Hacker of 30 years explains worst thing he has witnessed while searching on the dark web

For most of us, the dark web is a mysterious place we steer well clear of.

But while the majority of us will never have clicked a mouse into these deep corners of the internet that hosts the underbelly of criminal activity, one bloke has seen plenty of harrowing stuff on there.

It’s fair to say those on the dark web are either accessing it out of curiosity or because they’re very much part of the illegal going ons. And it might be that they’re there to hack.

The networks across the dark web require specific software or permissions to access and the hackers will often look through them to find things to use and sell or to gain access to cash.

One anonymous hacker with 30 years’ experience deep diving in on data and software previously explained the worst thing he’s witnessed.

The dark web isn't somewhere you want to find yourself (Getty Stock)

While he once considered himself a ‘black hat’ of the web, meaning he wasn't bound by any kind of ethical code, he now dubs himself a 'white hat' - a group of internet Good Samaritans who claim to work to improve the greater good. They’re bound by the law and are often tasked to find weak spots in security software.

The hacker told VICE in 2021: "I also do things like hunt the criminals who are targeting hospitals or who are targeting the businesses that I'm looking out for."

Speaking about ransomware - a malicious software designed to block someone's access to a computer system - the mystery man said: "It is an attack technique that's been around for decades.

"Modern ransomware is usually a piece of malware that gets on your system, encrypts all of your data and then holds that hostage demanding that you contact the gangs that are operating it, paying them in some form of currency before they'll give you the key that decrypts your data."

He's seen some stuff (Vice)

Just like the rest of us, there are some times when his job gets really tough - except this fella has got a lot more at stake due to the fact he's dealing with the dark web.

And as for the things he’s witnessed, he continued: "I've watched hospitals get encrypted and people are left with a choice: do I pay to decrypt the data or do I risk lives?"

He went on to explain how hacking has changed over the years: "Back when it started ransomware was charging hundreds of dollars, maybe thousands of dollars for individual targets.

"The bigger payouts that we're talking about now are easily into the tens of millions. This last, most recent attack, they offered $70 million dollars for the campaign key, which is the key that would have unlocked every single computer encrypted during that attack. So we're talking high-stakes games here."

Speaking about what the future will hold, he said: "I don't think we have to worry too much about our nuclear arsenal being taken over movie style and used against us. But I do think we have to worry about major impacts to financial markets or potential impacts to things like electricity production facilities."