How Dark Web Research Keeps Cybersecurity Experts Ahead of Hackers

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not publicly visible or searchable. It is a haven for hackers—a network of websites and servers where they can buy and sell both information and tools to help them engage in criminal activity.

Many business leaders struggle to understand the scope of the dark web, believing it is just a small part of the internet. In fact, the dark web comprises?almost half (48%) of the world wide web.?That’s why cybersecurity experts need to know how to access the dark web and monitor activity there before threats become a reality.

In this article, we will explore how dark web research keeps cybersecurity experts ahead of hackers in their attempts to penetrate important systems.

What is the Dark Web?

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not accessible through traditional search engines. Websites and servers on the dark web can only be accessed by people who know the specific URLs of the locations they wish to access. Many dark web locations are protected by passwords and authentication protocols to ensure they can only be accessed by “the right people.”

Where the dark web got its name is up for debate.

One theory is that it was influenced by the dark colors of the websites that make it up, as opposed to the brighter colors of websites on the “surface” web that we are all familiar with. Another is the fact that the dark web is “dark” in the sense that it is not easily accessible by the average internet user. Of course, the name could also stem from the abundance of negative activity that occurs there.

The dark web originated in the early days of the internet when it was used by scientists and researchers who needed a way to share information anonymously. To access the dark web, you typically need special software that allows you to bypass traditional search engines.

Today, the dark web is home to a wide range of malicious and harmful activities, including illegal drug sales, malware distribution, and human trafficking. It is also a popular place for cybercriminals to trade and sell stolen information.

Businesses must understand the dark web to protect themselves against online threats.

Typical Criminal Activities on the Dark Web

Hackers use the dark web for illicit activities because they are extremely difficult for the authorities to trace there. They can easily mask their IP (internet protocol) addresses, and because they don’t use certified browsers to access the dark web, there is virtually no record of their activities.

Some of the most common illicit activities that occur on the dark web are the following:

• Malware distribution:?This is one of the most common activities of hackers on the dark web. Internet criminals are constantly developing new viruses and software that can circumvent cybersecurity defenses and breach systems. They use the dark web to distribute and sell these “tools” to other criminals.
• Launching and coordinating cyberattacks:?The dark web enables hackers to communicate, strategize, and launch large-scale attacks with little risk of being monitored or caught.
• Securing stolen data:?Hackers can use the dark web to securely store data they steal from organizations, institutions, and individuals.
• Selling stolen data:?The dark web hosts many digital marketplaces for stolen data. Evidence also suggests?stolen data is getting cheaper?as hackers’ capabilities expand and the marketplaces themselves begin to look more like traditional e-commerce websites. Often, stolen data includes people’s login credentials for websites and SaaS products, consumer credit card data, personally identifiable information (PII), and intellectual property.
• Trading in illegal goods and services:?The dark web serves as a location for the sale and distribution of physical illegal goods and services. Criminals use the dark web to sell drugs, weapons, pornography, and even human beings.
• Conducting fraud:?Some fraudulent websites are hosted on the dark web to avoid being taken down by legitimate website hosts.
• Terrorist activity:?Terrorists use the dark web to coordinate both cyberattacks and physical attacks against targets like governments, institutions, and militaries. In 2007,?up to 50,000 extremist sites?already existed on the dark web.

How Cybersecurity Experts Conduct Research on the Dark Web

Dark web research is a meticulous process that involves accessing sites on the dark web in much the same way cybercriminals do. The only difference is that researchers record what they find on the dark web so that organizations, individuals, and the authorities can be warned about potential threats.

Naturally, this research also helps businesses. It allows them to identify potential vulnerabilities in systems that could be exploited by hackers.

For example, if a hacker develops a new type of malware that exploits a vulnerability in Windows operating systems, researchers could find that malware while looking at known marketplaces on the dark web. They can then inform Microsoft (the company that publishes Windows) of the exploit. This would allow Microsoft to develop a patch for its operating system, rendering the malware benign before it can be used in widespread attacks.

Researchers can also use these insights to better protect their business clients. A managed security services provider (MSSP) that engages in dark web research would be able to patch their clients’ systems immediately, protecting them. If a patch is still forthcoming, they could step in to safeguard their client on their own.

Regular Patching is Critical

This regular upkeep of cyber defenses is perhaps the best benefit and most critical aspect of dark web research. Businesses often struggle to apply security patches in a timely way on their own, either because they don’t understand how to do so or they don’t have a protocol in place to do so regularly. This makes them especially vulnerable to new exploits.

According to?ZDNet, one 2020 study found that 64% of all unpatched vulnerabilities during the first half of 2020 were for vulnerabilities that became known two years previously, or even longer. That means most organizations still hadn’t applied patches that had been available for two years or longer, even though they were available

If those organizations had been partnered with cybersecurity experts, those patches would have been applied the moment they became available.

Dark Web Research Must Be a Part of Your Cybersecurity Suite

If your cybersecurity service isn’t engaging in dark web research or at least receiving regular updates from third-party researchers, your data could be left vulnerable to hackers.

Uvation’s network of experts engages in regular dark web research to reveal the latest threats to our client’s systems.

Contact us today?to learn more about how you can benefit from our insights.