The Internet familiar to us (the tip of the "Internet iceberg") is only a small part of the entire Web space. It is called "TheSurfaceWeb" - "Internet on the surface", or ClearNet. Sites in this segment are indexed by search engines, and their share is approximately 4%.
The remaining 96% is the invisible part, or "DeepWeb" - "deep" Internet. This includes data owned by companies, government agencies, scientific and medical centers, the military, etc. Information in this segment is not indexed. The lower part of the "Internet iceberg" is "DarkNet" - "shadow" Internet, access to which is carried out using specialized software.
In recent years, the activity of cybercriminals has increased significantly: the emergence of "black markets" in the DarkNet contributed to the spread of malware, as well as tools and methods to bypass fraud monitoring. But does a novice hacker know how to use all this and still act anonymously? Alas, he knows: if in the past he needed many years of experience to carry out a cyber attack, now many tools are available in the form of step-by-step guides, and for a small fee!
For example, pricing studies on the "black market" DarkNet show that a significant set of tools for cyber attacks (malware, ready-made phishing pages, password crackers, etc.) can be purchased for just a few dollars. A team of researchers studied thousands of ads in the five largest DarkNet black markets and compiled the Dark Web Market Price Index. The results obtained show that the cost of a cyberattack has become much more affordable, and the barriers to entry that existed before have practically disappeared.
Another significant factor for the development of the "black market" was the emergence of cryptocurrencies. Digital coins, especially BitCoin, are very popular in many services of the "shadow" Internet. They act as the main payment instrument, as buyers and sellers strive to achieve maximum anonymity. The emergence of cryptocurrencies has given a new breath to the "black markets" in the DarkNet.
I am sure that visiting
darknet markets will help you to study this topic in more detail.