Cybersecurity experts are sounding alarm bells for 2024 as discussions on dark web forums indicate an uptick in amateur hacking enabled by artificial intelligence. According to analysis by NordVPN of one of the largest dark web communities, threads on hacking tutorials, leaked nude photos, and AI attack tools dominated conversations—suggesting regular internet users face heightened risks of harassment and privacy violations next year.
“Taking this year’s approach helped us realise amateur hackers still developing their craft can cause a lot of harm through unsophisticated but invasive attacks,” said Marijus Briedis, NordVPN’s CTO. Of the top 20 most discussed threads, nearly 10% focused on basic hacking guides—indicating online forums are effectively encouraging hacking novices.
Additional analysis found AI-powered automation could dramatically expand the reach of phishing campaigns and data leaks. “The use of AI tools will facilitate automation of many phishing attacks, and we expect the frequency of such attacks to increase significantly in 2024,” Briedis warned. By mimicking human writing and speech patterns, AI makes it easier than ever to trick unsuspecting users into handing over login credentials or sensitive personal information.
Likewise, AI could ramp up harassment through deepfake technology and augmented social engineering attacks. With over 1,850 comments on threads about leaked nude photos, the dark web community has proven eager for new techniques to violate consent and privacy. “Next year we will see more attacks where intimate pictures are leaked or realistic fake images are generated to extort victims,” Briedis predicted.
He advised suspicious users install phishing detection browser extensions as a basic safeguard and rely less on insecure social media. Encrypted cloud storage solutions can also reduce risks of leaked photos. Enabling mutli-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible limits account compromises leading to data leaks.
But lax security habits remain, even as hackers acquire advanced capabilities. Analysis found roughly 55% of forum threads focused on stealing personal information and customer data—everything from social media credentials to driver’s licenses. “No online user is safe from the growing digital arsenal in novice hackers’ hands,” Briedis cautioned.
So while hacking novices flood online forums trying to learn tricks of the trade, their growing digital arsenal should put users on high alert. “Not only can we expect more amateur attacks in 2024, but users need to take cybersecurity education seriously and keep up with the latest threats,” Briedis stressed. “AI will enable them to cast an increasingly wider net.”
