If You're Not Watching the Dark Web, You're Already Behind

The Dark Web isn’t just a haven for criminals, it’s also a resource for defenders. Dive into the tools, tactics, and techniques that cybercriminals use, and learn how security professionals leverage this knowledge to stay one step ahead.

Inside the Dark Web: What Hackers Don’t Want You to Know (But You Should) The Untold Toolkit of Today’s Cyber Defenders

Disclaimer

This article is written strictly for educational purposes. It's meant to inform and raise awareness among cybersecurity professionals about tools and techniques commonly used by attackers — and how we can understand and counter them. If you're in a security role, never attempt any of these methods on your organization’s infrastructure or networks without clear, written authorization. Misuse of the knowledge shared here is the sole responsibility of the individual. I, the author, am not responsible for how this content is applied. My goal is to help defenders get smarter, not to empower bad actors.

Think Like a Hacker, Act Like a Defender

The only way to stay ahead in this game is to understand how attackers operate — and then use that insight to strengthen our defense.

Cybersecurity is moving fast. These days, phishing emails don’t have broken grammar or bad spelling. They look clean, well-written, and believable. We’re in a world where AI and ML are shaping threats faster than ever before. Having great tools is not enough anymore. We need to think like attackers — study their techniques, anticipate their next moves, and prepare before something goes wrong.

That mindset is not optional anymore. It's critical in 2025.

Why I Wrote This ?

I'm A.S.M. Zakaria, and to be honest, I debated whether to even write this. But I figured if it helps even a few folks stay ahead of threats, it's worth it.

What you’ll read here is based on what I’ve personally found useful as part of a proactive defense strategy. It’s not a full-blown guide with technical steps (obviously, that would be irresponsible to share on this public article), but I’ll share enough to get you thinking and if you’re curious and willing to dig deeper on your own, you’ll find your way.

Dark Web vs. Deep Web — What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear this up first - they’re not the same.

• The Deep Web refers to anything on the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines. It includes things like your Gmail inbox, private files on Google Drive, your Netflix account, or internal systems behind a login. You need credentials or direct access to reach them — and search engines like Google don’t crawl them.
• The Dark Web, on the other hand, is a hidden part of the Deep Web. You need special tools like the Tor Browser to access it. It’s often painted as a hub for illegal stuff and yes, that exists but it’s also used by people who genuinely need privacy: whistleblowers, journalists, or human rights activists working under repressive regimes.

Of course, the same privacy also enables cybercriminals to thrive. There are massive forums and communities where they share techniques, tools, and plans. And most of the world isn’t even aware it’s happening, let alone ready to defend against it.

Accessing the Dark Web: The Role of Tor

To get into the Dark Web, the main gateway is the Tor Browser — short for The Onion Router. It’s a free, open-source browser built for privacy and anonymity.

The tech behind Tor was originally developed by the U.S. Navy for protecting sensitive communications. It works by wrapping your internet traffic in layers of encryption and routing it through several volunteer-run servers — kind of like peeling an onion. Each “hop” in the chain only knows the previous and next location, but never the full path. That makes it incredibly hard to trace your activity back to your real IP or location.

In short: it’s not just privacy for criminals. It’s privacy for everyone — including us, the defenders.

Why Security Professionals Should Care

We talk a lot about Zero Trust these days, and rightly so. But I’ve always felt that relying only on third-party threat intel doesn’t sit right. Yes, these tools and feeds are important, but if you really want to get ahead, you have to do your own research too.

Not all zero-day attacks were actually “zero day”

In my experience, a lot of so-called zero-day attacks weren’t actually “zero day” for the bad guys. They were discussed in closed forums, researched quietly over time, and only executed when the attackers were fully ready. And many of those early signals? You’ll find them on the Dark Web.

That’s where monitoring helps not just to see what tools are being sold, but also to understand how attackers are thinking. We often test these tools in isolated labs, generate logs, study their behavior, and then fine-tune our own SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR, IPS, and so on.

