Monitoring Dark Web Sources
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- Establishing continuous monitoring for organizational domain names, executive names, and product brands on dark web forums
- Investigating a reported data breach claim found on a ransomware leak site or paste site
- Enriching an incident investigation with context about stolen credentials or planned attacks
Do not use this skill without proper operational security measures — dark web browsing without isolation exposes analyst infrastructure to adversary counter-intelligence.
Prerequisites
- Commercial dark web monitoring service (Recorded Future, Flashpoint, Intel 471, or Cybersixgill)
- Isolated operational environment: Whonix OS or Tails OS running in a VM with no persistent storage
- Keyword watchlist: organization domain, key executive names, product names, IP ranges, known credentials
- Legal guidance confirming passive monitoring is authorized in your jurisdiction
Workflow
Step 1: Establish Keyword Monitoring via Commercial Services
Configure dark web monitoring keywords in your CTI platform (e.g., Recorded Future Exposure module):
- Domain variations:
company.com,@company.com, `com…
