Tech Startups
As you may recall, just this morning cybersecurity and single-sign-on service provider Okta became the latest victim of a cyberattack after the Lapsus$ hacking group successfully breached hundreds of its customers. However, Okta is not alone. According to Dark Reading, on average, there were more than 20 data breach reports each day in the first six months of 2019.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take a Ph.D. to become a hacker. Most of the hacking tools are readily available on the dark web. All you need is a Tor Browser, knowledge of computing networking, and some hacking training, which you can easily find online, and you’re good to go. While cyber-attacks can wreak havoc on victims’ devices and may end up costing a fortune to combat, the prices of the tools to carry out these attacks are shockingly low.
According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, different types of cyber attack packs, including phishing, ransomware, DDoS, and others, can be purchased for less than $50 on the dark web, with some starting as low as $5 — the price of McDonald’s Big Mac.
Remote Access Trojan/Tool (RAT), malicious software that allows one to gain full access and remote control of another device’s system, is the cheapest cyber attack tool on the dark web. RAT prices start at just $5 and can go up to $45. Phishing attack packs are also on the lower end of the price scale. In particular, the avengers whaling phishing kit costs as little as $7.
Next comes the ultimate password cracking pack with instructions, demo, and help. These tools designed to discover the device’s passwords can be had for only $10. For the same $10, dark web users can also get a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack kit.
The ultra-dangerous malware suite costs $12. However, the dangerous malware pack 2021 edition costs almost twice as much — $21. Meanwhile, a hacker start-up kit can be bought for as little as $14.
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Prices of basic ransomware, which employs encryption to hold victims’ data at ransom, start at $15 and can go up to $76. Ransomware with source code, on the other hand, costs $50. The source code can help malicious actors customize the ransomware to their own malware campaigns.
Finally, VPN breach packs can too be obtained. Their prices vary between $15 and $100. Cybersecurity writer and researcher at Atlas VPN Ruta Cizinauskaite shares her thoughts on the situation:
“The data leads to an unsettling revelation that cyber attacks are no longer limited to “professional” hackers. With cyberattack kits being so readily available on the dark web and the prices so low, anyone who dares step into the darknet can acquire the tools needed to launch a cyber attack. ”
