Darknet Markets have grown in their market cap drastically year on year. We’re talking about a multi-billion dollar market with payments only in Bitcoin and Monero. In fact, in 2023, the drug markets saw over 2.3 Billion in funds moved. That’s what was recorded, at least. But the cyber and intelligence markets are on their way to new heights. Naturally, the darknet has become a breeding ground for cyber threats, illegal activities, and underground economic activities, thus emphasizing the need to enhance cybersecurity and attempt to regain control of these illegal activities. The dark web intelligence market is projected to grow to new heights by 2032, reaching a 2.9 Billion Market cap in its sector alone.

Dark Web Intelligence Market

According to a market.us analysis and evaluation, the Dark Web Intelligence Market is ready to see a projected $2,921.8 billion by 2023, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 21.8% from 2022 to 2023. 

What is fueling massive growth? There is a growing need to increase cybersecurity measures, as cybercriminal activity on the dark web reaches record levels, from identity theft to credit card fraud and illegal cryptocurrency transactions, the threats coming from the dark web are diverse, posing a risk to businesses and individuals. There are already thousands of users on Fraud forums figuring out what risks and opportunities are available. With crypto in its next bull run, there’s lots to be made. Organizations from all sectors and facets are scrambling to build up their defenses.

The response to this cyber threat is that organizations are turning to dark web monitoring services to have an advantage over cyber criminals. These services are a form of a digital watchdog, consistently evaluating and studying the dark web to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities before the possibility of a full-blown cyber attack. 

The never-ending battles against the invisible enemy are nothing without the right tools, strategies, and safety measures.

Key Insights and Trends

How the dark web intelligence market is characterized by a few trends and revelations :

• Common Cybercriminal Activity: Recent statistics show a worrying surge in cybercriminal activity on the dark web, with stolen account information growing by 82% in 2022 alone, totaling 15 billion.
• Dominant Crimes: Identity theft is the most common crime on the dark web, making up over 65% of activities, followed closely by credit card fraud at 15%.
• Cryptocurrency Transactions: The dark web’s illegal economy thrives on cryptocurrency transactions, nearly doubling from 2020, the levels are set to reach an estimated value of nearly $25 billion.
• Zero-Day Exploits: The market for zero-day use and vulnerabilities is growing, with exploits for fully patched devices reaching up to $2.5 million on the dark web forums.
• Drug Sales: Despite regular security checks, drug sales on the dark web saw an increase of approximately 15%, amounting to an estimated $1.7 billion in transactions.
• Data Breaches: Over 15,000 data breaches were detected across the dark web in 2022, emphasising the need for comprehensive data protection measures.

Market Segmentation and Drivers

In the dark web intelligence market, segmentation is based on the deployment mode, components, and end-use industries. On-premise deployment is preferred for its service of higher security, especially by organizations handling high-risk and highly confidential data. Solutions dominate the component segment, providing comprehensive tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization. The IT and telecommunications sector is the primary adopter, using dark web intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and safeguard the organization’s infrastructure. Let’s have a look at a breakdown of the key segments and driving factors:

Deployment Mode:

On-premise deployment remains the preferred choice for organizations dealing with highly sensitive data. The higher level of security associated with on-premise solutions makes them needed by sectors that emphasize the importance of data confidentiality.

Solutions are spearheading in the darknet “intelligence” markets component division. The solutions offer a suite of tools that are comprehensive for data collection, and analysis. These organizations rely on the solutions to gather insights, where they can learn from and build on their cybersecurity. 

End-Use Industries:

The IT and telecommunications sector shows itself as a main user of dark web intelligence solutions. With cyber threats showing a constant risk to data security, organizations in this sector make use of dark web intelligence to strengthen their defenses. By staying ahead of possible threats, they can protect their networks and assets from cyber-attacks, in a better manner.

Within these challenges, there are promising opportunities for defense, which makes use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. These advanced algorithms create a pathway to develop dark web intelligence abilities, also giving real-time threat detection and ongoing defense measures. By making use of AI and ML, organizations can filter through the vast amounts of data, showing the patterns of these cyber threats. This ongoing approach enables businesses to stay one step ahead of their cybersecurity measures in the face of the growing risk of cyber attacks.

While there are regular threats of cyber attacks, the integration of AI and ML gives organizations a sense of hope. By embracing technological innovation, organizations can make use of the opportunities that lie ahead, safeguarding against cyber threats and driving continued growth in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity.