The Darkish Net is dwelling to unlawful and felony services and products up on the market — and that definitely encompasses the world of cybercrime. From web site hacking to DDoS assaults to customized malware to altering faculty grades, you should purchase one in all these providers from a hacker for rent. However simply how a lot do these kinds of objects value?
On this article, I look at numerous sources to indicate you the prices of hiring a hacker on the Darkish Net. The thought is to not tempt you into a lifetime of crime however to disclose the most recent findings and enhance your cybersecurity data.
SEE: The Darkish Net: A Information for Enterprise Professionals (Free PDF) (TechRepublic)
Hiring a hacker
Earlier than I look at the prices, only a transient phrase on how straightforward it’s for nefarious people to discover a hacker. In line with analysis from accounting and consulting agency Crowe, “hacker-for-hire providers can be found in abundance on the Darkish Net.” Funds are normally made utilizing cryptocurrency property to offer the best degree of anonymity.
Should you’re questioning how large the Darkish Net is, then cybersecurity software program firm Avast explains, “It’s tough to measure darkish internet statistics, but it surely’s estimated that there are tens of thousands and thousands of URLs on the darkish internet and tens of 1000’s of lively darkish internet web sites, together with 1000’s of boards and marketplaces.”
These alarming information imply the recruitment course of goes to be pretty straightforward. There are various locations to seek out hackers who’re all wanting to do unseemly enterprise.
SEE: Dell Unveils AI and Cybersecurity Options at Microsoft Ignite 2024 (TechRepublic)
DDoS assaults
Hackers who supply distributed denial-of-service assaults can cost as little as $10 or as excessive as $750. Primarily based on knowledge from Privateness Affairs’ Darkish Net Worth Index 2023, $10 would purchase you DDoS assaults on an “Unprotected web site, 10-50k requests per second, 1 hour.”
If it had been a “premium protected web site,” then a 24-hour assault would value round $170.
Some hackers will cost by the hour and even by the month to keep up an assault for so long as the client needs.
Sure hackers will change search engine outcomes to boost or decrease a website’s rankings. Others will take away a put up that the client made on a social community. Some hackers will audit a web site’s safety, seemingly to indicate the proprietor the place any vulnerabilities exist.
SEE: Cybersecurity: Advantages and Finest Practices (TechRepublic Premium)
Private assaults
Hackers specializing in private assaults promote their providers for $10 to over $600. A private assault might embody monetary sabotage, authorized bother, or public defamation. One tactic touted by a hacker is to border the sufferer as a purchaser of kid pornography. A number of hackers supply such providers as “scammer revenge” or “fraud monitoring,” wherein they assault a scammer.
Evaluation from Crowe, whose staff encountered a “hacker-for-hire providers menu,” states that getting access to private data, addresses, cellphone numbers, emails, and family’ names will, on common, value $600.
The Darkish Net Worth Index 2023 says a U.S. passport scan might value as little as $50, which is the value of solid paperwork.
Web site hacking
Web site hacking contains assaults towards web sites and different providers hosted on-line. Hackers can entry an underlying internet server or a web site’s administrative panel. Others can steal databases and administrative credentials.
Crowe’s investigation reveals that web site and database hacking prices, on common, $1,200. This type of exercise may entail getting access to the admin dashboard or backend.
Pc and cellphone hacking
Primarily based on Crowe’s findings, a pc and cellphone hacking service runs $950 on common. In one of these assault, the hacker breaks into the sufferer’s PC or cellphone to steal knowledge or deploy malware. The working system doesn’t appear to matter as they boast that they’ll entry Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS.
SEE: Every thing You Have to Know in regards to the Malvertising Cybersecurity Menace (TechRepublic Premium)
Social media account hacking
Hacking right into a social media account can vary from $20 to $500+. On this service, the hacker will spy on or hijack accounts from such platforms as WhatsApp, Fb, social platform X, Instagram, Skype, Telegram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit. The malicious exercise relies on the service. Criminals who hack right into a sufferer’s Fb or X account will typically steal credentials to present the client full entry to the account. Those that faucet into an account from WhatsApp will doubtless spy on messages or take screenshots.
E mail hacking
In line with Crowe’s knowledge, e mail hacking sells for $700 on common. On this exercise, the hacker steals the sufferer’s e mail password after which both provides that password to the client or breaks into the account to entry knowledge. In some circumstances, the felony could arrange an e mail forwarded course of to get a duplicate of all of the sufferer’s emails.
SEE: Participating Executives: How you can Current Cybersecurity in a Method That Resonates (TechRepublic)
Altering grades
College students who need a increased grade can truly pay somebody to hack into a college system and alter their grades. Out there for each grade faculties and universities, this is among the most typical hacking providers and one of the crucial costly. As a sideline, some hackers additionally say they’ll steal the solutions to future exams. So, which means a scholar can get an A+ for examination outcomes however an F- for moral habits.
In line with Crowe, hackers supply entry to databases for grading software program managed by universities. This type of service isn’t low-cost; the common value is $1,600.
Conclusion
As we are able to see from the vary of threats and remarkably low costs, the risks of hacking require people and companies to stay continuously vigilant.
I like to recommend monitoring the Darkish Net Worth Index, because it’s a helpful useful resource that reveals trending assaults.
Different actions you’ll be able to take can embody worker consciousness coaching, sturdy antivirus measures, penetration testing, and even using an moral hacker to proactively determine and handle vulnerabilities in your group.
Lastly, and since illumination is our noble intention, sustain with the most recent cybersecurity information at TechRepublic and enhance your data with coaching programs at TechRepublic Academy. There’s no purpose to let the Darkish Net darken the doorstep.