THE Dark Web hosts illegal and criminal products and services offered for sale – and this certainly encompasses the realm of cybercrime. From website hacking to DDoS custom malware attacks or changing school grades, you can purchase one of these services from a hacker for a fee. But how much do these types of items cost?
In this article, I look at various sources to show you the costs of hiring a Dark Web hacker. The idea is not to drag you into a life of crime but to reveal the latest findings and improve your cybersecurity knowledge.
SEE: The Dark Web: a guide for professionals (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Hire a hacker
Before we look at costs, just a quick word about how easy it is for malicious individuals to find a hacker. According to a study by an accounting and consulting firm Crow“hacker services for hire are available in abundance on the Dark Web.” Payments are typically made using cryptocurrency assets to provide the highest level of anonymity.
If you’re wondering how big the Dark Web is, then cybersecurity software company Avast explains: “Dark Web statistics are difficult to measure, but it is estimated that there are tens of millions of URLs on the Dark Web and tens of thousands of active Dark Web websites, including thousands of forums and markets.
These alarming facts mean that the recruitment process is going to be quite simple. There are many places to find hackers willing to engage in unseemly activities.
SEE: Dell Unveils AI and Cybersecurity Solutions at Microsoft Ignite 2024 (TechRepublic)
DDoS attacks
Hackers who offer distributed denial of service attacks can charge anywhere from $10 to $750. Based on data from Privacy Affairs Dark Web Price Index 2023$10 would buy you DDoS attacks on an “unprotected website, 10-50,000 requests per second, 1 hour.”
If it were a “premium protected website,” a 24-hour attack would cost around $170.
Some hackers will charge by the hour, or even monthly, to keep an attack going for as long as the buyer wants.
Some hackers modify search engine results to increase or decrease a site’s ranking. Others will delete a post made by the buyer on a social network. Some hackers audit a website’s security, ostensibly to show the owner where vulnerabilities exist.
SEE: Cybersecurity: benefits and best practices (Prime TechRepublic)
Personal attacks
Hackers specializing in personal attacks sell their services for anywhere from $10 to over $600. A personal attack may include financial sabotage, legal problems, or public defamation. One tactic touted by a hacker is to present the victim as a buyer of child pornography. A few hackers offer services such as “revenge against scammers” or “fraud tracking”, in which they attack a scammer.
Analysis by Crowe, whose team encountered a “menu of hacker services for hire,” indicates that access to personal information, addresses, phone numbers, emails and names of loved ones will cost an average of $600 .
The Dark Web Price Index 2023 indicates that a US passport scan could cost as little as $50, the price of the falsified documents.
Website hacking
Website hacking includes attacks against websites and other services hosted online. Hackers can gain access to an underlying web server or a website’s admin panel. Others can steal databases and administrative credentials.
Crowe’s survey finds that hacking websites and databases costs an average of $1,200. This type of activity may involve accessing the admin dashboard or backend.
Computer and phone hacking
According to Crowe’s findings, a computer and phone hacking service costs an average of $950. In this type of attack, the hacker breaks into the victim’s PC or phone to steal data or deploy malware. The operating system doesn’t seem to matter as they boast access to Windows, macOS, Linux, Android or iOS.
SEE: Everything you need to know about the cybersecurity threat of malicious ads (Prime TechRepublic)
Social media account hacking
Hacking a social media account can cost anywhere from $20 to over $500. In this service, the hacker will spy on or hijack accounts of platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Social Platform X, Instagram, Skype, Telegram, TikTok, Snapchat and Reddit. Malicious activity depends on the service. Criminals who hack a victim’s Facebook or X account often steal credentials to give the buyer full access to the account. Those who access a WhatsApp account will likely spy on messages or take screenshots.
Email hacking
According to Crowe’s data, email hacking sells for an average of $700. In this activity, the hacker steals the victim’s email password and then gives that password to the buyer or breaks into the account to access the data. In some cases, the criminal may set up an email forwarding process to obtain a copy of all of the victim’s emails.
SEE: Engaging Leaders: How to Present Cybersecurity in a Way that Resonates (TechRepublic)
Change notes
Students who want to get a higher grade can actually pay someone to hack a school system and change their grades. Available in both primary schools and universities, this is one of the most common and one of the most expensive hacking services. On the sidelines, some hackers also claim to be able to steal answers to future exams. So this means that a student can get an A+ for their exam scores but an F- for their ethical behavior.
According to Crowe, hackers are offering access to grading software databases run by universities. This type of service is not cheap; the average cost is $1,600.
Conclusion
As the range of threats and remarkably low prices show, the dangers of hacking require individuals and businesses to remain constantly vigilant.
I recommend monitoring the Dark Web Price Index, as it is a useful resource that shows attack trends.
Other actions you can take may include employee awareness trainingrobust antivirus measures, penetration testingand even employ an ethical hacker to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities in your organization.
Finally, and because enlightenment is our noble intention, stay informed of the latest cybersecurity news at TechRepublic and deepen your knowledge with training on TechRepublic Academy. There’s no reason to let the Dark Web darken your door.
