Reviewing the Dark Web Market Trends and Projections for 2024
Dark web market trends: Review and Predictions for 2024
In the past year, Kaspersky experts noted a significant increase in stealers and extortion activities on the dark web market. Looking forward to 2024, the company foresees new challenges, such as a rise in crypto-drainer services, more promotion of fraudulent websites through search advertising, and an increase in malicious ‘loaders’.
In the latest Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB), experts from the Global Research and Analysis Team and Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence have compiled a detailed review of the previous year and provided insights into emerging trends in the shadowy dark web market – a central hub for illicit services within the cybercriminal community.
In 2023, there were several highlights in the dark web market:
Ransomware blog posts saw a surge, with the average number of posts peaking in November.
Personal and corporate credentials faced an escalating risk of leakage, with a rise in posts related to stealer malware designed to pilfer sensitive information.
Looking ahead to 2024, Kaspersky expects several trends to shape the dark web market:
Scammers will increasingly utilize search engine advertising to promote websites embedded with malware, moving away from traditional phishing emails.
There will be a growing demand for crypto-drainer services, malware designed to withdraw funds from legitimate crypto wallets to malicious actors’ wallets.
Additionally, experts anticipate an increase in services providing AV evasion for malware, evolving ‘loader’ malware services, and dynamic changes in Bitcoin mixers and cleaning services.
Sergey Lozhkin, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team, emphasizes the importance of monitoring dark web market activities to stay ahead in terms of cyber defenses.
The dark web market predictions and review are part of Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB), an annual series of predictions and analytical reports on cybersecurity trends.
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