PhaaS: The Dark Web’s Growing Cybercrime Business Model

Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) is an emerging cybercrime model where threat actors sell ready-made phishing kits and services to less technically skilled criminals. Operating through dark web marketplaces, PhaaS platforms offer everything from fake login page templates to email delivery tools and even customer support. This “cybercrime-as-a-service” model lowers the barrier to entry for cybercriminals, leading to a surge in credential theft, identity fraud, and data breaches. To counter PhaaS, organizations must implement advanced email filtering, user behavior analytics, security awareness training, and multi-factor authentication. Combating this scalable threat requires a proactive, layered security approach and real-time threat intelligence.