The dark web is a collection of internet sites that can only be accessed by using a specialist web browser. It keeps all browsing activity anonymous and private and is used for many different types of activities. While the use of the dark web is not strictly illegal, much of the content on there is.

Who Uses the Dark Web?

As with everything, this is a tool that is used for both good and bad. Some users head there who would otherwise be in danger by revealing who they really are online; this includes abuse victims, whistleblowers and those trying to circumvent national censorship. Then there are the many others who use it for highly illegal and dangerous activity.

COVID-19 has affected every corner of the world – including the Dark Web. We wanted to share with you some facts about the usage of the Dark Web as it stands today, and key trends and takeaways from this.

Fast Facts

• There are more than 4.5 billion web pages on the “standard” internet.
• The “full” internet, including the Dark Web, is estimated to be 400 to 500 times larger
• A 2019 analysis of 2,723 Dark Web sites found that 57% of them included illicit material.
• The Dark Web offers approximately 75,000 terabytes of data.

Takeaway #1 – The Dark Web isn’t just accessed by a small number of people

• 2 million active users connect to the Dark Web through the TOR browser every day.
• 26% of North American and 17% of EU users access the Dark Web daily.
• Approximately one third of North Americans used the Dark Web in 2019.
• About 60% of the information on the Dark Web could potentially harm organisations.

Takeaway #2 – Dark Web activity is skyrocketing post-pandemic

• Over 1,400 COVID-19 related domains were registered in Q1 2020.
• There was a 738% increase in COVID-19-related terms on the Dark Web in March 2020.
• Phishing attacks including COVID-19 scams have climbed 667% in 2020.
• Dark Web use has increased by more than 300% in the last 3 years.

Takeaway #3 – The Dark Web economy is booming

• An estimated 2 to 5% of the global GDP is laundered on the Dark Web in one year.
• More than 75% of Dark Web sites appear to be marketplaces.
• The price for access to corporate networks increased by 61% in Q1 2020.
• Cybercrime yields in excess of $1.5 trillion in revenue per year

Takeaway #4 – Your data may already be on the Dark Web, even if you haven’t had a breach

• Information on 267 million Facebook users sold in Q1 2020 for $540 (no that’s not a type – it really was that low).
• In Q1 2020 alone over 73.2 million new user records hit the Dark Web.
• 164 million user records from a dozen major companies were exposed in a single Q1 2020 dump.
• 53% of organisations have had a data breach caused by third party information theft.

Actions You Can Take to Protect Your Data

Get Someone to Watch Your Back

Are your passwords for sale on the Dark Web? Is one of your employees selling access to your systems? Were you exposed in a third-party Dark Web data dump? Find out with our Dark Web monitoring service. We’ll dive deep into the corners of the Dark Web to look for potential risks to your organisation. We watch for new Dark Web threats to your systems and data 24/7/365 to alert you to potential trouble quickly, enabling you to stop cyberattacks before they start. Find out more about Dark Web Monitoring here.

Defend Against Your Biggest Threat

Over 90% of data breaches start with a phishing attack, and everything a cybercriminal needs to mount an effective phishing attack against you is available on the Dark Web. Prevent those attacks from landing with Security Awareness Training and Phishing Simulations. We offer numerous phishing templates (including COVID-19 threats), to ensure that your employees are ready to be your first line of defence against the threat of the Dark Web. Find out more about Phishing Simulation Testing here.