Seeing in the Dark: Managing Cyber Threats on the Deep and Dark Web

As dangerous cyber threats continue to multiply and evolve, organizations are under increasing pressure to proactively defend their valuable assets. Merely maintaining their present defense posture no longer seems adequate. Fall behind, even by a little, and a novel threat type might catch them unprepared. But how do security teams, bogged down with daily operations, also manage to discern risks just beginning to take shape? 

One of the most practical ways to forecast the cybersecurity future is to watch the hubs where cybercriminals congregate, communicate, and initially lay their plans. Today, those hubs are frequently found on the dark web. In this article, we’ll explain why organizations should be paying attention to this hidden recess of the internet. We’ll delve into the activities of cybercriminals who operate there. Finally, we’ll outline the synergy of human intelligence and targeted technologies needed to see into the dark web and defend against associated threats.

Understanding the Dark Web: The Unseen Internet 

The internet is like a giant iceberg with three layers: the surface web, or the iceberg’s visible tip; the deep web, or the uppermost submerged area; and the dark web, which makes up the lowermost submerged part. These layers each have their unique features, but it's the dark web that causes most alarm for security professionals nowadays. To comprehend the threats coming from this shadow internet, we must look at all three layers and examine the particular dangers within the deep and dark web.

The three layers of the internet can be categorized loosely by their level of visibility and accessibility to ordinary internet users. They are as follows: Surface Web: The majority of people access this level of the internet in their daily activities. It is comprised of websites indexed through typical search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. All types of sites, from social media platforms, to e-commerce stores, to blogs are found at this layer. Known as the surface web, this part actually makes up a rather small portion of the whole internet—only about 4-10% of all sites on the world wide web.

Deep Web: The deep web comprises all online content that search engines cannot find and index. It includes private databases, academic resources, company intranets, as well as medical records and other data requiring authentication to access. Much of the deep web is actually benign and crucial for securing private data; for example,if you use an email service like Gmail, your account is on the deep web. The deep web is by far the largest layer, comprising about 90-96% of the entire internet.

Dark Web: Sometimes confused with the deep web, the dark web is where unlawful activity is most likely to occur. Its encrypted networks require special software, configurations, or authorization to access. In addition to drug trafficking, illegal arms sales, and other illicit activities, it is home to much cybercriminal activity, including the exchange of stolen data, collaboration amongst cybercriminals, and the sale of hacking services.

The Risks of the Dark Web

The dark web is like a jungle so dense and thick that cybercriminals can move around there largely undetected. In fact, reports show that around 57% of websites on the Tor network, used to access the dark web, are involved in some form of illegal activity. Recognizing the prevalence of the dark web as a breeding ground for cyber threats can give security teams a leg up their intelligence efforts. Some common cybercrime activities we see associated with the dark web include: 

Data Breaches and Credential Theft: Cybercriminals post and sell stolen data on the deep web. They commonly exchange hacked usernames, passwords, and personal identification details, such as social security numbers or credit cards, with each other. This information is often gained from data breaches, and can lead to account seizures for affected companies. For example, in the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, the attackers entered using login details that were for sale on the dark web, causing major disturbances and gaining a ransom of around $4.4 million. 

Malware and Ransomware: The dark web provides a platform for hacking tools, malware, ransomware, botnets, and other harmful digital weapons to be developed, shared, bought, and sold with ease and anonymity, using cryptocurrencies. Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) has caused massive harm to organizations in recent years. It allows individuals to buy harmful software and use it to carry out attacks on organizations without needing much technical knowledge. The notorious LockBit (RaaS) operation has carried out over 2000 attacks, with its economic impact believed to be over USD 8 billion. 

Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks: The dark web is useful for cybercriminals to gather intelligence for phishing campaigns. They can use information they find there to carefully hone attacks campaigns, adjusting attempts for specific persons or groups. For instance, if a breach reveals the names of employees together with their email addresses; this enables attackers to create very convincing messages and increase chances of success. 

Fraud and Identity Theft: Criminals can buy stolen identities on the dark web to help them commit fraud. A study from the Identity Theft Resource Center showed that cases of identity theft rose by 29% in 2021, and that dark web transactions played a big role in the increase. 

Insider Threats: A new risk that is growing involves what we call insider threats. This happens when employees, whether they are still working or used to work for the company, sell important information to cybercriminals on the dark web. Things like trade secrets, intellectual property and even proprietary software vulnerabilities may figure in the transactions. The effects of such threats from insiders can include big financial and market damages.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): APT groups are professional cybercrime collectives motivated by politics, ideologies, or just monetary gain The dark web gives APTs a safe, hidden place to collaborate They can plan attacks, exchange information about targets and talk about tactics without being noticed by police.

The Costs of Inaction

Disregarding the dark web would be remiss for any cybersecurity organization today. Many well-known data breaches in the news start with stolen login details or leaked information sold on dark web forums. The expenses related to a cyber breach can be very high, potentially shuttering some businesses. IBM's 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report states that the average cost of a breach is around $4.4 million. Actively watching the deep and dark web can tip off businesses to nascent dangers, potentially helping them avert a disaster.  

