and AFRIPOL operation combating cybercrime across Africa. These and many other cases highlighted the coordination and collaboration between law enforcement and cybersecurity organizations. In 2024, we observed a surge in the activity of “drainers” across dark markets. These are malicious tools designed to steal the victim’s crypto assets, such as tokens or NFTs.
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His articles have appeared in many respected technology publications. Blockchain.info (now Blockchain.com) is a popular cryptocurrency wallet and blockchain explorer service (one of the first sites to launch on the dark web). It was initially created to provide additional security and eliminate cryptocurrency theft.
Abacus Market appeared on the scene in 2021 and quickly became one of the heavyweights among English-speaking markets on the dark web. The categories are well organized, ranging from drugs and fraud to digital products, guides, and malware.What really sets it apart is its focus on security and usability. It supports PGP encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), alerts against fake sites (antiphishing), and a verification system for sellers. Its interface is easy to navigate, and it has a reliable escrow system, as well as allowing payments with Bitcoin and Monero. All of this has made it one of the most reliable markets still active in 2025.
- Riseup is a volunteer-run collective that offers secure chat and email services primarily used by progressive activists and social justice communities.
- Bear in mind too that laws about freedom of speech and censorship vary from country to country, which is part of the reason the dark web exists in the first place.
- Although it shows fluctuations, including those caused by external shocks, the ecosystem exhibits a positive growth trend in terms of trading volume.
- Moreover, 66% of migrating users choose to move their activity to the same coexisting marketplace.
- The platform is favored by cybercriminals seeking access to accounts that can be exploited for fraud or sold to others.
Story Of The Year: Global IT Outages And Supply Chain Attacks
Just because the seller has good reviews does not mean you can trust them. There’s nothing stopping sellers from packing up and leaving the market at any time. They could get a batch of bad products, get arrested before they can ship your order, or any other number of things.
