Monitoring the Dark Web (Tor, I2P) is essential for detecting leaked credentials, ransomware data leaks, and sale of initial access. However, it is a hostile environment. Interacting with threat actors without proper Operational Security (OPSEC) can compromise your organization's network and your personal identity.
The Golden Rules of Dark Web OPSEC
1. Isolation is Key
Never browse the Dark Web from your corporate workstation.
- Hardware: Use a dedicated, air-gapped laptop or a "burner" machine.
- Software: Use Tails OS (The Amnesic Incognito Live System), which routes all traffic through Tor and wipes memory on shutdown.
2. Sock Puppets (Fake Personas)
You need a credible identity to enter forums.
- Consistency: Create a fake name, history, and writing style. Do not use your real linguistic habits.
- Separation: Never reuse a username or password from the clear web.
- Payment: If you must track crypto transactions, use a clean wallet unrelated to your organization.
3. Traffic Correlation Attacks
Even if you use Tor, your ISP knows you are connecting to the Tor network.
- Solution: Use a Bridge or a VPN before connecting to Tor (VPN > Tor) to hide the nature of your traffic from local monitoring.
What to Monitor?
- Ransomware Leak Sites: Monitor groups like LockBit or Clop to see if your supply chain partners are listed.
- Initial Access Brokers (IAB): Look for listings selling "VPN Access" or "RDP Access" that match your organization's revenue and geography.
- Stealer Logs: Databases of credentials stolen by malware like RedLine.