FBI Takes Down Dark Web Marketplace For US Citizen Personal Data
Understanding the Darkweb Marketplace
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Tuesday against the Hydra market and Garantex, a virtual currency exchange based in Russia. It said both had helped finance gangs that carried out ransomware attacks. That’s why Tor also supports so-called hidden services, which have special URLs ending .onion, where your anonymised network requests are not only bounced around inside the Tor network, but also processed and answered from inside Tor.
The darkweb marketplace is a hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines and requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. This segment of the web is often associated with illegal activities, but it also hosts legitimate services.
The dark web has become an increasingly important landscape for the sale of illicit cyber goods. Given the prevalence of malware and tools that are used to steal data from individuals on these markets, it is crucial that every company, governing body, and cyber professional be aware of what information is sold on these marketplaces. Knowing this information will allow these entities to protect themselves against cyber attacks and from information breaches. In this article, we announce the public release of a data set on dark web marketplaces’ cybersecurity-related listings. We spent multiple years seeking out websites that sold illicit digital goods and collected data on the available products.
Another might display the positive user reviews of one RaaS operation only. Popularity, functionality, and bundled items are just some of the factors that help to influence the cost of a ransomware offering. CPO Magazine wrote that some ransomware sell or rent out access for as little as $5. By contrast, more established strains can go for $100 or more.In the context of these dark market ads, ransomware developers have traditionally sought to recruit affiliates to the RaaS schemes. As reported by KrebsonSecurity at the time, the administrators of the Russian digital crime forum XSS banned individuals from discussing ransomware around the same time that the DarkSide ransomware affiliate program went offline.
United States Justice Department Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement many of the forum’s users were arrested on Tuesday. A senior FBI official said arrests had been made in the US but declined to provide further details. “We assess that the Genesis is one of the most significant access marketplaces anywhere in the world,” said Rob Jones, the NCA’s director general of threat leadership. ZeroFox combines AI-powered dark web monitoring and human intelligence provided by our DarkOps team. Dark web marketplaces make it possible for vendors to complete transactions without revealing their identity to the customer. However, some marketplaces require vendors to apply via referral, provide proof of reputation from another market, purchase a vendor license, or provide a cash deposit.
What is a Darkweb Marketplace?
A darkweb marketplace is an online platform where users can buy and sell goods and services. These transactions often occur using cryptocurrencies, which provide anonymity for both buyers and sellers. Common items traded include:
Increase the scope of your monitoring ability and the overall amount of hyper-relevant intelligence at your fingertips. The complaint affidavit identifies several cases that have been filed in the United States against WSM vendors. Moreover, it also aimed at disrupting opioid and fentanyl trafficking over the dark web. Besides the arrests, law enforcement seized 258 kg of amphetamines, 43 kg of cocaine, 43 kg of MDMA, and over 10 kg of LSD and ecstasy pills. One hundred and fifty-three of the 288 vendors and buyers were arrested in the U.S., 55 in the U.K., 52 in Germany, 10 in the Netherlands, nine in Austria, five in France, two in Switzerland, and one each in Poland and Brazil.
And he claims to have built complex technical protections that include redundant infrastructure in multiple countries, along with a system called AlphaGuard that’s designed to automatically relaunch the site on new servers in the case of a bust. “We will be back and running within a few days and without a cent lost,” DeSnake says. Worth approximately $1 billion at the time, it was later revealed that the US Government made these transfers in a civil forfeiture action.
- Illegal drugs
- Stolen data
- Fake identification
- Hacking services
- Weapons
Characteristics of Darkweb Marketplaces
Understanding the characteristics of a darkweb marketplace is essential for those interested in this realm:
- Anonymity: Users often utilize VPNs and Tor browsers to maintain their privacy.
- Cryptocurrency Transactions: Major currencies include Bitcoin, Monero, and Ethereum, as they ensure a degree of anonymity.
- User Reviews: Most marketplaces include user feedback systems that help build trust among users.
- Escrow Services: Many platforms offer escrow services to protect both buyers and sellers during transactions.
Risks Involved in Using Darkweb Marketplaces
While darkweb marketplaces can provide access to controversial items, they come with significant risks:
- Legal Consequences: Engaging in illegal trade can lead to criminal charges.
- Scams: The lack of regulation often leads to fraudulent activities.
- Malware: Many sites can host malicious software, compromising users’ computers.
- Law Enforcement Surveillance: Authorities monitor these marketplaces, aiming to catch illicit activities.
- Notably, once the account and card has been issued, they provide an option to physically ship the latter to the buyer.
- The anonymity provided by the dark web and cryptocurrencies makes it difficult to track down vendors and buyers, and this is a problem that will require a concerted effort from law enforcement, governments, and the private sector to address.
- Dark marketplaces operate similarly to other online marketplaces, such as eBay, Gumtree or Craigslist, on which vendors advertise their products and prices.
- Users need to understand threats to their digital identity and mechanisms to safeguard it.
- In the description we instead put information on the DWMs, with more details where available.
Notable Darkweb Marketplaces
Several prominent darkweb marketplaces have gained notoriety:
- Silk Road: One of the first and most famous darkweb marketplaces, known for illegal drug sales.
- AlphaBay: A popular marketplace that was shut down by law enforcement in 2017.
- Dream Market: Known for its wide range of products but has gone dark recently.
- Wall Street Market: A large marketplace offering various illicit goods before its shutdown in 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I access a darkweb marketplace?
To access a darkweb marketplace, you typically need to download and install the Tor browser, which allows you to browse .onion websites that are not accessible through standard browsers.
2. Is it safe to buy from a darkweb marketplace?
No, purchasing from a darkweb marketplace involves significant risks, including scams and legal repercussions.
3. What should I know before using a darkweb marketplace?
Research thoroughly, understand the legal risks, and consider using protective tools like VPNs to increase privacy.
4. Are all products on the darkweb marketplace illegal?
No, while many products are illegal, some darkweb marketplaces may also offer legal goods and services.
Conclusion
The darkweb marketplace represents a complex network of transactions that straddle the line between legality and illegality. Engaging in this world can lead to serious consequences and carries inherent risks, making it essential for individuals to exercise caution and conduct thorough research.
