Disinformation as a Service Is Becoming More Popular on Hacker Forums

Disinformation campaigns are usually associated with politicians, but according to research by experts from Recorded Future, there is a black market on the internet offering disinformation services to anyone interested. Researchers report that finding the required service is very easy and the cost is relatively low (ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the client’s needs).

During their study, the specialists created a fake company, found two active services on Russian-language forums, and ordered disinformation services from them. One service was tasked with praising the newly created company, while the other was hired to damage its reputation.

A whole network of fake social media pages published posts about the company, which eventually made their way into the media. As with any propaganda operation, bots, online trolls, and real people reacting to fake posts were involved in spreading rumors.

Both services performed their tasks excellently and proved to be professionals. Additionally, they maintained active communication with the client and, after the first interaction with the fake company, even improved their English skills.

The research shows that the “disinformation as a service” business model is no longer just a tool available to politicians. Cybercriminal forums, which are already marketplaces for selling malware and hacking techniques, are gradually becoming platforms for offering bots and fake traffic as well.