Therefore, cybercriminals use these forums because they offer assured anonymity and security. XSS (formerly known as DaMaGeLaB) was one of the longest-serving forums in the deep web. It was a dominant forum that featured a dangerous threat for average users within the Russian-speaking cyber environment. It had a surface web mirror alongside an onion site that users accessed using the Tor browser. As per our research, the forum served as a place where hackers had discussions revolving around malware, unauthorized access, sales, database trading, and security vulnerabilities.
It contains a good selection of product listings that range over 35,000 items. The website has an interface and design similar to other dark web shops. It uses PGP encryption, two-factor authentication, and OPTP authentication to ensure usersβ security. To prevent the users from DDoS attacks, it provides personal marketplace domains to high-volume buyers and sellers.