Also, the forums feature a wide range of illicit services like money laundering, DDoS attacks, and counterfeit document creation that help them to execute even the most complex schemes without detection. As the name suggests, Dread is a hidden internet forum designed to look like the legitimate website Reddit – it’s easy to say that it’s the dark web Reddit. It was created in 2018 and has gained popularity with hundreds of posts a day at the moment. Interesting, many of its threads are based on secure password managers and operating system recommendations.
Bitsight’s 2025 deep web intelligence shows how cybercriminals are multiplying, diversifying—and getting smarter. Dark-web forums have been instrumental in several high-profile cyberattacks, vividly illustrating their critical role within the global cybercrime landscape. One prominent example is the notorious ransomware attack carried out by the REvil (Sodinokibi) group in 2021, which disrupted operations at hundreds of companies worldwide. Established in July 2021, RAMP (Russian Anonymous Market Place) stands out among dark web forums where Russian, Chinese, and English are spoken.
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In its first six months, BreachForums has become one of the most popular platforms for hacking discussions, including the trade of leaked data, with more than 255K registered users today. Dread’s user interface mirrors that of Reddit, which helps new users adapt quickly to its environment. The interface is divided into several sub-forums, each dedicated to specific topics like cybersecurity, privacy tools, or cryptocurrency. Each sub-forum consists of threads started by users, and within these threads, users can post comments and engage in discussions. The RAMP forum is also considered “friendly” to Exploit and XSS, with one key differentiating factor. The forum widely accepts discussions about ransomware and seeks to welcome actors speaking languages other than English and Russian.
- The site has over a thousand new members and over 4,000 daily posts (including threads and comments on previous posts).
- It’s so well managed that the platform is multilingual as it features up to 12 language-specific sections, with the French sub-forum being the most active.
- However, it has a sneak peek, easy guide steps, and/or a quick list providing quick in-page navigations and easily-found answers if desired.
- Usernames are typically pseudonymous, disposable, and frequently changed to evade detection or attribution, with strict community rules discouraging personal disclosures that might compromise security.
- Cracked may not have the same prestige as some of the other forums on this list, but it plays an important role in the broader cybercrime ecosystem.
Is It Illegal To Visit And Use Dark Websites?
According to the analyses made by ThreatMon analysts, there are important findings detected and obtained from dark web forums as the first source. With the detection of exploits, zero days, malware, etc. content obtained from dark web forums, proactive intelligence is developed by analyzing current malware. Dark web forums are online discussion platforms that operate within the dark web, a part of the internet that requires special software like Tor to access and is not indexed by traditional search engines. These forums serve as hubs for various activities, including discussions on cybersecurity, privacy, hacking, and, in some cases, illicit trade. Unlike surface web forums, dark web forums offer users a higher degree of anonymity, which can attract both ethical hackers and cybercriminals alike. While countless cybercriminals will often operate their illegal activities outside the dark web (such as in illicit Telegram channels), many dark web forums are still extensively valuable to monitor regularly.
It has a feature called CoinJoin that combines multiple coins from different users into a single transaction. This makes it extremely difficult to find out who you are transacting with. ZeroBin is a wonderful way to share the content you get from dark web resources.
The Start Of BreachForums
Nulled is an online forum board with over 3 million members as of 2020, mostly used by cybercriminals to trade and purchase leaked or hacked information. In 2016 it became known as the target of a data breach which helped law enforcement to obtain information about possible “suspects”, who were registered on Nulled. The dark web hosts a wide range of sites — from whistleblower tools and secure email platforms to underground forums, black markets, and dark web mirrors of legitimate news outlets.
It had a surface web mirror alongside an onion site that users accessed using the Tor browser. As per our research, the forum served as a place where hackers had discussions revolving around malware, unauthorized access, sales, database trading, and security vulnerabilities. Therefore, it’s one of the most-visited sources of information for both future and past ransomware attacks.
