Top 5 Dark Web Threats Facing SMBs in 2025

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are prime targets for cybercriminals in 2025. Why? Limited resources and weaker defenses make them easy prey. The dark web is fueling this surge with tools like Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) and AI-powered phishing kits. Here's a quick rundown of the top threats:

What can SMBs do? Strengthen defenses with multi-factor authentication, employee training, real-time monitoring, and zero-trust security models. Cyberattacks cost trillions globally, but proactive measures can help SMBs stay ahead.

1. Ransomware Service Packages

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) has made launching ransomware attacks as simple as buying software, turning it into a ready-made operation for attackers targeting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

In 2022, ransomware demands jumped 144%, averaging $2.2 million, while actual payments rose 78% to $541,010. By Q2 2024, payments climbed to $3 million.

Dark web forums market RaaS packages using polished tactics similar to legitimate businesses. Here's what these packages often include:

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"Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) is a business model in which developers sell or lease compact, easily deployable, and scalable malware toolkits to individuals and groups who want to stage cyberattacks. It's promoted and sold on the dark web using the same marketing and sales tactics that legitimate businesses use on the regular web."  - Kumar Ritesh, founder and CEO of CYFIRMA

Unit 42 monitors 56 active RaaS groups, with 44% of available kits eventually being used in attacks.

To protect against these threats, SMBs should take these steps:

"RaaS democratizes cybercrime, making ransomware attacks a growing threat even for smaller businesses. Organizations need to prioritize cybersecurity awareness training to educate employees on phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics used by attackers."  - Dr. Michael Jones, CEO of CypherShield

The use of AI in RaaS increases its complexity and helps attackers evade detection. SMBs can better protect themselves by using threat intelligence feeds and following strict security measures, as these threats are expected to keep evolving through 2025.

Next, we’ll look at how these dark web tools are also fueling the business login data market.

2. Business Login Data Markets

The dark web has become a bustling marketplace for stolen business credentials, extending threats beyond ransomware. In 2022 alone, over 24.6 billion username and password combinations were found circulating on the dark web - equivalent to about four per person. This marked a 65% increase since 2020, making stolen business credentials a lucrative target for cybercriminals.

Dark web markets operate like illegal e-commerce platforms, offering various access tiers to stolen SMB data:

The consequences for SMBs are severe. Nearly 20% of small businesses could face closure after a successful cyberattack. Even minor financial losses under $10,000 can push nearly a third of SMBs to shut down.

"Credentials are a massive business because they continue to be successful and profitable for criminals. So as long as there continues to be fairly easy ways to monetize credentials at scale, which has been true for criminal markets for a long time, I don't see the drive for that type of theft changing."

Cybercriminals are now collecting more than just usernames and passwords. They’re also grabbing session tokens, geographic data, and browser details to bypass security measures and impersonate legitimate users.

Recent surveys highlight alarming trends among SMBs:

"SMBs are not always cyber aware. It makes them the lowest hanging fruit for cybercriminals to get a quick pay day."

To combat these risks, SMBs need to take action. This includes adopting password management tools, enforcing multi-factor authentication, monitoring dark web activity, implementing zero-trust models, maintaining offline backups, and conducting regular security training.

As cybercriminals increasingly use machine learning to speed up data theft and analysis, staying ahead with strong security practices will be critical for SMBs in 2025.

3. Ready-Made Phishing Tools

Phishing kits available on the dark web are making it easier than ever for attackers to target small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). These pre-packaged kits, priced between $50 and $900, allow even those with minimal technical skills to launch sophisticated attacks against SMBs.

Today’s phishing kits include advanced features like:

These features have turned phishing kits into powerful platforms for cybercriminals. The rise of Phishing-as-a-Service (PHaaS) has made these tools even more accessible. In 2021, Kaspersky reported that 469 phishing kits were responsible for blocking 1.2 million phishing websites.

"Every year we block millions of phishing pages. Despite the lifespan of these pages being just a couple of hours, many of them manage to achieve their goal and steal user data. To extend the scope of these attacks, fraudsters need to create thousands of fake pages every day, and phishing kits have become an easy way to do that. Gone are the days where only the most skilled hackers could develop a phishing site and scam users into divulging their personal information. Now any amateur can create his own phishing page, so you have to be especially careful following any links from an email or messaging service." - Olga Svistunova, security researcher at Kaspersky

The risks are not hypothetical. For example, in early 2025, a healthcare provider’s IT administrator was bombarded with over 200 multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests in just one hour. Overwhelmed, the administrator eventually approved one, giving attackers access to sensitive patient records.

These phishing kits are designed to steal critical information, including:

Some kits are tailored for specific industries and can cost over $100. With these tools becoming increasingly sophisticated, businesses must step up their defenses.

