The Dark Web Economy: How Much is Your Data Worth?
Author: CrackSir Research Team Date: January 23, 2026 Category: Cybercrime
Introduction
When malware like “Joker” or “Harly” infects millions of Android devices, it isn’t done for fame. It’s done for profit. But how exactly do hackers monetize the terabytes of data they steal?
They sell it.
Welcome to the Dark Web Markets, the Amazon of cybercrime, where you can buy a stolen identity as easily as a pair of socks.
The Price List (2026 Edition)
We monitored several hidden marketplaces on the Tor network (Russian Market, Genesis (clones), and private Telegram channels) to compile this price list.
1. Credit Card Details (“Fullz”) - $15-$30
“Fullz” refers to the full package: Card Number, CVV, Expiry, Name, Address, and sometimes the victim’s Mother’s Maiden Name.
Source: Phishing pages and keyloggers (often in fake Banking apps).
Use: Testers buy these to buy gift cards or electronics for resale.
2. Verified Accounts (Logs)
Instead of hacking a password, criminals buy “Logs” – browser cookies session tokens stolen by “Stealer” malware.
Gmail / Facebook: $1 - $3. Low value because they are easy to recover.
Netflix / Spotify: $0.50. Sold in bulk for “Lifetime Warranty” accounts on grey-market sites.
Crypto Exchange (Binance/Coinbase): $50 - $500. The price depends on the account balance.
3. Passport / ID Scans - $10 - $20
Source: Compromised “KYC” (Know Your Customer) databases or malware intercepting camera uploads.
Use: Creating fake bank accounts (Money Mules) for laundering money.
4. Medical Records - $50+
Surprisingly, your health history is worth more than your credit card.
Why? You can cancel a credit card. You cannot cancel a medical diagnosis. These are used for highly sophisticated insurance fraud or blackmail.
The Android Connection
How does an infected APK contribute to this?
The Initial Loader: You install a “Cracked Spotify”. It works.
The Drop: Weeks later, it silently downloads a “payload” (e.g., Hydra or Cerberus).
The Harvest:
It overlays your Banking App login -> Steals Credentials ($20).
It dumps your SMS 2FA -> Allows transaction approval.
It uploads your Contacts -> Sold to spammers ($2/1000 contacts).
The “Bot” Economy
If your data isn’t worth selling, your device is.
Infected phones are sold as “Bots” or “Zombies”.
Price: $0.10 per phone.
Use: Your phone becomes a proxy. Criminals route their traffic through your IP address to hide their location while committing crimes. If they hack the Pentagon, the FBI kicks down your door, not theirs.
Conclusion
Data is the new oil, and your smartphone is the oil rig. Protecting your data isn’t just about privacy; it’s about not fuelling a multi-billion dollar criminal industry.