Guest blog courtesy of CYRISMA.
Over the past few years, cybercriminal activity on the Dark Web has evolved dramatically, with threat actors working in an increasingly structured manner with distinct business units and specialized roles.
This article explores how the Dark Web—a deliberately hidden portion of the internet requiring specialized tools to access—has become both a marketplace for stolen data and a command center for criminal operations. As ransomware groups evolve their tactics and increasingly target vulnerable small and medium businesses, organizations need proactive intelligence strategies to detect threats before they materialize into breaches.
With the Dark Web Intelligence market projected to grow at over 21% annually, reaching $1.66 billion by 2034, understanding this hidden realm has become essential for managed service providers (MSPs) offering cybersecurity services.
The Deep Web and the Dark Web – Understanding the Difference
The internet as we know it is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies a vast realm known as the Deep Web, and within it, the shadowy Dark Web. These terms are frequently used interchangeably, but they represent distinct concepts.
The Deep Web
The Deep Web encompasses any web content that isn't indexed by standard search engines, including:
The Deep Web is significantly larger than the surface web, potentially hundreds of times so. It's a vast repository of information and services that are not publicly accessible but are generally legitimate.
The Dark Web
The Dark Web, in contrast, is a small, deliberately hidden portion of the Deep Web. It requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access, and is designed to provide anonymity. This makes it valuable for legitimate users seeking privacy but also creates a haven for cybercriminals operating in the shadows.
While precise figures are elusive, estimates suggest the Dark Web comprises approximately 5% of the total internet. This seemingly small fraction harbors an immense amount of illicit activity, including the trade of stolen data, illegal goods, and malicious software.
How Cybercriminals Operate on the Dark Web
The Dark Web serves as a hub for various illicit activities, operating with sophisticated infrastructure.
Underground Marketplaces
Dark Web marketplaces function like e-commerce platforms, selling stolen data (credit card numbers, personal identifiable information, intellectual property, access credentials and more), drugs, weapons, and malware. They feature vendor ratings, escrow services, and cryptocurrency payments for anonymity, creating a thriving economy for cybercriminals on a global scale.
Leak Sites
Ransomware groups and other malicious actors use these sites to publish stolen data as leverage against victims. This tactic, known as double extortion, adds significant pressure on victims to pay ransoms, as the threat of public data exposure can be devastating.
Discussion and Hacking Forums
These forums facilitate the exchange of hacking tools, techniques, and stolen data. They include sections for exploit sharing, malware development, and data breach discussions, serving as breeding grounds for cybercriminal collaboration and innovation.
Specialized Criminal Services
The Dark Web ecosystem has evolved to include specialized roles:
Just like legitimate businesses, cybercriminal operations have developed increased specialization, with different actors becoming active at different stages of criminal activity, such as malware development, data exfiltration, or negotiation with victims.
Evasion Tactics: How Threat Actors Avoid Detection
Cybercriminals employ sophisticated tactics to maintain anonymity and evade law enforcement:
The Evolution of Ransomware Operations
Ransomware groups operating on the Dark Web have significantly evolved their operations over recent years, with several key trends:
Shift to SMB Targeting
More recently, there has been a marked shift from high-profile attacks targeting large establishments to a focus on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Following significant law enforcement actions against larger ransomware groups like LockBit in 2024, newer, more agile ransomware groups changed tactics, targeting SMBs.
These smaller businesses make attractive targets because:
Current Ransomware Landscape
Recent statistics highlight the growing ransomware threat, despite global law enforcement action against some high-profile threat actors in recent years.
The Business Case for Dark Web Monitoring
Dark web monitoring provides crucial benefits for organizations of all sizes:
Risk Management Advantages
Compliance and Regulatory Benefits
Response Strategies After Discovering Dark Web Exposures
When organizations discover their data on the dark web, immediate action is crucial. Here are a few potential measures that organizations can take following detection:
The Growing Dark Web Intelligence Market
The Dark Web Intelligence market is estimated to go up to $0.76 billion in 2025 – an 11 percent increase from last year. It is further projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% over the next several years, reaching $1.66 billion by 2034.
Some of the factors driving this demand include:
Opportunities for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)
For MSPs looking to expand their service offerings, this is a great time to incorporate dark web monitoring into their portfolio.
Business Advantages
As cyber threats continue to evolve, dark web monitoring has transitioned from a specialized security function to an essential component of comprehensive risk management. Organizations that implement proactive dark web intelligence capabilities gain critical visibility into potential threats before they materialize as breaches, providing time to strengthen defenses and mitigate damage.
For cybersecurity professionals and MSPs, dark web monitoring represents both a critical security layer for protecting clients and a strategic business opportunity. By adding these capabilities to security programs, organizations can significantly enhance their cyber resilience in an increasingly threatening digital landscape.
CYRISMA’s Dark Web Monitoring Feature
CYRISMA's Dark Web Monitoring feature, which received a major update in March 2025 to improve results and visualization, and increase detection accuracy, is designed to help MSPs discover potential breaches early and enhance their risk reduction services. By offering comprehensive dark web scanning and analysis capabilities, CYRISMA empowers MSPs to deliver more well-rounded security services and differentiate themselves from competitors.
CYRISMA’s core features also include sensitive data discovery and financial impact estimates which, when combined with Dark Web Monitoring, help build a strong foundation for zero-trust security.
To learn more about CYRISMA’s complete feature-set, Book a Free Demo today!
