With the rise of online illicit activities, darknet markets have become a topic of interest for many. Here are some of the latest updates in the world of darknet market news:
- Recent times have also seen the rise of another mutant—the elegantly named pig-butchering scam.
- Ever-evolving technology has allowed drug traffickers and other criminal actors to expand into the digital world and use the darknet to engage in their illegal activity.
- German authorities took down the world’s largest illegal marketplace on the darknet with the help of U.S. law enforcement agencies, they said.
- “But now, [law enforcement has] such good tracing technology that they can trace bitcoin through a whole lot of different addresses. A lot of people are being brought down now even after many, many years because of that better bitcoin tracing.”
Malware, including ransomware, was also for sale, as was financial info and personally identifiable information (PII). Like legal online marketplaces, buyers could search by product, product popularity, vendor ratings, payment type and price. The operators allegedly received commissions of between 2% and 6% of the sales value. German police have shut down one of the world’s largest illegal online markets in the so-called dark web and arrested the three men allegedly running it, prosecutors said on Friday.
Data dampens drug trade on the dark web
Recent Busts and Shutdowns
White House Market’s unexpected closure
- Operation DisrupTor: In September 2020, a coordinated international law enforcement effort led to the takedown of multiple darknet marketplaces.
- DarkMarket Shutdown: In January 2021, authorities successfully shut down DarkMarket, one of the largest darknet markets at the time.
New Trends and Developments
Terrorism and Illicit Finance
Last September, another international police sting, Operation DisrupTor, announced the results of a push to catch drug dealers and other criminals who had used Wall Street Market. A hundred and seventy-nine people were arrested in seven countries, a hundred and twenty-one of them in the U.S. In Ohio, officers arrested several members of a group called Pill Cosby, who had allegedly mailed more than a million pills laced with fentanyl. And international law enforcement agencies obtained intelligence to identify Darknet drug traffickers.” I wondered whether “intelligence” referred to information gained from servers seized from CyberBunker after the closure of Wall Street Market, in May, 2019. Claire Georges, a spokeswoman for Europol, confirmed to me recently that DisrupTor was “entirely designed around” that first cache of information from CyberBunker’s servers. Some darknet markets are also adopting new infrastructures to avoid shutdowns by law enforcement.
- Shift to Decentralized Markets: Some darknet users are moving towards decentralized platforms to avoid central points of failure.
- Increased Use of Cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin continue to be the preferred payment method on darknet markets due to their relative anonymity.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are darknet markets illegal?
It seems the older the market, the more likely these factors account for its closure. The study of Dark Web marketplaces analyzed approximately 33,000 active sites, forums, and marketplaces over a two-month period, finding that the market for basic tools and knowledge is well entrenched, and attracting new customers all the time. Would-be cybercriminals can easily buy advanced tools, common exploits, and stolen credentials on underground markets for a few dollars — a low barrier to entry for novices, according to a study of 33,000 Dark Web marketplaces. At DeepDotWeb, an anonymous editor chronicles everything darknet related, from the latest in cryptocurrencies to the rise of fall of new darknet markets. In an email interview, the editor (who asked to remain anonymous) predicts that the crazy explosion of smaller markets may be on the wane.
- Yes, most darknet markets facilitate the buying and selling of illegal goods and services.
- How can I access a darknet market?
- You would need to use special software like Tor and follow specific instructions to access darknet markets.
- Is it safe to make purchases on darknet markets?
- There are risks associated with using darknet markets, including scams and law enforcement crackdowns.
One of the most long-standing and popular darknet markets remains Russian-language Hydra, which does not welcome non-Russian speakers or anyone not located in or around Russia. The results of Operation DisrupTor came more than a year after officials took down the “Wall Street Market,” which was believed to be one of the largest illegal online marketplaces on the darknet. In May 2019, three German nationals were charged for allegedly operating the illicit site. According to a new report by Chainalysis, darknet marketplace revenues fell by 50% in 2022 as a direct result of Hydra’s seizure, with a dramatic drop across the board from 2021’s $3.1B to last year’s $1.5B.
As the landscape of darknet markets continues to evolve, staying informed on the latest news and trends is crucial for those interested in this underground world.
