Phishing, Impersonation, And Beyond: CISO Insights On 2023-2024 External Threats
Understanding the Darkweb Marketplace
On the brighter side, the dark web provides you anonymity, privacy, and highly secure communication routes to protect reform agents such as human rights activists and journalists who are targeted by oppressive foreign regimes. They pointed to the use of stolen information by Russia’s Internet Research Agency to create fake social media accounts leading up to the 2016 and 2020 elections. She came to F5 from Demand Media where she was the Vice President of Information Security and Business Intelligence. Sara ran the security team at Demand Media for 6 years; prior to Demand Media, she held various roles in the information security community over 11 years at Network Computing Architects and Conjungi Networks. Around October of 2019, there were 127,000 bots for sale, as shown in Figure 7. In just one year, the inventory of bots in Genesis has shown a 153% growth.
The passport market is a particularly interesting one and can be divided into three main categories. The pricing for these templates vary, but the report found U.S. passports of this nature for $18 (£14.25) with Canadian passports costing $26 (£20.50) and the Netherlands, at $50 (£40) being the most expensive. The Dutch national police’s Cyber Enabled Crime Team was involved in the operation, codenamed SpecTor. Silkkitie had been in operation since 2013, mainly offering narcotics and other illicit goods. And in November 2020, the United States government seized more than $1 billion worth of bitcoin allegedly connected to Silk Road.
This was an intriguing boast—a prosecutor told me it was made to gain users’ trust—but it was untrue. DarkMarket’s thirty-four-year-old founder and administrator was apparently an Australian man, who was arrested last weekend near the German-Danish border. The police referred to him only as Julian K. Shortly after Julian K.’s arrest, DarkMarket was shuttered by the German police. On the site, a graphic appeared, showing an insect with a female face—a logo for DarkMarket—underneath a flyswatter.
Such brazenness is usually displayed only by those fake ‘online pharmacies’ that dupe the dumb and flaccid. It’s only accessible through the anonymizing network TOR, which requires a bit of technical skill to configure. Ericka Chickowski specializes in coverage of information technology and business innovation. She has focused on information security for the better part of a decade and regularly writes about the security industry as a contributor to Dark Reading. Join Dark Reading LIVE for two days of practical cyber defense discussions.
The darkweb marketplace has gained notoriety for its hidden services and illicit trading. These marketplaces operate on the dark web, an encrypted part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines.
According to this threat actor, his clients were able to bypass automated Know Your Customer (KYC) checks conducted by some of the most specialized fraud prevention vendors used by major payment systems and online-marketplaces. These services scan the documents to recognize the key fields (lastname, firstname, DOB, etc.) to compare with the original identifying information submitted by users. The scope of cybercriminal lookup services is not limited exclusively to PII data based on ID, DL or SSN. For example, “NZI Lookup” enables fraudsters to extract banking statements.
These marketplaces have been around since the inception of the dark web, and they are still thriving today. Dark Web Markets (DWMs) are the markets on the dark web that are used to access illegal products and services. Users can access illicit products, such as drugs, unregistered firearms, fake ID cards, credentials, and data sets in DWMs. These illegal shopping platforms, which gained popularity in the dark web in 2011 with Silkroad, which we call the first modern DWM, have increased their activity until today. After the Silkroad closed with the FBI operation in 2013, big names such as RAMP, one of the longest-lived dark web markets, and Hydra emerged and were later taken down.
Darkweb marketplaces facilitate the buying and selling of various goods, often bypassing legal restrictions. This article delves into how these marketplaces function, their risks, and their implications on society.
How Darkweb Marketplaces Operate
Darkweb marketplaces operate through a network of anonymizing software, primarily using Tor to prevent tracking and maintain user anonymity. Here’s a summary of their functioning:
- This operation, spanning continents and cutting through layers of digital anonymity, not only disrupts a significant illegal marketplace but also serves as a warning that, even in the web’s darkest corners, justice has its eyes wide open.
- For instance, some websites included unnecessary web page headers in the same class that contained products; thus, when organizing data about products, we had to filter out the headers.
- Vendors may offer to deploy cyber attacks against a specific target, steal data from a specific company or database, or create a customized fraud or malware program.
- Overall, accessing dark web marketplaces is a far cry from the ease and simplicity of eCommerce marketplaces most people are accustomed to.
- Access: Users access darkweb marketplaces through specific browsers like Tor, ensuring their IP addresses are hidden.
- Registration: Users must create accounts using aliases to maintain privacy.
- Payment: Transactions are often conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which provide additional anonymity compared to traditional currencies.
- Products: Marketplaces offer a wide range of products, including illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, hacking services, and stolen data.
Popular Darkweb Marketplaces
Several darkweb marketplaces have gained attention over the years for their expansive listings and user activity:
- Silk Road: The original and most famous darkweb marketplace, shut down by law enforcement in 2013.
- AlphaBay: A major platform that was also taken down in 2017, known for its wide variety of illegal goods.
- Dream Market: Operated for several years and was beloved by users for its diverse offerings.
- Marketplace 2.0: Emerging platforms that seek to replace those that were shut down continue to evolve.
Risks Involved with Darkweb Marketplaces
Engaging with a darkweb marketplace poses numerous risks:
- Legal Risks: The purchase of illegal goods can lead to serious criminal charges.
- Scams: Many marketplaces are rife with scams and fraudulent sellers.
- Security Threats: Users risk exposure to malware and cyber attacks due to the lack of regulation.
- Privacy Issues: While efforts are made to remain anonymous, users may still be traced by savvy law enforcement agencies.
Common Questions About Darkweb Marketplaces
What can you buy on darkweb marketplaces?
Users can purchase a variety of items, including:
- Illegal drugs
- Counterfeit items
- Stolen credit card information
- Hacking tools
Are darkweb marketplaces legal?
The marketplaces themselves are legal, but participating in transactions for illegal goods is against the law in most jurisdictions.
How do I access a darkweb marketplace?
Access generally requires the use of:
- Tor browser
- VPN for additional security
Conclusion
The darkweb marketplace represents a complex intersection of freedom, anonymity, and criminality, creating challenges for authorities and society at large. While these platforms continue to evolve, so do the risks and consequences associated with engaging in illegal transactions.
Understanding the darkweb marketplace is crucial for anyone interested in cybersecurity, law enforcement, or the broader implications of digital anonymity. As technology progresses, the need for informed discussions and regulations surrounding the dark web becomes increasingly critical.
