Welcome to the era of Cybercrime as a Service, or CaaS, which, quite alarmingly, is like an online marketplace for cybercriminals and their services.
Now, anyone with an internet connection and a chip on their shoulder - an unhappy customer, a scorned ex-lover, a disgruntled ex-employee, or a bitter competitor - can employ illicit services such as fraud, cyberattacks, social account takeovers, and even deploy ransomware.
Onion sites and forums, exploring official reports and braving the murky corners of the dark web to gauge the cost of these unlawful digital deeds.
To maintain ethical boundaries, we've chosen not to share links to these illicit services, but be assured that a chilling array of options are available for prospective CaaS customers.
Interestingly, the dark web also provides escrow services that hold funds until the buyer is happy with their underhanded 'purchase,' ensuring a somewhat bizarre level of customer service in these illicit transactions.
DDoS attacks are so powerful that they're being used as weapons of war.
Your personal life is up for grabs in the shadowy marketplace of the dark web.
Despite the existence of legal background screening services, the dark web is rife with illicit offerings that promise to delve deeper into a person's life, background, and financial details for a mere 120-200 USD. The price tag for thieves might be low, but the cost to society adds up.
Should someone want to gain control over someone else's social media accounts, or recover their own after a security mishap, the dark web provides this service for only 300 USD. This reality underscores the urgent need for beefed-up personal security, strong password practices, and the savvy use of password managers at home and work.
This very trust can also be a gateway for cybercriminals to gather invaluable data that are then used in orchestrating attacks against organizations or to conduct wider attacks using credential-stuffing tactics.
Each month, social media platforms bear witness to the hacking of an astounding 1.4 billion accounts [Gitnux].
In a concerning trend for the industries that rely on these rewards, like gaming, aviation, and eCommerce, stolen loyalty points are available for purchase on the dark web.
The dark web is a marketplace for these services, too, with prices starting at 240 USD to plant spyware on a person's phone, with costs varying based on the target and desired level of access.
The services offered by hackers-for-hire have become more sophisticated and fees have certainly risen since 2014, when FBI agents arrested Zachary Buchta, then only 17 years old and charged him with conspiracy.
Part of hacker groups called LizardSquad and PoodleCorp, Buchta was responsible for DDoS attacks and other malfeasance, including online harassment and attacks for $20 each.
Today, in the web's darkest corners, malicious actors offer personalized digital attacks for prices between $1,500 to $2,500.
This 'service' promises total chaos and the potential to disrupt an individual's life.
Our shared examples touch on the sprawling underground economy driven by Cybercrime as a Service.
With the proliferation of hacking tools, botnet rental operations, and even hacker training courses on the dark web, it's no surprise that this illicit industry is booming.
According to Forbes, there is a relationship between the increase in cybercrime and the increase in remote work spurred by the pandemic.
This Cyber News was published on www.cyberdefensemagazine.com. Publication date: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 06:13:05 +0000