Deep Web vs. Dark Web: Understanding the Underground Economy

The terms "Deep Web" and "Dark Web" are often used interchangeably, but they are distinct concepts.

• Surface Web: Indexed by search engines (Google, Bing). ~4% of the internet.
• Deep Web: Not indexed. Includes databases, private intranets, online banking, medical records. ~90% of the internet.
• Dark Web: A small subset of the Deep Web that requires specific software (Tor, I2P) to access. It is intentionally hidden and anonymous.

The Cybercrime Economy

The Dark Web hosts marketplaces that function like Amazon for criminals. They feature escrow services, user reviews, and customer support.

What is Sold?

• Stolen Credentials: Usernames and passwords from data breaches.
• Credit Card Data (CVV): Stolen payment card details.
• Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS): Renting ransomware or botnets.
• Zero-Day Exploits: Vulnerabilities that have no patch.
• Fake Documents: Passports, IDs, driver's licenses.

Methodology: Dark Web Monitoring

Organizations cannot "take down" the Dark Web, but they can monitor it.

• Credential Monitoring: Scan dark web dumps for corporate email addresses. If found, force a password reset immediately.
• Brand Monitoring: Look for mentions of the company name in hacker forums. This can provide early warning of a planned attack or a data leak.
• Threat Intelligence Feeds: Subscribe to feeds that aggregate dark web indicators (IPs, domains, hashes) to block them at the firewall.