The internet consists of more than just searchable content. Search engines such as Google and Bing merely skim the surface of the internet and index what they find. The content that remains unindexed is part of the deep web, and further into the layers of the internet is the dark web, which consists of intentionally concealed content. In these hidden spaces, illicit communities flourish.
Today, cybercriminals are exploiting government data and personally identifiable information, and using that information across these threat-actor communities to engage in fraudulent and illegal activities — putting agencies at serious risk.
Agencies need to gather intelligence on these communities, which are havens for fraud, financially motivated cybercrime and money laundering, but it is difficult and dangerous to gather information on cybercriminals and others in these environments. Governments don’t have the necessary tools, resources and capabilities to maneuver in these communities or to use their findings to proactively defend against cyberattacks.
So, how can agencies that need to penetrate these communities for cybersecurity move forward? GovLoop partnered with Flashpoint, a leader in threat intelligence and an expert in accessing these illicit communities, to explore the capabilities open to agencies that are looking to gather intelligence to properly respond to threats. In this report, we delve into the challenges and solutions agencies face in threat-actor communities.
