Imagine logging into your company’s network only to find that critical systems have been compromised. Customer records, employee credentials, and financial data have been siphoned away without a trace. Hours later, that stolen information appears for sale on underground forums, fuelling the growing cybercrime economy.
This is the reality of infostealer malware: swift, silent, and devastating. Unlike ransomware, which locks your systems and demands payment, infostealers work covertly. They loot sensitive data — login credentials, browser-stored passwords, credit card details, and even session cookies — before you even realize you’ve been hit.
But the real danger lies in the industry behind these threats. Cybercriminals are no longer lone hackers. They operate within a sophisticated, decentralized marketplace. They create, sell, and distribute infostealers through Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms over an organized and decentralized network.
This article examines how the infostealer industry works and ways to reduce the risk.
How infostealers work
Infostealers can install themselves on your systems through various attack vectors. For example:
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Phishing emails that trick employees into downloading infected attachments.
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Malicious ads, or malvertising, redirect users to malicious websites.
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Infected websites and software downloads that contain hidden malware.
The more advanced infostealers can bypass or shut down your antivirus software or even operate alongside it.
After installation, the infostealer silently harvests your data and sends it to a server run by the cybercriminals.
MaaS: Making cybercrime simple and affordable
In the past, launching sophisticated cyber attacks was expensive and complex, and only elite hackers could do it. Those days are gone.
Today, Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) is making cybercrime simple and affordable. Available on the dark web, MaaS platforms operate like legitimate Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) businesses. They provide:
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Subscription-based pricing with tiers of infostealer capabilities.
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Customer support and documentation, and even cases 24/7 assistance.
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Regular updates as developers implement new ways to bypass security software.
A subscription to an infostealer MaaS platform costs $150–$300 per month. For example, the Raccoon Stealer is offered for $200. Moreover, advanced technical expertise isn’t necessary.
Key players in the infostealer economy
1. Developers: The infostealer architects
The infostealer supply chain starts with cybercriminal developers, who build and refine the infostealer malware. They focus on:
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Integrating advanced obfuscation techniques to evade cybersecurity defenses.
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Enhancing stealth capabilities to avoid detection.
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Embedding multi-functional modules to steal credentials, cookies, autofill data, and cryptocurrency wallets.
Many developers monetize their malware by licensing it to affiliates, who distribute it in exchange for a share of the revenue.
2. Distributors: The cybercrime middlemen
Distributors specialize in spreading infostealers to as many victims as possible. They use methods such as:
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Phishing emails that impersonate legitimate senders to trick the recipients into clicking a download link.
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Malvertising campaigns that infect users through deceptive ads.
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Malicious software downloads that bundle malware together with pirated versions of apps or games.
Distributors can infect thousands of computers and devices in hours using automated tools and botnets.
3. Dark web marketplaces: The online trading floor for stolen data
After the credentials and sensitive data have been harvested, the cybercriminals package them and offer them for sale on the dark web.
Dark web marketplaces operate much like legitimate e-commerce sites. They offer:
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User-friendly dashboards for browsing and purchasing stolen credentials.
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Customer reviews and ratings to verify the quality of stolen data.
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Escrow services to facilitate secure transactions between cybercriminals.
A study by the University of Surrey found that a single set of account credentials can sell for as little as $2.
4. Buyers: Threat actors who use the stolen data
The buyers of the stolen data are other cybercriminals (also known as threat actors) who plan to use it to commit further cybercrime. For example:
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Account takeover (ATO) attacks to break into enterprise systems.
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Financial fraud, including unauthorized bank and credit card transactions.
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Ransomware attacks, infiltrating corporate networks to disrupt operations or paralyze them completely.
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Corporate espionage, spying on competitors to access sensitive business data.
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Social engineering and further phishing attacks, crafting targeted scams.
How to protect yourself: Proactive cybersecurity is critical
Advanced technology and MaaS platforms have made infostealers a simple, accessible, and highly profitable form of cybercrime.
The threat is increasing to organizations of all sizes and across all industries. A data breach can have devastating consequences, including:
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Operational disruption and financial losses.
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Reputational damage and loss of customer trust.
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Potential legal or regulatory fallout.
It’s critical that you take proactive measures to secure your data and protect your organization.
Cybersecurity isn’t just about prevention — it’s about staying one step ahead. Is your organization prepared?
Monitoring criminal networks helps to protect you against infostealers
A domain monitoring solution is essential for detecting and mitigating infostealer threats before they escalate. Key benefits include:
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Proactive threat detection: Identifying compromised credentials before cybercriminals use them to attack you.
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Automated alerts: Notifying your security teams immediately when information about your organization is detected on underground forums.
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Remediation strategies: These empower you to take immediate action to shut out cybercriminals, such as changing passwords or blocking credit cards.
At Cybercheck, we provide advanced monitoring capabilities of cyber criminal forums across the dark, deep, and open web, allowing organizations like yours to monitor their digital domains against data breaches.
We scan for compromised email addresses, passwords, physical addresses, identity profiles, financial data, and more. If cybercriminals are trading information about you or your organization, we see it and alert you right away.
That means you can act to stop the cybercriminals before they make you their next victim.