A Real Example

Ransomware attacks have been slowing down lately, not because attackers gave up, but because of our tools specially the XDR, EDRs have gotten smarter. Strong MFA is making it harder to get in, and defenders are better prepared.

But attackers aren’t sitting still. I’ve seen forums where threat actors openly discussed compromising next-gen firewalls, performing data poisoning, and launching Training Time Attacks (TTA) on AI models. In one case, they actually pulled it off. A well-known firewall vendor had to patch a major flaw and later decided to drop their SSL VPN entirely- yes you guessed it right, that brand, other one they could break it, still trying though.

That’s just one example. The point is:

The Dark Web gives us visibility into what’s coming next - not what already happened.

Tools That Help Me Track Threats on the Dark Web

Here’s a list of platforms and tools I regularly use for research and intel collection. These aren’t random names, these are tools that have added real value to my day-to-day work. Most of them need the Tor Browser to access while some of them don't.

1. Tor66

Tor66 is a Dark Web search engine that indexes hidden services, forums, and marketplaces. While attackers use it to find vendors selling malware, stolen data, or exploit kits and to buy tools they can test and improve, we use it differently. We monitor these activities, and in some cases, we get and test the tools in isolated lab environments. This helps us generate logs, study attacker behavior, identify patterns, and fine-tune our defenses to stop threats before they reach us.

2. DeepDarkCTI

A threat intel platform that collects data from forums and marketplaces. We use it to spot IOCs, track tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and look for real-world breach discussions that help us understand how certain attacks were pulled off. 🔗 deepdarkcti.com

3. Library of Leaks

A huge repository of leaked databases. While attackers use these to plan their next move, we analyze them for exposure and hunt for Root Cause Analysis (RCA) data to strengthen our posture.

4. LeakOSINT

Focuses on analyzing leaked data from breaches. We use it to check if any sensitive info (employee data, credentials, etc.) tied to org that has been exposed, we hunt for TTPs and if RCA report available, these help us understand how the breach occurred and plan our defense accordingly if its something new.

5. Telemetry

A Telegram-focused search engine for Dark Web groups. We monitor threat actor channels to get early warnings about industry-specific chatter or attack planning.

6. PGP Tool

Used by threat actors to encrypt messages. We analyze encrypted content when possible to understand secure communications and track underground coordination.

7. UniversalSearchBot

A Telegram bot that searches across both public and Dark Web datasets. It’s handy for checking if company or employee data is being shared somewhere it shouldn’t be.

8. Aleph

A data leak search engine designed to dig up leaked documents and info. Very useful when tracing specific campaigns or confirming data exposure - once we see something new, we try to get more info on TTPs used for the breach.

9. DarkwebDaily.Live

A news aggregator that tracks everything related to Dark Web threats. We use it to stay updated on major developments, breaches, and law enforcement takedowns.

10. DeHashed (Onion)

Lets us search for exposed usernames, emails, and breach data. Helpful when verifying whether any known employee accounts have been caught in the wrong datasets.

11. Onion.live

A curated directory of hidden services and Onion links. We track new forums and marketplaces here to study evolving TTPs and attacker trends.

12. TorCrawl.py

An automated crawler for scraping Dark Web pages. We use it in controlled environments to collect data, hunt threats, and analyze attacker discussions.

13. Ahmia

Another search engine indexing hidden content. Ideal for discovering forums and leaks tied to your sector or threat landscape.

14. Torch

One of the oldest Dark Web search engines. We monitor it to detect brand misuse, Intellectual Property(IP) theft, or sensitive data being sold, same with this too, we try to understand how it happened.

15. Haystack

Used to search Dark Web forums and marketplaces. Helps us track exploit chatter and identify vulnerabilities being actively discussed.

16. The Hidden Wiki

A directory of Dark Web links. Good for keeping track of new marketplaces, tools, and services attackers might be using.

17. Shodan.io

This one isn’t Dark Web-specific, but still critical. Shodan scans internet-connected devices. We use it to find exposed assets, misconfigurations, and keep tabs on our organization’s attack surface.

