At the start of 2024, the price to obtain illicit information about Russian individuals rose sharply, increasing roughly 2.5 times to about 44,300 rubles. This shift was reported by a major business daily that referenced the findings of a leak intelligence and monitoring service tracking dark web activity. The surge in cost reflects a broader trend observed by researchers monitoring the shadowy marketplace where data trades take place in secrecy and often cross international borders.
Analysis from the service aggregated offerings from more than eighty intermediaries who sell similar data-related services on the darknet and via messaging platforms. Experts emphasize that the market distinguishes between simply gathering data and the act of delivering it. In practice, this often means tracking through telecom operators, where details like the monthly logging of calls and text messages can be purchased, or the illicit transfer of customer information from banks and state information systems. In some cases, the material on offer includes specific statements about customer accounts or traffic police databases covering defined time periods, illustrating the depth of information that can be obtained and sold on demand.
Journalists note that the price of a subscriber’s call details tends to climb depending on the vendor’s profile and capabilities, with average increases of around 3.3 times over a relatively short period. Despite a history of frequent data leaks, financial information held by banks has become more expensive as well, rising by roughly 1.5 times compared with the previous year. The pattern suggests a tightening of data markets and a growing premium placed on more sensitive or valuable datasets, as operators and sellers seek to maximize returns amid heightened cybersecurity measures and increased scrutiny from law enforcement in various jurisdictions.
Stakeholders within the communications sector view the price uptick as a direct consequence of enhanced data protection and more robust security protocols. As firms invest in encryption, monitoring, and anomaly detection, the allure of raw data shifts toward items that are harder to obtain or expose through fewer channels. This dynamic can push buyers toward more sophisticated, and often riskier, avenues to acquire valuable information, underscoring the ongoing tension between privacy safeguards and illicit data commerce.
Meanwhile, the tech industry landscape continues to evolve with moves by major technology firms. A long-standing plan by a leading US-based software company involved the rollout of artificial intelligence tools built around a Copilot-style assistant. When activated, these tools are intended to assist cybersecurity professionals in recording and analyzing cyber incidents, helping to document hacker techniques and the progression of intrusions in a structured manner. The rollout signals a broader push to integrate AI-driven analysis into defense workflows, enabling teams to trace attack vectors, identify recurring patterns, and respond more rapidly to emerging threats.
In related developments, the same firm has clarified its stance on service accessibility for users in Russia, outlining conditions under which access to certain services may be restricted or blocked. This stance reflects ongoing policy considerations around geopolitical access, international sanctions, and compliance requirements that influence how digital products are deployed and governed across different regions. The evolving policy framework highlights the interplay between global technology ecosystems and the regulatory environments that shape who can use specific tools and how they can be employed for security, research, or everyday operations.