Dark Web Cybercrime Forums You Should Monitor

It may appear daunting due to the abundance of cybercrime forums and channels, but many of these are actually filled with noise, scams, and low sophistication actors posing minimal threat to corporate environments.

Here we will discuss the the top 4 dark web cybercrime forums you should monitor.

These are:

• RAMP
• XSS
• Breach Forums
• Exploit Forums

The challenge for many companies lies in extracting actionable intelligence from this overwhelming cybercrime noise. So make sure to have these 4 in your monitoring solution.

Key Cybercrime Forums

1. RAMP Forum:
   • Nature: Invite-only, sophisticated with a focus on selling actual exploits/corporate access.
   • Activity: Few hundred users, about a dozen posts per day.
   • Specialization: Ransomware as a Service, trading known and 0-DAY exploits (some up to $50,000).
   • Background: Emerged after other Russian forums banned Ransomware discussions.
   • Daily Posts: Few dozen.
2. Exploit Forum:
   • Audience: Wider than RAMP, Russian hacking community.
   • Focus: Corporate access, hacking, carding, fraud, and exploits.
   • Membership: Invite for free or paid entry via crypto.
   • Reputation: High-quality, with quick bans for scammers.
   • Specialization: Main hub for trading “initial access” to corporate IT environments.
   • Daily Posts: Few hundred.
3. XSS:
   • Membership: Free/paid tiered option, Russian hacking forum.
   • Focus: Broad discussions on hacking, carding, fraud, initial access brokers, and auctions.
   • Unique Feature: Large section for free data leaks.
   • Daily Posts: Few hundred.
4. Breach Forums:
   • Language: Primarily English.
   • History: Created to replace the dissolved Raid Forums in 2022, briefly shut down in 2023.
   • Activity: Most active, diverse range of criminal activities including data leaks and fraud.
   • Daily Posts: Several thousand.

High-Profile Takedowns: Joker’s Stash, Genesis Market, and Hydra Market

Joker’s Stash Shutdown

• Background: Joker’s Stash, once the largest darknet forum for trading stolen credit cards and other illicit goods, announced its shutdown in early 2021. This forum was notorious for its vast collection of stolen data, including credit card information and personally identifiable information (PII).
• Impact: The closure of Joker’s Stash marked a significant moment in the battle against cybercrime, signaling a major disruption in the trade of stolen data and illicit goods.

Genesis Market Forum Shutdown

• Overview: Genesis Market was a significant player in the darknet market, offering a range of cybercriminal services such as stolen credentials and exploit kits.
• Shutdown Cause: The takedown of Genesis Market was part of a broader crackdown by law enforcement agencies worldwide, leading to a domino effect of arrests and shutdowns in the cybercrime ecosystem.

Hydra Market Takedown

• Description: Hydra Market held the title of the world’s largest and longest-running darknet market, primarily dealing in illegal drugs, stolen financial information, and money laundering services.
• Action Taken: In a coordinated effort, U.S. and German law enforcement agencies seized Hydra’s servers and cryptocurrency wallets. The operators were arrested and charged with offenses including conspiracy to commit money laundering and distribute narcotics.

Importance of Comprehensive Monitoring

Occasionally, significant data dumps occur on lesser-known forums like Cracked, underscoring the importance of comprehensive monitoring.

Sophisticated actors, however, usually frequent a select few well-regarded Tor sites as I mentioned above in the top 4 listing.

The Benefits of Dark Web Monitoring

In the context of the comprehensive monitoring of key cybercrime forums on the Dark Web, such as RAMP, XSS, Breach Forums, and Exploit Forums, the benefits of dark web monitoring become increasingly evident.

The benefits of early threat detection, understanding TTPs, preventing data breaches and more are crucial for organizations looking to bolster their cybersecurity posture and stay ahead of potential threats.

The Benefits are

Early Threat Detection

• Description: Monitoring the dark web allows organizations to detect threats early, often before they materialize into actual attacks.
• Impact: Early detection enables proactive measures to mitigate potential risks, reducing the likelihood of successful cyber attacks.

Understanding Hacker Tactics and Trends

• Overview: The dark web is a repository of evolving hacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• Benefit: By monitoring these forums, organizations gain insights into the latest cybercriminal strategies, helping them adapt their defenses accordingly.

Preventing Data Breaches

• Function: Dark web forums often host discussions and trades involving stolen data and credentials.
• Advantage: Monitoring these platforms can alert organizations to breaches involving their data, allowing for timely response and mitigation strategies.

Strengthening Security Measures

• Aspect: The dark web provides information on vulnerabilities and exploits traded or discussed among cybercriminals.
• Result: This intelligence can be used to fortify security systems against known and emerging vulnerabilities.

Gaining Competitive Intelligence

• Nature: The dark web can also be a source of information about competitors and industry-specific threats.
• Outcome: Organizations can use this intelligence for strategic decision-making and maintaining a competitive edge.

Compliance and Legal Protection

• Context: For industries with stringent regulatory requirements, dark web monitoring can aid in compliance efforts.
• Relevance: It ensures that organizations are aware of and can respond to any exposure of sensitive or regulated data.

Supporting Law Enforcement Efforts:

• Role: Information gleaned from dark web monitoring can be valuable to law enforcement agencies.
• Contribution: Sharing relevant information can aid in broader efforts to combat cybercrime and dismantle cybercriminal networks.

Strategies for Effective Monitoring

Monitoring the cybercrime ecosystem effectively can be accelerated by using tools that continuously archive data and enable keyword searching.

For those working manually, especially in a CTI (Cyber Threat Intelligence) program without advanced tooling, focusing on a few prominent and active forums is key.

Identifying exploits, auctions, or breaches that may impact your security environment can yield significant benefits.

Conclusion

While the task of monitoring the Dark Web’s cybercrime ecosystem is complex, it is vital for staying ahead of potential threats.

By focusing on key forums and utilizing the right tools, security teams can efficiently navigate this landscape, gaining valuable insights and strengthening their defensive strategies against emerging cyber threats.