2020 was a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and global political turmoil, but it was also a year that saw a significant increase in cyber-attacks. Some of the biggest corporations in the world, including NASA, T-Mobile, and cybersecurity companies like SolarWinds, fell victim to severe breaches, with the leaked information ending up on the dark web for sale.
Privacy Affairs conducted an investigation into the changes and adaptations of the dark web market since 2020, uncovering some alarming findings. One of the most concerning aspects is the price of data on the dark web. Cyber-criminals have access to a vast amount of data from large corporations, and they are selling this information for profit. For example, stolen banking login information to accounts with a minimum of $2000 was sold for an average price of $120, while hacked US credit card details with CVV were going for $17. Cloned Mastercards with PINs were priced at around $25, and credit card details with a $5000 account balance sold for $240.
In addition to financial information, forged physical documents such as passports were also being sold on the dark web. Dutch, Polish, and French passports were priced at an average of $4000, while Maltese passports were selling for a staggering $6000.
Privacy Affairs also found that the volume of data being sold on the dark web has significantly increased since last year, with fake credit card and ID vendors reporting sales in the thousands. Buyers are gravitating towards larger, more ‘trustworthy’ websites, with the White House Market holding the largest market share of sales. Dark web markets are now offering deals such as ‘buy three cloned credit cards and get one free,’ mimicking traditional market promotions.
To evade detection by law enforcement, dark web markets have implemented increased security measures. They have shifted from using Bitcoin to Monero for payments, as Bitcoin is no longer considered secure. Vendors are also communicating exclusively through PGP encryption to ensure anonymity.
The importance of this information lies in the realization of just how valuable personal data is and how easily it can be exploited. Hackers do not target individuals specifically but rather rely on the vast amount of data available for purchase. It serves as a stark reminder that protecting personal information is crucial in today’s digital age.
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