Darknet Podcasts: An Analysis of Audio Content Produced Within Criminal Networks for Education and Entertainment

[Professor]

Abstract: The human voice is the oldest and most trusted medium of information. It's no surprise that even the most closed communities, existing in the hidden corners of the internet, have created their own audio landscape. These are podcasts recorded and distributed on the dark web. These are not just technical instructions, but a complex cultural phenomenon where education, ideology, entertainment, and community building intertwine. This article is a calm and inquisitive journey into this world of sound, exploring what is being talked about, learned, and laughed at in the audio circles of the dark web.

Introduction: Voice in the Digital Cave​

The dark web is often portrayed as a realm of text: forums, chats, marketplaces. But text requires active reading and concentration. Voice, on the other hand, creates the illusion of immediacy, trust, and presence. A podcast becomes a unique tool in this environment. It allows for the transmission of not only information but also tone, emotion, and charisma. This creates a sense of personal mentoring or friendly conversation in an environment where anonymity and mistrust reign.

1. Genres and formats: From lectures to talk shows​

Darknet audio content is surprisingly diverse and structured, mirroring the evolution of legal podcasting.

1.1. Educational and methodological podcasts ("Audio courses for carders").

• Format: Mono- or dialogic format with a clear structure: explanation of the concept, case analysis, answers to questions (sometimes sent in chat).
• Content: Topics range from the basic ("What is SOCKS5 and why is it needed?", "How to safely buy cryptocurrency") to the advanced ("Analysis of a recent vulnerability in a banking API," "Methods for bypassing new fraud monitoring systems"). Real, but anonymized, cases of failures and successes are often discussed.
• Delivery: Reminiscent of a lecture or workshop. The goal is not to entertain, but to improve the listener's professional skills by reducing the number of errors that lead to failed operations.

1.2. News and analytical digests ("Cyber Mornings").

• Format: Weekly or daily broadcast, hosted by one or two announcers.
• Content: A review of recent events: the closure of a major marketplace, the arrests of prominent figures in the carding world, the emergence of new malware families, and legislative changes in various countries. Analysis of the impact on the ecosystem: "After X's arrest, log prices jumped because..."
• Presentation: Businesslike, sometimes with a touch of dark humor. Function: Situational awareness for community members who must quickly adapt to a changing environment.

1.3. Interviews and debriefings with authority figures.

• Format: A long conversation between the host and an invited guest – a respected malware developer, a successful scheme organizer, and a “veteran” of the scene.
• Content: Personal experiences, philosophical reflections on the state of the industry, stories of career highlights (often embellished), advice for beginners. Technical details are rarely included, but rather strategic thinking and risk management.
• Delivery: Leisurely and confidentially. The goal is to legitimize the expert, create a pantheon of community "stars," and convey tacit knowledge (experience, intuition, and approach).

1.4. Entertainment and cultural podcasts (“For our own”).

• Format: Informal conversations on abstract topics, similar to regular friendly podcasts.
• Content: Discussions of games, movies (often cyberpunk or crime-themed), music, and even politics. Jokes, stories, and gossip about other scene participants (under pseudonyms).
• Presentation: Relaxed, with plenty of slang and inside jokes. The key function is social cohesion. This creates a sense of belonging to a special, select group, which is crucial in an anonymous and paranoid environment.

2. Language and Production Features: Creating an Atmosphere of Trust​

• Voice anonymization: Voice distortion (pitch-shifting) is often used, but not always beyond recognition. The individual's individual speech pattern, intonation, and timbre — what creates "recognizability" and trust — are preserved.
• Slang as a password: Active use of internal jargon ("drop," "fulz," "garant," "kimeny") serves two functions: it accurately describes concepts and delineates community boundaries. Those who understand the slang are part of the community.
• Sound quality: Varies greatly. From low-quality recordings made with a cheap microphone in an echo-prone room to professionally mixed episodes with musical intros and jingles. The latter suggests the emergence of semi-professional media projects within the community.
• Advertising and monetization: During breaks or at the beginning of an episode, "native advertising" may appear: "This episode was prepared with the support of exchanger X, which exchanges without KYC..." or "We recommend our partner store with receipts..." This indicates the commercialization of even this cultural layer.

3. Functions and meanings: Why does the community need this?​

The creation and consumption of such content solves the fundamental problems of a closed society.

1. Reducing operational risks through training. The verbal transfer of experience, mistakes, and best practices directly from senior to junior members increases the overall survivability and effectiveness of the community. This is a collective adaptive mechanism.
2. Legitimizing hierarchy and building reputation. The host of an authoritative podcast or a frequent guest becomes not just an expert, but a media personality. Their opinions begin to influence the mood and decisions of the community.
3. Normalizing activities and relieving psychological tension. Discussing work in a businesslike manner or even with humor helps participants rationalize and "package" their activities, reducing internal cognitive dissonance. This is part of creating a professional identity.
4. Combating isolation and creating a "we-feeling." In a world where everyone hides their identity, a shared voice, jokes, and discussions create a powerful sense of virtual camaraderie. Listening to the same podcast makes people feel like they're part of a community.

4. Research Ethics: Is it OK to Listen and Analyze?​

Studying this content is a valuable field for sociologists, linguists, and cybersecurity specialists. However, it has its limitations.

• Without becoming an acoustic 'voyeur': The researcher must clearly distinguish between the analysis of discourse and methods (what does it say about the community?) and the consumption of content as a guide to action.
• Understanding the context: Words spoken in a closed circle "for the insiders" can be exaggerated, mythologized, or used specifically for status enhancement. You can't take everything at face value as the absolute truth.
• Focus on culture, not instruction: The value of such analysis lies in understanding the values, fears, motivations, and social mechanisms of a criminal community, not in collecting technical techniques.

Conclusion: Echoes in the Digital Underground​

Darknet podcasts are much more than a means of transmitting information. They are the sonic architecture of an alternative society.

They demonstrate that any human activity, having reached a certain level of complexity and organization, generates its own culture, its own media, and its own language. Criminal communities are no exception. They create their own "aural universities," their own "news," and their own "talk shows" for survival, learning, and cohesion.

Listening (for research purposes) to these voices, we hear more than just talk of hacks and schemes. We hear echoes of universal human needs: to be competent, to be recognized, to belong to a group, and to share a common language. Understanding this sonic landscape allows us to see the shadows not as a faceless threat, but as a community with its own complex inner life, which, in turn, provides the keys to a more effective and targeted dialogue about security — a dialogue that speaks not only the language of prohibitions but also the language of understanding motivations.