What It Prices to Rent a Hacker on the Darkish Internet

The Dark Web is house to unlawful and prison services up on the market — and that definitely encompasses the world of cybercrime. From web site hacking to DDoS assaults to customized malware to altering college grades, you should purchase considered one of these companies from a hacker for rent. However simply how a lot do these kinds of gadgets value?

On this article, I study numerous sources to indicate you the prices of hiring a hacker on the Darkish Internet. The thought is to not tempt you into a lifetime of crime however to disclose the newest findings and enhance your cybersecurity information.

SEE: The Dark Web: A Guide for Business Professionals (Free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Hiring a hacker

Earlier than I study the prices, only a transient phrase on how straightforward it is for nefarious people to discover a hacker. In keeping with analysis from accounting and consulting agency Crowe, “hacker-for-hire companies can be found in abundance on the Darkish Internet.” Funds are normally made utilizing cryptocurrency belongings to offer the very best degree of anonymity.

For those who’re questioning how massive the Darkish Internet is, then cybersecurity software program firm Avast explains, “It’s tough to measure darkish net statistics, but it surely’s estimated that there are tens of thousands and thousands of URLs on the darkish net and tens of 1000’s of energetic darkish net web sites, together with 1000’s of boards and marketplaces.”

These alarming info imply the recruitment course of goes to be pretty straightforward. There are numerous locations to seek out hackers who’re all wanting to do unseemly enterprise.

SEE: Dell Unveils AI and Cybersecurity Solutions at Microsoft Ignite 2024 (TechRepublic)

DDoS assaults

Hackers who provide distributed denial-of-service assaults can cost as little as $10 or as excessive as $750. Based mostly on knowledge from Privateness Affairs’ Dark Web Price Index 2023, $10 would purchase you  DDoS assaults on an “Unprotected web site, 10-50k requests per second, 1 hour.”

If it have been a “premium protected web site,” then a 24-hour assault would value round $170.

Some hackers will cost by the hour and even by the month to take care of an assault for so long as the customer desires.

Sure hackers will change search engine outcomes to lift or decrease a website’s rankings. Others will take away a submit that the customer made on a social community. Some hackers will audit an internet site’s security, seemingly to indicate the proprietor the place any vulnerabilities exist.

SEE: Cybersecurity: Benefits and Best Practices (TechRepublic Premium)

Private assaults

Hackers specializing in private assaults promote their companies for $10 to over $600. A private assault may embody monetary sabotage, authorized hassle, or public defamation. One tactic touted by a hacker is to border the sufferer as a purchaser of kid pornography. A couple of hackers provide such companies as “scammer revenge” or “fraud monitoring,” wherein they assault a scammer.

Evaluation from Crowe, whose staff encountered a “hacker-for-hire companies menu,” states that gaining access to non-public data, addresses, telephone numbers, emails, and family members’ names will, on common, value $600.

The Darkish Internet Value Index 2023 says a U.S. passport scan may value as little as $50, which is the worth of solid paperwork.

Web site hacking

Web site hacking consists of assaults in opposition to web sites and different companies hosted on-line. Hackers can entry an underlying net server or an internet site’s administrative panel. Others can steal databases and administrative credentials.

Crowe’s investigation reveals that web site and database hacking prices, on common, $1,200. This sort of exercise may entail getting access to the admin dashboard or backend.

Laptop and telephone hacking

Based mostly on Crowe’s findings, a computer and telephone hacking service runs $950 on common. In one of these assault, the hacker breaks into the sufferer’s PC or telephone to steal knowledge or deploy malware. The working system doesn’t appear to matter as they boast that they’ll entry Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS.

SEE: Everything You Need to Know about the Malvertising Cybersecurity Threat (TechRepublic Premium)

Social media account hacking

Hacking right into a social media account can vary from $20 to $500+. On this service, the hacker will spy on or hijack accounts from such platforms as WhatsApp, Fb, social platform X, Instagram, Skype, Telegram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit. The malicious exercise depends upon the service. Criminals who hack right into a sufferer’s Fb or X account will typically steal credentials to offer the customer full entry to the account. Those that faucet into an account from WhatsApp will probably spy on messages or take screenshots.

E-mail hacking

In keeping with Crowe’s knowledge, e mail hacking sells for $700 on common. On this exercise, the hacker steals the sufferer’s e mail password after which both provides that password to the customer or breaks into the account to entry knowledge. In some instances, the prison might arrange an e mail forwarded course of to get a duplicate of all of the sufferer’s emails.

SEE: Engaging Executives: How to Present Cybersecurity in a Way That Resonates (TechRepublic)

Altering grades

College students who need a increased grade can truly pay somebody to hack into a faculty system and alter their grades. Accessible for each grade faculties and universities, this is likely one of the commonest hacking companies and one of the vital costly. As a sideline, some hackers additionally say they’ll steal the solutions to future exams. So, meaning a pupil can get an A+ for examination outcomes however an F- for moral habits.

In keeping with Crowe, hackers provide entry to databases for grading software program managed by universities. This sort of service isn’t low-cost; the typical value is $1,600.

Conclusion

As we are able to see from the vary of threats and remarkably low costs, the hazards of hacking require people and companies to stay continuously vigilant.

I like to recommend monitoring the Darkish Internet Value Index, because it’s a helpful useful resource that reveals trending assaults.

Different actions you possibly can take can embody employee awareness training, sturdy antivirus measures, penetration testing, and even using an moral hacker to proactively determine and tackle vulnerabilities in your group.

Lastly, and since illumination is our noble intention, sustain with the newest cybersecurity information at TechRepublic and increase your information with coaching programs at TechRepublic Academy. There’s no cause to let the Darkish Internet darken the doorstep.