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By offering VIP Protection and real-time tracking of stolen credit card information, this service empowers organizations to defend against unauthorized transactions and financial exposures effectively. With Fraud Protection, businesses gain a critical advantage in preserving their financial integrity and protecting their executives from targeted cybercriminal activities. Established in 2018 and conducted in English, Dread was founded by the threat actor known as HugBunter. Many liken this forum to the “Reddit of the dark web” due to its similar interface.
The Top 5 Dark Web Forums
And, with an automatic kill switch that guards against unexpected exposure if the connection drops, you can enjoy powerful privacy protection as you navigate even the darker corners of the web. To access them, copy and paste the hyperlinks provided into the Tor browser. Exploit and other Russian forums tend to view themselves as more professional than other dark web communities. Dread Forum is designed with features that prioritize user privacy and security while providing a familiar user experience to those who have used mainstream forums. Accessing Dread Forum involves navigating the dark web, which requires more meticulous security measures compared to accessing the regular internet. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to safely access Dread using Tor or similar privacy-focused browsers, along with important security measures and common risks to be aware of.
DDW forums are similar to clearnet forums in function, existing as public discussion platforms though often differing in content, with users discussing more controversial, legally nuanced, or secretive topics. Meanwhile, DDW marketplaces are where the information, drugs, and cybercrime tools are listed for sale and trade hands. Forums and marketplaces are often hosted on the same domain, and the terms are often used interchangeably. Torch is one of the more established dark web search engines, designed to help users navigate the Tor network and discover onion sites. Unlike traditional search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo, Torch indexes hidden websites that operate beyond the reach of the surface web. But users should always be cautious and avoid clicking unfamiliar or untrusted links to steer clear of scams or malware.
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To prevent detection, the program runs user data via a tiered stream before allowing access to the dark web. I2P, or the Invisible Internet Project, allows you to access the ordinary and dark web. Specifically, the I2P darknet is accessible, while the Tor network is accessible through the Orchid Outproxy Tor plugin. Onion links have no regular domain names registered under the domain name registry.
Therefore, it’s a no-brainer that businesses should implement dark web monitoring to identify data breaches, cyber risks, and several other illegal activities. That way, a business can stay ahead of the game and respond swiftly to any possible threat, while protecting its reputation and customers. CryptBB focuses on the exchange of advanced hacking tools, stolen identity logs, and various exploitation techniques. The forum doesn’t have a mass recruitment structure or flashy marketing, but it’s still a prominent player that needs to be monitored for general users’ safety online. FreeHacks is yet another Russian-based administrator-owned dark web community forum that offers an extensive database of hacking resources and tools.
- If employee credentials are exposed, attackers can exploit them to infiltrate your systems and escalate privileges.
- One of the biggest problems cybersecurity teams face isn’t a lack of tools — it’s too many alerts.
- XSS is a closed Russian hacker forum, which is considered to be one of the most popular and most professional Russian-speaking hacking forums.
- Leading dark web forums use strong encryption, require anonymous login methods like Tor or I2P, and enforce strict rules against sharing personal information.
- Dread has rapidly become one of the most significant platforms for discussions related to illicit activities, including hacking and cybercrime.
The forum also implements an escrow system to secure transactions, a strategy that reportedly netted Pompompurin $1,000 daily. This is a forum where cybercriminals can discuss various cracking tools, combo lists and dumps, tools, proxies, premium accounts, and more. When writing this report, the Cracking forum has 226,815 threads, 2,084,807 messages, and 484,239 members. Ransomware leak sites are publicity sites where ransomware groups share the details of their latest victims. However, they also play an important role in how these groups orchestrate and monetize their attacks.
Maintain Strict Operational Security (OPSEC) Habits
CraxPro, established in 2020, is an English-language forum that focuses heavily on financial fraud. Topics on the forum include the sale of passports and IDs, cookie and credential sales, combo lists, and credit card fraud. CraxPro is often compared to Altenen, particularly in its emphasis on credit card fraud, although it has been noted that the quality of information shared on CraxPro can be inconsistent. 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. XSS is used by APT groups, including ransomware groups, to stay informed about the latest tools, techniques, and vulnerabilities that are being discussed in the wider hacking community. Their members comment on threads that discuss their activities and publicize their activities to build their reputation.