How to Approach the Dark Web

The facts about the dark web are scary, but organizations can’t afford to look the other way. Luckily, there are tools and methods they can use to safeguard themselves. Some of the most powerful preventative and protective measures for the dark web include the following:

Staying Vigilant: Security teams need to understand ignoring the dark web is not an option today. By staying informed about its dangers, groups can assess their risk factors, plan ahead, and remedy any vulnerabilities the latest attack types may be able to exploit. It’s important to source expert intelligence that stays close to the source and reports on developments regularly. Remember that knowledge is power when it comes to the dark web. 

Working Together: It is important for all people involved in finding threats on the dark web to share what they have learned with those who respond to incidents. This allows everyone to work together against the problem. Organizations that encourage cooperation between threat intelligence and incident response teams are more successful in detecting and lessening threats.

Advanced Analytical Tools: The huge amount of data from the dark web requires sophisticated analytics. Machine learning methods and natural language processing can help sort through this information, surfacing new dangers such as exploit kits or fresh phishing attempts. Look for tools purpose-built for dark web scanning; traditional threat intelligence platforms may lack dark-web scanning features essential for staying informed about possible dangers or data leaks.

Threat Intelligence Reporting: Intelligence reports are valuable for cybersecurity planning and detection. But they don’t just improve discovery, but also helps in taking action before a threat happens. A Gartner study found that organizations using good threat intelligence reports could see a decrease by 34% in the time it takes them to discover security incidents.

Purpose-Built Technology for the Dark Web

It can be a strain keeping a watchful eye on such a large and ever-changing environment as the dark web. A comprehensive threat intelligence platform with purpose-built features for the deep and dark web can simplify the task. Organizations will have to carefully check out available options, as conventional threat-intelligence software may lack the needed capabilities. Organizations should look for a platform with the following features: 

Scanning for a Wide Range of Sources: The platform should scan diverse places, like forums, marketplaces, and social platforms for language related to the organization. This wide scope helps identify risks to the business early on. 

Real-time Notifications: Immediate notifications customized to certain risk profiles alert security teams to possible dangers. This allows them to take action to contain and mitigate them. For instance, if an organization’s name shows up in a discussion about a fresh phishing plot, security will get an alert.  

Detailed Reporting: Comprehensive reports provide perspective and put threat intelligence into context, aiding the Security Operations Center (SOC) in making informed choices. It can help them to comprehend not only the threats that are present but also the most effective responses.  

The Role of Threat Intelligence Specialists

Organizations should be aware that monitoring the dark web is not just a technical matter. They must think about how to see and hear what is going on on the dark web. Context, culture, language, norms—they all play a part in how cybercrime is committed on the dark web, and technological tools may not be able to correctly interpret them. Working with experts that have a deep knowledge of the dark web can provide an extra safety measure. Specialists in threat intelligence work as the first-line guards against cyber threats. They act as analysts and detectives in a world where information is frequently hidden.

Threat researchers can help in numerous ways to monitor the dark web and stay ahead of cybercrime. They include the following: 

Access to Underground Networks: Specialists may have entry into underground communities where cybercriminals gather. For example, ransomware gangs often converse on hidden forums, swapping tactics and tools. Access to such spaces helps specialists to draw insights straight from the source and spot patterns that might escape automatic systems. 

Understanding Cyber Criminal Motivations: Cybercriminals have many motivations, from financial profit to political objectives. Analysts can parse language and other factors to understand attackers’ motives. Understanding motives helps specialists add context to threats, aiding defense. 

Handling Ethical and Legal Complexities: Getting involved with the dark web brings up moral and legal issues that need cautious handling. Those working in cyber threat intelligence have to balance their need for usable information against following rules set by law. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides advice about ethical procedures in cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of responsible investigation. 

The Complete Dark Web Defense Strategy

The fast-paced world of cybersecurity means organizations must draw from multiple sources to stay protected. The dark web is particularly worrisome for security professionals today. Standard threat-detection or threat intelligence technologies often don’t suffice in this area of cyberdefense. But neglecting to take appropriate action doesn’t make the dangers disappear.

The dark web requires a combination of sophisticated technology and human investigative skills. With the appropriate tools and knowledge, companies can stay confidently ahead of the dangers lurking there. Many best practices for dealing with the dark web—improving threat intelligence, communication, and cross-team collaboration, for example—also encourage an altogether stronger, more cohesive cybersecurity culture, ready for whatever the future brings.

Organizations looking to monitor the deep and dark web, and ensure effective defenses against the dangers there, should investigate options like ThreatVision. This comprehensive platform offers purpose-built features for automated deep and dark scanning and alerting, as well as regular intelligence reports on dark web developments. 

Download this datasheet to preview ThreatVision’s powerful features for the deep and dark web.