The Dark Web is a mysterious place, and for good reason: only 6.7% of global internet users ever access it.

But is the Dark Web really just an internet doppelganger full of breached data for sale, guns for hire, and drugs on mass? What’s actually on the dark web?

Bitdefender examined the dark net marketplace, revealing what products and services people can really find on the online black market.

The Dark Web, first of all, is difficult to access – it requires specialised internet browsers and is not indexed by search engines, so users have to already know where to go to find it.

It also should not be confused with the Deep Web – this actually accounts for most of the internet. Much of the Deep Web is not directly accessible because it requires credentials, and is therefore not indexed by search engines – for example, science journals.

Bitdefender’s investigation is just a small fraction of what is actually occurring on the Dark Web, but still provides an excellent example of what can be found, how it is sold, and the prices for hot commodities on the dark web.

Interestingly, not everything on the dark web is illegal, and just as on the ‘above’ internet, there appears to be just as many scams.

Products and Services

Credit cards are a staple on the Dark Web – the cheapest credit card will only cost a buyer around $80 USD.

Sellers guarantee the amount on the credit card and the spending amount attached to the card, with an accompanying price tag.

An HQ Visa Platinum card, complete with CC and CVV with up to $30k guaranteed, costs $288 on the dark web, according to Bitdefender’s research.

Financial services like PayPal are also a prime target for hackers, and a hot commodity on the Dark Net. Prices tend to fluctuate depending on supply and demand, and there is often no guarantee that the bought account will be accessible.

Unsurprisingly, crypto currencies are a major product on the Dark Web, with compromised crypt accounts available for sale.

Working SIM cards can also be found for sale on the Dark Web in bulk – an anonymous Swiss number costs around 300 euros, according to Bitdefender.

The Dark Web is also full of compromised social media accounts, from Facebook and Instagram, to professional LinkedIn accounts.

Most of the prices are relatively low, and users can even purchase followers to expand their reach or make their profiles look more legitimate.

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Also alarmingly, Bitdefender found employee credentials available for sale on the Dark Net, typically sourced from data breaches. This information can be used for further attacks.

Physical IDs are also found for sale, both real and fake – passports, drivers licences, and even biometric passports can be found for varying prices. A UK passport was found on sale for 2,500 euros.

Streaming services are also found for sale on the Dark Web, and are a hot commodity as streaming services expand and increase their prices.

Criminals often sell them in bundles, using stolen credentials or having created them with stolen credit cards.

Staying Safe Online

Bitdefender says its important to stay updated on the latest data breaches and what was compromised, so you can know if your information is at risk of ending up on the Dark Net.

Monitoring credit and debit card purchases closely is important as well – communicating with your bank about any unauthorised activity on your cards is also important as they can then file a claim for fraud.

Checking your digital footprint is also important, to know where your credentials and cards are stored, and to understand and lessen the risks of compromise.