In honor of this month’s World Password Day, the DarkOwl data team took a look at how different password trends and hygiene has evolved over the past year. In doing so we found that many people are still making common password mistakes, such as using their favorite year or using highly popular (and crackable) strings of characters like “123456”. This infographic breaks down some of these trends. You can check out the full blog here.
Exactly 365 days after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Ukraine-Russia conflict shows no sign of ending and an adjacent global cyberwar continues to wage in underground corners of the internet. However, its effects are substantial with impacts felt across numerous sectors of our society and western economies. While cruise missiles and artillery shells rain on villages across Ukraine, the digital underground has experienced its own mix of chaos and drama, impulsive and unpredictable shifts with criminal communities that have had to quickly adapt to an ever-dynamic global geopolitical climate.
In this research, we’ll look at how ransomware shifted from an affiliate-driven extortion-based crime model – purely motivated by financial gain – to a quite effectual digital weapon deployed to disrupt key supply chains and carry out cyber espionage operations.
The internet, social media, and mobile devices are the fundamental requirements for conducting business and engaging in society. Most of us use the internet (and the deep web) throughout the day, every day. But, do we understand how it works – technically? This infographic describes the various layers of the internet, and some of the primary data sources found within each layer.
In this whitepaper, DarkOwl Analysts break down the various layers of the internet, from “regular” search engine-compatible websites to complex hidden networks.
DarkOwl analysts took note of an increased amount of darknet activity surrounding the current geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan.
Using darknet, deep web, and high-risk surface web data, this report endeavors to shed light on the digital underground’s reaction to the countries’ political tensions stemming from China’s “One-China Principle” and its refusal to recognize Taiwan’s independence.
This report will also demonstrate how recent cyberattacks in August augment political criticism of Taiwan. Of particular note is the on-going barrage of leaks surfacing as a result of attacks against key organizations in both countries, and discusses the general darknet sentiment regarding China’s global reputation and their potential invasion of Taiwan.
DarkOwl analysts review the domain of risk, taking a closer look at the threats corporations and individuals face and how risk is calculated and mitigated.
Industrial control systems (ICS) and their adjacent operational technologies (OT) governs most everything societies rely on in the modern age. Manufacturing facilities, water treatment plants, mass transportation, electrical grids, gas, and oil refineries… all include some degree of ICS/OT incorporated in their industrial processes. Research from DarkOwl analysts identifies an alarming number of threats on the darknet and deep web that could effectively target and compromise Critical Infrastructure.
DarkOwl’s Glossary of Darknet Terms is a continually evolving resource that defines the common vernacular, slang terms, and acronyms that our analysts find in places like underground forums, instant
messaging platforms (such as Telegram), as well as in information security research pertaining to the darknet.
