Dark Web & Marketplace Investigation
Safely navigate and investigate dark web marketplaces, forums, and hidden services.
The dark web hosts crucial intelligence for cybercrime investigations, threat research, and security monitoring. This tutorial teaches safe and effective dark web investigation techniques.
You'll learn how to securely access hidden services, navigate dark web marketplaces, collect intelligence from forums, verify hidden service authenticity, and maintain operational security.
These skills are essential for law enforcement, threat intelligence analysts, and security researchers monitoring underground cybercrime ecosystems.
Onion Ingestor
Automated dark web content collection and monitoring
Find in directory →DarkOwl
Commercial dark web data collection and analysis platform
Find in directory →- 1
Set up secure investigation environment (VPN, Tor, isolated system)
- 2
Never use personal information or connect from your real IP
- 3
Use dark web search engines and directories to find relevant sites
- 4
Verify hidden service authenticity using PGP signatures and reputation
- 5
Monitor marketplaces for stolen data, exploits, or criminal services
- 6
Collect intelligence from forums while maintaining cover
- 7
Document findings with screenshots (remove metadata)
- 8
Track cryptocurrency addresses associated with transactions
- 9
Report illegal content to appropriate authorities
NEVER download files directly - use isolated virtual machines
Assume all downloads are malicious until proven otherwise
Many dark web sites are scams or honeypots
Use multiple layers of security (VPN → Tor → isolated VM)
Don't engage or interact - observe passively
Dark web intelligence should corroborate surface web findings
Hidden services change addresses frequently - maintain updated lists
Some jurisdictions have strict laws about accessing dark web content
Always sanitize screenshots to remove identifying information
Share your own tips or learn from the community's experience
Share Your Tip
I've found that combining multiple reverse image search engines in parallel significantly improves results. Don't rely on just one!
Always document your methodology step-by-step. This helps with reproducibility and explaining your findings to others.