Cybercrime groups are hiring on the dark web

While the big tech industry keeps issuing new layoffs seemingly by the week, one area of tech is always hiring: cybercrime groups on the dark web. indeed, cybercrime is a booming business and has been, since hacking, vulnerability exploitation, and monetizing zero-day threats began many years ago.

But they don’t want just another hacker or wannabe hacker. They want developers, administrators, and designers, per Kaspersky.

“Just like any other business, cybercrime needs labor,” writes Kaspersky Security Services in a new research blog. After reviewing job ads and resumes that were posted on 155 dark web forums from January 2020-June 2022, the research findings were eye-opening.

Developers topped the list of highest-paid dark web IT jobs, with a developer opening advertising over $20,000 a month in salary.

Median levels of pay for IT professionals ranged from $1,300 to $4,000.

Interestingly, the largest number of dark web job openings were posted in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly, malicious actors and cybercriminal groups were looking to exploit the rush of remote work and lack of security.

Dirty jobs, dirty money = Jail time

If the money sounds too good to be true, it’s not; but remember, it’s highly illegal, and criminal charges can be issued if caught. It’s a game of high risk, high reward; but get caught, you’re likely looking at jail time. Any sort of cyber jobs that requires hacking websites, social network accounts, or corporate IT infrastructure is a “dirty job” and the consequences can be dire.

These cybercriminal gangs need hackers and a team to penetrate targets, breach IT infrastructure in an organization, steal confidential data, or encrypt the systems for subsequent extortion.

Just last week, the FBI in coordination with multiple international law enforcement agencies announced that they had infiltrated and arrested the members of the Hive ransomware group.

So while the money may be tempting, just remember: you may go from behind your keyboard to behind bars.