There’s nothing more traumatic than having your passwords stolen. Imagine your email or banking information in someone else’s hands and what they can do with your card. It’s not just traumatic, but it can also cause immeasurable damage.
And despite all these, a quick look over the dark web markets will give you access to thousands of identities, credit card numbers, passwords, accounts, you name it. The most intriguing part about it? Such things go for sale for nothing.
You can get someone's Google account for just over $50 and work your way from there, gain access to other accounts, and so on. Interested in a hacked HBO Max account? A couple of dollars will do. Looking for a driver’s license? You’ll need to pull out about $150 out of your pocket.
There are no doubts about it, the dark web is the hidden part of the Internet, and that's where all the crime happens. You'll need a special browser, and websites cannot be found. You'll need to know their sophisticated addresses yourself.
Identities are often anonymous, and multiple layer encryption systems ensure people can't be tracked.
Earlier in 2023, government officials managed to take down one of the most notorious new markets, the so-called Genesis Market. Operation Cookie Monster disabled a market with a solid reputation for hacked user data, from accounts to private details.
Now, how much is your personal data going to sell for?
Credit card numbers
Credit card numbers that can give you a balance up to $5,000 will be available for sale for just over $100. On the other hand, expect to pay half of that for a balance of up to $2,000. Cloned debit and credit cards are available for $20, regardless of the balance.
When it comes to online payments, login details of a Barclays account can be sold for $2,000. Chase will cost less, only about $500. Citibank accounts are available for only $200, while Cashapp accounts go for nearly $1,000.
Your PayPal account can go for $10 if it has a balance of $1,000 or more. However, hackers often sell such accounts in bulk. 50 PayPal accounts can go for $100.
Hacked accounts
A Gmail account will go for $60, while accounts for social media networks cost about $20, regardless of the network. LinkedIn stands out with its cheap price, usually less than $5. You can also buy thousands of fake followers from the dark web, usually for $2 for 1,000 followers.
Verified Airbnb accounts are also for sale for about $300. A Netflix account is only $20, while Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max cost as little as $2.
Cryptocurrency wallets
If someone steals your Crypto.com verified account, it could go for sale for about $300. Coinbase accounts cost less, around $250. Meanwhile, Robinhood accounts are even lower, around $100 to $150.
Email databases
If you’ve ever received random spam by email without registering anywhere, chances are your email has been included in a database and sold for a good amount of money.
Such databases offer good value for money. For example, hackers sell up to 10 million email addresses for just over $100.
Fake documents
A driver’s license issued in New York will cost $60, while one from Minnesota will be three times less. The location is clearly a driving factor for the price. A custom driver’s license will cost in the middle.
You can also find passports from pretty much any country out there. A scan of a U.S. passport will cost about $50.
Meanwhile, physical passports can cost up to $3,000 if they're from an EU country. State IDs for the USA go for around $200, while a Green Card will cost less than $500.
Malware and malicious scripts
Malicious scripts cost based on what they do and how many installs you need. For example, you can get a malicious script installed on over 1,000 computers for about $4,500. Depending on the malware type, prices can go down to $700. The same price range applies to mobile devices.
With these thoughts in mind, as crazy as it may seem, your account, passwords, email address, or full name could be out there for sale, and you wouldn't even know about it. Someone else may be using your identity without you being aware of it.
Indeed, there are websites out there that allow entering your email address for a quick check, just to figure out if yours is out there for sale. However, the dark web is a sophisticated environment, and a detailed search is nearly impossible.
The best you can do is regularly update your passwords and make sure you don't sign up for random services or newsletters unless you know exactly what you’re doing. Otherwise, small things on the dark web can lead to serious trauma in the long run.
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