Hacker Assistance Needed: Increased Recruitment Posts on the Darknet for Enhanced SEO.
The business of cybercrime is thriving, with a significant increase in hacker recruitment advertisements on the darknet. Research from cyber security firm ReliaQuest indicates that posts seeking specialist hacking skills on forums like Exploit and RAMP have doubled from 2023 to 2024. Furthermore, the trend appears to be continuing into 2025, with job postings already matching last year’s totals. This surge highlights a burgeoning job market for cybercriminals, akin to legitimate platforms like LinkedIn or Indeed.
ReliaQuest notes that the dark web has become a vibrant ecosystem where ‘recruiters’ actively seek individuals with advanced skills. Since 2023, the most sought-after expertise has included cloud security, Internet of Things, and English-language social engineering. In 2024, the demand shifted towards knowledge of AI and deepfakes. By 2025, there was a tenfold increase in the need for English speakers, alongside a rise in job ads for those skilled in the ClickFix social engineering technique, which deceives victims into executing malicious code disguised as a standard CAPTCHA check.
Categories: Cyber Crime, Darknet Recruitment, In-Demand Hacking Skills
Tags: Cyber Crime, Recruitment, Hacking, Darknet, Skills, Security, AI, Deepfakes, Social Engineering, ClickFix