Imagine waking up one day to find your Aadhaar number, passport photo, and bank credentials being sold online — not on Google, not even the “deep web,” but in a shady marketplace you can’t access through Chrome or Safari. Welcome to the dark web.
It’s not a myth, and no, it’s not just for hackers in hoodies. In 2025, the dark web has become one of the most organized black markets in the world, and yes — it’s more active than ever. People are buying and selling stolen identities, banking access, spyware, fake passports, ransomware kits, and even hacker-for-hire services — all paid for in cryptocurrency and hidden behind layers of encryption.
Let’s take a no-nonsense tour of what’s really going on behind those .onion links.
What Exactly Is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a hidden layer of the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines like Google or Bing. You need a special browser — like Tor — to access it. Once inside, you’ll find websites ending in “.onion” instead of .com or .in.
Now, to be clear: not everything on the dark web is illegal. Some parts host whistleblowers, journalists, or even privacy-conscious forums. But most people don’t go there to read the news — they go there to buy illegal goods and services.
And in 2025, business is booming.
What’s Being Sold on the Dark Web in 2025?
Let’s break down the most common — and most disturbing — things you’ll find on popular dark web marketplaces today. This isn’t speculation. It’s based on actual threat reports from platforms like Cybernews and SOCRadar.
1. Stolen Personal Data
Known as “Fullz”, these packs contain everything a scammer needs to become you:
- Full name, address, and date of birth
- Phone numbers and email IDs
- Government ID numbers (PAN, Aadhaar, SSN, etc.)
- Bank account numbers, credit scores, and passwords
- Selfies and passport scans (yes, really)
Price: ₹500 to ₹4,000 depending on country and credit score.
Sold in: Bulk, often from leaked data breaches.
Real Case (2025): Over 270,000 customer identities from a German electronics brand were sold for just $250 in total.
2. Credit & Debit Card Dumps
Hundreds of thousands of stolen card details are up for grabs at any time — some with CVV numbers, some with online banking access included.
- Card + CVV: ₹500–₹2,500
- Online banking login: ₹5,000+
- Full bank account takeover: ₹10,000+
- Crypto wallet logins? Priceless.
Some even include “account health” — balance, transaction history, and ATM PINs.
Check this out: Tools like HaveIBeenPwned.com let you check if your email has been part of a data breach. If yes, your credentials could already be listed in a dark web forum.
3. Hacked Accounts (Streaming, Shopping, Email)
You’d be surprised how cheap this gets:
- Netflix: ₹50
- Uber/Swiggy/Zomato: ₹70–₹150
- Gmail: ₹500–₹2,000 (depending on location and 2FA)
Hackers bundle these accounts and sell them by the hundreds, especially after a breach or phishing campaign.
Here’s the twist: Most of these are reused passwords — not hacks. One password reused across five platforms? That’s five revenue streams for one criminal.
4. Access to Compromised Systems
One of the fastest-growing dark web listings in 2025: access to compromised systems.
- RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to hospitals, schools, or government servers
- Admin-level access to corporate databases
- Cloud panel logins, even Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Average price: ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh+, depending on privilege.
Why it matters: This is how ransomware gets in.
5. Zero-Day Exploits & Malware-as-a-Service
No coding skills? No problem. You can rent ransomware.
- Builders and panels for Maze, LockBit, or BlackCat
- Phishing kits with ready-made email templates
- Fileless malware, keyloggers, botnets
Monthly subscription: $100–$1,000.
Premium package includes customer support (yes, seriously).
This is real: Trend Micro has covered several of these services that even offer dashboards and dashboards — like a SaaS product, but for cybercrime.
6. Fake Documents and IDs
These are used for fraud, SIM swaps, opening bank accounts, or even crypto KYC bypassing.
- Indian PAN or Aadhaar: ₹1,500–₹3,000
- US or UK passports: ₹8,000–₹15,000
- Utility bills and proof-of-address kits also available
Often combined with selfie templates using AI-generated faces.
7. Hacker-for-Hire & Blackmail Services
- “Destroy my competitor’s website”
- “Access my partner’s WhatsApp”
- Price: Negotiated, often in crypto
- Use case: Personal vendettas, corporate sabotage, extortion
Who’s Buying This Stuff?
Not just “hackers in hoodies.” Here’s the scary truth:
| Buyer Type | Reason They Buy | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Teenagers | To show off or prank with hacked Netflix/Instagram/Steam accounts | Medium |
| Fraudsters | To create fake identities for bank scams | High |
| Criminal Groups | To launch ransomware or steal company data | Extreme |
| Small Businesses | Some buy leaked credentials unknowingly (from freelancers or shady suppliers) | High |
| State-Sponsored Actors | Espionage, sabotage, political disruption | Very High |
How They Pay: Cryptocurrency Keeps It Quiet
Payments on the dark web are typically made using Bitcoin, Monero, or other privacy-focused coins.
Most marketplaces also use escrow — yes, like OLX, but sketchy — where the money is held by the market until the “seller” delivers the stolen goods.
Real Incidents (2025)
- January: 270K records of a German electronics firm sold for $250
- March: Credentials of a top Indian ed-tech firm listed for $800
- June: Leaked RDP to African government agency offered for $1,500
- Every Month: Leaked database packs of Gmail & Hotmail accounts on routine sale
How to Protect Yourself and Your Business
“If it’s on the dark web, it’s already too late.”
Here’s what individuals and businesses can do today:
For Individuals:
- Use strong, unique passwords (and a manager like Bitwarden)
- Enable 2FA on everything
- Never reuse banking info on random websites
- Use privacy tools like DuckDuckGo or Brave
- Check if your email is leaked at https://haveibeenpwned.com
For Businesses:
- Perform regular penetration testing to find weak points
- Monitor for leaked credentials and brand mentions on the dark web
- Invest in phishing awareness training
- Have a strong incident response plan
- Secure cloud & API endpoints
- Consider hiring a cybersecurity team like WebOrion to ethically hack your system before the criminals do
Final Thoughts: The Dark Web Isn’t a Myth — It’s a Mirror
The dark web isn’t some fictional hacker lair. It’s very real, very active, and closer to you than you think.
Every time you reuse a password, skip an update, or ignore a security warning, you leave a door cracked open. And someone, somewhere, is always looking for that open door.
Want to make sure it’s not yours?
Talk to our cybersecurity experts at WebOrion and let us help you stay two steps ahead of the bad guys.