How SMBs Can Protect Themselves

To stay ahead of these threats, SMBs should focus on strengthening their security strategies. Key measures include:

Modern phishing tools are designed to mimic user behavior and craft highly convincing messages, making them a challenge for traditional defenses. As cybercriminals increasingly target SMBs, adopting strong, layered security measures is no longer optional - it’s a necessity in today’s evolving threat landscape.

4. Vendor Network Attack Kits

Dark web attack kits targeting vendor networks are now a major threat to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), with breaches through trusted suppliers affecting 97% of companies.

According to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, these attacks have increased fourfold. Malware plays a major role, accounting for 62% of such incidents. The primary tactic? Exploiting the trust between SMBs and their vendors.

"You're only as secure as your partners." – Gil Friedrich, Founder & CEO at Avanan

The scale of the issue is alarming: 60% of organizations work with over 1,000 third parties. Meanwhile, breaches are increasing 37% faster than cybersecurity budgets, which are only growing by 26%.

Warning Signs of Vendor Compromise

SMBs should stay alert for these red flags that could indicate a vendor network attack:

Protection Strategies

To guard against these attacks, SMBs should prioritize the following security measures:

Next, we'll dive into how AI-based identity attacks are adding another layer of complexity to the dark web threat landscape.

5. AI-Based Identity Attacks

In 2024, AI-driven attacks make up 40% of all cyberattacks. These threats have been highlighted by several recent incidents.

One striking example occurred in February 2024 when cybercriminals used deepfake technology to mimic a CEO in Hong Kong. This led a finance employee to authorize a $25 million transfer. This case demonstrates how AI has taken social engineering to a new level, creating deceptions that are alarmingly convincing.

Here’s a breakdown of the tactics used in these AI-powered attacks:

The dark web continues to evolve with increasingly advanced threats. According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams have risen 34%, and government impersonation fraud has surged 50% since the release of ChatGPT.

"AI's growing role in cyber crime is undeniable. By 2025, AI will not only enhance the scale of attacks but also their sophistication. Phishing attacks will be harder to detect, with AI continuously learning and adapting".

Defense Strategies Against AI Threats

Deploy automated AI defense solutions like intrusion detection systems (IDS), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and security information and event management (SIEM) tools to counter these advanced attacks.

Conduct regular phishing simulations and train employees to recognize AI-generated content. Employees should especially be cautious with communications involving financial transactions or sensitive data requests.

Introduce strict verification processes for high-risk activities. Use multi-factor authentication and conduct regular credential reviews to minimize risks.

"Cybercriminals are leveraging social media and AI for targeted impersonation attacks. Deepfake technology is already influencing political processes and is now expanding into business. Hackers won’t just steal data or credentials - they’ll disrupt financial transactions, corporate decisions, and brand reputation. To stay ahead, organizations must upgrade their security tools and train employees to operate in a 'zero trust' environment where everything is suspect." - Gil Friedrich, VP of Email Security at Check Point

The healthcare and retail sectors are particularly vulnerable, with AI attacks targeting customer data and payment systems. Small and medium-sized businesses must adopt robust security measures and embrace a culture of zero-trust verification to navigate this rapidly changing threat landscape.

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By 2025, the rise of advanced tools on the dark web is expected to create significant challenges for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). Cyber-attacks are projected to cost the global economy a staggering $10.5 trillion annually. Alarmingly, nearly half of all breaches now target companies with fewer than 1,000 employees [1], underscoring the heightened risks SMBs face.

• Implementing Comprehensive Detection & Response: Building a strong security framework that goes beyond basic tools is essential. SECNAP's CloudJacket MDR/XDR platform provides a unified solution, integrating SIEM, NDR, EDR, MDR, and XDR functionalities, managed 24/7 by US-based SOC experts to detect and respond to threats effectively, addressing the 18% of attacks on small businesses involving malware [1].

• Investing in Human Firewalls: Since training can prevent up to 90% of data breaches [10], regular employee education is critical. SECNAP offers Awareness Training Programs, including phishing simulations, to equip employees against social engineering tactics.

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AI-Driven Security [Immediate]

Priority: High

Impact: Mitigates automated cyber threats. Learn how Secnap's CloudJacket MDR platform leverages AI and human intelligence for advanced threat detection and response.

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Employee Training [Ongoing]

Priority: Critical

Impact: Reduces risks from human error. Explore Secnap's Awareness Training Programs to strengthen your first line of defense.

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Comprehensive XDR [Short-term]

Priority: Significant

Impact: Goes beyond basic access control. While Zero-Trust principles are valuable, they must be part of a comprehensive XDR strategy like CloudJacket MDR to handle sophisticated threats.

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Vulnerability Mgmt.  [Medium-term]

Priority: Essential

Impact : Identifies and closes security gaps. Utilize Secnap's Internal and External Vulnerability Assessments to proactively manage risks.

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