What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
You generally cannot find a hacker by searching the dark web, and trying can expose you to scams, stolen-data purchases and legal risk. The route that can actually lead to an investigation is to preserve the evidence you already have and report it to the right authority. In the United States, that usually means the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for cyber-enabled crime or fraud, 911 or local police if someone is in danger, and the FBI tip form or a field office for ongoing crimes and threats.
Why searching the dark web for a hacker is a dead end
Dark web forums and marketplaces are where stolen data is often traded, which makes them a poor place to look for the person who stole it. Anyone who claims to be a “hacker for hire” there may be a fraud, and paying or engaging with sellers can lead to further losses. Searching these sites also creates problems of its own:
- Buying or downloading stolen data can itself be a crime, even if you intended only to look for evidence.
- Posting accusations, threats or a suspect’s personal details can expose you to retaliation and can create legal liability for you.
- Criminal forums are not a safe place to collect evidence, and anything you send there can be used against you or sold on.
- Messages from people offering to “trace” or “recover” for a fee are a common pattern in recovery scams (covered below).
Check for immediate danger first
If someone is in immediate danger, or you have received a direct threat of violence, stop and contact emergency services. IC3’s homepage states: “If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local police.” Do not wait to file an online report if a person’s safety is at risk.
Preserve what you already have
Good reports are specific and factual. Before you file, collect what is already in your possession:
#1 Best Overall
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 11 15/16" (304 mm), Height: 7 1/2" (190 mm), Diagonal: 14.1" (358.14 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
- Messages, emails and chat logs, in their original form
- Account notifications, password-reset emails and login alerts
- Bank, card or cryptocurrency transaction records, including wallet addresses and transaction IDs
- Usernames, handles, email addresses and any URLs where the activity appeared
- Screenshots that show the date, time and page address
Keep the originals unchanged and store copies somewhere safe. Then write a short timeline: what happened, when you noticed it, what you did in response, and who or what you have contacted. Mark each entry as either something you directly observed or something you suspect. Investigators can weigh these differently, so the distinction matters.
Avoid the following, even with good intentions:
- Trying to access anyone else’s accounts or systems
- Probing a suspected person’s computers, networks or websites
- Buying stolen data to “check” it
- Entering criminal forums to look for clues
- Contacting the suspect, replying to their messages or publicly naming them
Choose the right reporting route
These channels have different scopes. They are not interchangeable, so match your situation to the right one:
Rank #2
- Filter Dimensions: Width: 11 15/16" (304 mm), Height: 7 1/2" (190 mm), Diagonal: 14.1" (358.14 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- Two Attachment Options - Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any screen. Option 2 uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the filter on and off the screen as needed.
- Superior Privacy and Anti Glare - Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful glare, UV, and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces - Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
- Package Contents - Each package includes one privacy screen shield filter, two sets of clear adhesive strips, two sets of slide mount tabs, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
| Situation | Where to report | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Someone is in immediate danger, or you face a threat to life | 911 or local police | Emergency response. Use this before any online form. |
| You are a victim of cyber-enabled crime or fraud in the United States | Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Complaint intake for cyber-enabled crime and fraud. The FBI says these reports support investigative and intelligence purposes. |
| An ongoing crime, threat to life or national-security threat in the United States | FBI tip form at tips.fbi.gov, or a local FBI field office | Tips about active criminal or security matters. |
| Information specifically about the BreachForums or Raidforums investigations | The FBI’s dedicated BreachForums/Raidforums reporting form | Victims or people with information about those named investigations. It is not a general dark-web tip form. |
| Outside the United States | Your local police or national cybercrime reporting service | Depends on your jurisdiction. Find the official channel through your own government’s website. |
How to file a report, step by step
- If anyone is in danger, call 911 or your local police first.
- Gather the materials listed above and write your timeline, separating what you observed from what you suspect.
- Go to IC3 by typing its address yourself or by following a link from the FBI’s Cyber page. Do not use links that arrive in emails, direct messages or search ads.
- File a concise, factual complaint. State what happened, when, what money or data was involved, and what evidence you hold. Avoid guessing at a person’s identity unless you have a basis for it.
- If the matter is an ongoing crime or threat in the United States, submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov or contact your nearest FBI field office.
- If your information concerns BreachForums or Raidforums specifically, use the dedicated FBI form. Include personal information about other people only where it is necessary.
- Record the date you submitted, the route you used and any reference or confirmation number. Keep these with your evidence file.
What a report can and cannot do
A report feeds into the agency’s work, but it does not start a guaranteed investigation or produce a direct reply. IC3 says it cannot respond to every submission, and whether an agency contacts you or opens an inquiry is at its discretion. IC3 puts it this way: “While we cannot guarantee a response to every complaint, your report is still valuable.” The FBI also notes that rapid reporting of financial fraud can help support the recovery of lost funds, though recovery is not assured.
You should not expect to be told who the attacker is. Agencies generally do not share details of active investigations with complainants, so plan on receiving, at most, an acknowledgement or instructions.
Rank #3
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 13.56" (344.5 mm), Height: 8.49" (215.6 mm), Diagonal: 16" (406 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Recovery scams to avoid
Victims are often targeted a second time. Be cautious of any of the following:
- Anyone claiming to be the FBI or IC3 who asks you to move money by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards or prepaid cards. The FBI’s Contact Us page states: “The FBI will never call or email private citizens to request they move money via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid cards.”
- Firms, law practices or crypto services that promise to recover your money or trace a hacker for a fee. IC3 warns that it does not work with non-law-enforcement entities such as law firms or crypto services to recover lost funds.
- Anyone who says a payment is required to “retrieve” stolen funds or identify the person behind an attack.
If you receive such an offer, do not pay and do not share further financial details. Verify any agency contact by going to the official website directly and reporting the approach there.
Rank #4
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 13 9/16" (345 mm), Height: 7 5/8" (194 mm), Diagonal: 15.6" (396.24 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Two Attachment Options】- Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any screen. Option 2 uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the filter on and off the screen as needed.
- 【Superior Privacy and Reduce Glare】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful glare, UV, and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes one privacy screen shield filter, two sets of clear adhesive strips, two sets of slide mount tabs, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
If you manage an organization or systems
An organization that has suffered an intrusion should involve its own security team and, where appropriate, a professional incident-response or digital-forensics provider. Those specialists can help with containment, preserving logs and supporting the evidence file. Their role is to secure systems and document what happened. It is not to locate, confront or apprehend a suspect, and it should not involve contacting people on criminal forums. Organizations should also make their own reports to the authorities listed above.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesQuick Recap
Best Value
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 12 3/16" (310 mm), Height: 6 7/8" (175 mm), Diagonal: 14" (355.6 mm) - There are two different 14 inch screen sizes, please select the correct one. SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
