7 Dark Web Job Postings in Hot Demand That Should Shape Cybersecurity Strategy

Put away the crystal balls, the Farmer’s Almanac, vulnerabilities prognosticators, cybersecurity soothsayers, and even Bureau of Labor Statistics stats. If you want to understand where the real business of cybersecurity is going—and where you may need to staff up internally—check the job postings on the dark web.

After reviewing hundreds of job posts on sites like Exile and RAMP, the ReliaQuest Threat Research Team says that organizations that understand the skills bad actors are looking for can more accurately divine what skills their own teams will need to spurn attacks.

Recruitment is in full swing on the dark web for experienced candidates with skills in the “dark art” of hacking. Here are the most sought-after skills on the dark web. Take heed of these postings then adjust your own brain and skills trust accordingly.

1. Social engineers with topnotch English skills

The researchers found a doubling of job posts demanding these skills  in just the last year. What the researchers say: ‘Job adverts mentioning this skill more than doubled between 2024 and 2025, with 87 percent of posts created by recruiters and the remaining 13 percent by job seekers—a clear indicator of the significant demand for this skill.” 

2.  IoT compromisers 

After a brief downturn last year, the demand for these skills have come roaring back and by year’s end is expected to reach new heights. What the researchers say: “This renewed focus is likely due to these devices being unmanaged and riddled with vulnerabilities. The long-term outlook signals a continued rise in IoT-related attacks. As organizations integrate more IoT devices into their environments, the attack surface expands exponentially, creating more entry points for cybercriminals.” 

3.  AI experts

Not surprisingly, AI skills are hot, hot, hot, regardless of what side of the fence a job candidate is on. Dark web recruiters are looking for those who can integrate AI into operational processes, which makes sense, since much of the struggle for cybersecurity will be fought on the AI battlefield. What the researchers say: “Adversaries are increasingly recruiting AI experts to automate entire attack workflows, allowing for faster, scalable operations and freeing resources for other objectives.”  

4.  Deepfake pros 

Deepfake technology has  really upped cybercriminals' success in impersonating executives and other employees and coaxing targets to take action, typically transferring funds to miscreants. What the researchers say: “Once deepfake technology enables adversaries to remove language barriers in real time, it will present an even greater threat. Attackers could target organizations across multiple languages, significantly expanding their reach. What’s more, with recruitment for English-speaking social engineers already at an all-time high, real-time deepfake technology offers an alternative to traditional methods.”

5.  Cloud exploiters

 Now that the cloud is a mainstay and foundational to modernizing business, it’s not surprising that darkweb recruiters are looking for those with skills to exploit the cloud. What the researchers say: “Recruitment posts seeking candidates skilled in cloud exploitation—specifically Azure—quadrupled from 2023 to 2024. While mentions during the first half of 2025 have slightly declined, sustained activity suggests that growth will continue, with the potential for another spike by the end of the year.”  

6.  Hypervisor Expertise 

A standard skill among cybercriminals, hypervisor attacks compromise several virtual machines at once. The market for this skill shifts based on that economic mainstay—supply and demand. What the researchers say: “Hypervisors are a lucrative target for adversaries seeking to maximize impact and efficiency. By examining the demand for hypervisor expertise, we can better understand how attackers are evolving their methods and anticipate future threats.”

7.  ClickFix Malware mavens 

No doubt, ClickFix malware execution is on the rise—with activity skyrocketing by a 850 percent between 2024 and 2025. Notable was the 200 percent uptick that happened just a month after targeted recruitment posts appeared. What the experts say: “This rapid escalation highlights how demand for specific expertise directly fuels the deployment of new methods, making it essential for organizations to monitor these shifts and proactively strengthen defenses.”