18. Google Dorking

Not a tool, but a technique. Using advanced search operators, attackers (and defenders) can find sensitive files and exposed portals. Many YouTube tutorials explain how to use this method - highly recommended for recon and RCA.

19. OSINT Framework

A well-organized collection of open-source intelligence tools. I use it regularly for quick lookups on IPs, domains, and emails. 🔗 osintframework.com

20. Spyse

Helps discover relationships between domains, IPs, and SSL certs. Great for mapping infrastructure during threat analysis. 🔗 spyse.com

21. Epieos

A reverse lookup tool for emails and phone numbers. We use it to cross-check threat actor aliases and find connected accounts. 🔗 epieos.com

⚠️ Risks Involved While Accessing the Dark Web ⚠️

Let’s not sugarcoat this — getting into the Dark Web comes with serious risks. Here are a few you should absolutely be aware of:

1. Scams and Criminal Activity ⚠️

It’s a playground for criminals. Many sites are run by scammers who’ll disappear with your money. Law enforcement also monitors these spaces heavily, and there’s always a chance of getting caught up in ongoing investigations if you’re not careful.

2. Anonymity Can Break ⚠️

Tor gives you a high level of anonymity — but it’s not magic. A wrong click, poor OPSEC, or careless browsing behavior can expose your identity or IP. Don’t assume you're safe just because you're using Tor.

3. Performance is Slow ⚠️

Sites on the Tor network are slower because of how traffic is routed through multiple layers. That’s just part of the tradeoff for anonymity. Don’t expect a smooth browsing experience.

Cybersecurity Precautions for Professionals

If you’re planning to explore the Dark Web for research, testing, or threat intel, do it smart. Here are the best practices I stick to:

1. Use Secure Operating Systems ✅

Go for OSs built with anonymity in mind. I recommend:

• Tails – A live Linux OS that runs from a USB stick and leaves no trace.
• Whonix – Uses two VMs to separate your real IP from your research environment.

Avoid using your daily driver machine. Always work in isolated environments.

2. Combine VPN with Tor ✅

Use the “Tor over VPN” model. Connect to your VPN first, then open Tor. This way:

• Your ISP only sees encrypted traffic to your VPN.
• Tor entry nodes see the VPN’s IP, not yours.

Just make sure you’re using a no-logs VPN — ideally one you paid for anonymously.

3. Lock Down OPSEC (Operational Security) ✅

OPSEC is your best friend. It’s not just about tools — it’s about your behavior. Sloppy habits can ruin anonymity fast.

4. Keep Communications and Passwords Secure ✅

Use PGP for secure messaging if needed. Don’t reuse passwords. Stick to offline password managers or air-gapped systems if possible.

5. Protect Cryptocurrency Activity ✅

If you need to deal with crypto for research:

• Use mixers/tumblers to hide transaction trails.
• Store funds in desktop wallets like Multibit that give full control over your private keys.
• Never use your main wallet or exchange account.

❌ What You Should NOT Do ❌

To stay safe, here’s a list of absolute don'ts when researching the Dark Web:

• ❌ Don’t reveal personal information.
• ❌ Don’t customize the Tor browser.
• ❌ Don’t log into personal email or social media.
• ❌ Don’t use full-screen mode in Tor.
• ❌ Don’t install extra browser extensions.
• ❌ Don’t download torrents or large files — they can leak your real IP.
• ❌ Don’t run Tails in a virtual machine if you're concerned about advanced threats. It’s safer to boot it from USB directly.

Anonymity isn’t just about the tools you use, it’s about your actions. Be consistent, be cautious, and stick to best practices.

Yes, tools like ChatGPT can help clean up your grammar or make writing smoother, but the thoughts in this article, they’re all mine. If you found this helpful, feel free to drop a like or reach out. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned and help others stay a step ahead.

Stay safe. Stay sharp. Stay curious.

— A.S.M. Zakaria