Cyber Criminals On DWMs
Understanding the Dark Web Black Market
The dark web black market is a term that refers to online marketplaces that operate on the dark web, allowing users to buy and sell goods and services that are often illegal. These markets are hidden from standard web search engines, requiring specific software to access, such as Tor. The anonymity these platforms provide attracts a variety of illegal activities.
What’s even more alarming is that in April 2023, daily dark web visitors rose by 200,000 to reach 2.7 million. Moreover, threat actors offer ransomware and stealers “as a service” in these markets. It took almost no time for the void left by Hydra to be filled, and dozens of new illicit markets emerged. These DWMs, mostly Russian-speaking, have repopulated 80% of the entire illegal ecosystem. According to TRM Labs’s research, these markets reached 24% more volume than the previous year of Hydra within the first five months of Hydra’s shutdown. After the Hydra servers were shut down, most Hydra users organized in the RuTor forum.
How the Dark Web Functions
US agencies, like the FBI, are constantly working with international law enforcement agencies to stop the growth of dark web markets all over the globe. Hydra Market was a Russian-language marketplace that had operated via the Tor network since at least 2015 and was known for extensive drug trafficking, according to German authorities. The market’s 17 million known customers were also known to buy and sell forged documents and stolen credit cards, they said.
Accessing the dark web black market involves a few steps:
Rumors are now circulating via the social media site Reddit that a third dark web marketplace, Dream Market, may also be under the control of law enforcement. The rumors claim that an unencrypted IP address can be found in Dream Market’s javascript source code. The two largest dark web marketplaces, AlphaBay and Hansa, have been shut down as a result of an international cooperative effort involving the FBI, the DEA, Europol, and the Dutch National Police. Exit scams involve the anonymous operator of a market simply disappearing – taking customers’ money, in the form of cryptocurrency, with them. For example, in late 2013 the operators of Sheep Marketplace are alleged to have disappeared with nearly 40,000 bitcoins – now worth around $1.7 billion – belonging to their customers. For the first time, FBI agents from all the bureau’s field offices also visited buyers to tell them about the overdose danger of pills sold online, which are often disguised to look like prescription drugs.
Its closure on April 5, 2022 created a seismic shift in the Russian-language darknet marketplace landscape. There are other vendors that offer dark web monitoring services that cater to consumers. David Putnam, NortonLifeLock’s head of identity protection products, said that compared to free services like Have I Been Pwned? But experts say the dark web in recent years has changed in significant ways. How prevalent are security threats on this hidden corner of the internet? Like many darknet markets that operate in service of customers, WeTheNorth offers 24/7 customer service in both English and French, and it’s open to anyone who uses the site.
- However, dark web servers are also hosted on other anonymous networks, such as Invisible Internet Project (I2P) [1].
- Sanctioning the various actors in the global cryptocurrency laundering and cashout ecosystem has caused disruptions for these services.
- Figure 1 below shows listed vendor names across sites, the first graph depicted below shows common sellers on Dark0de, Tor2dor Market, and Bohemia.
- As of today, there are at least 38 identified active dark marketplaces8.
- Since our research was cybersecurity-focused, we only pursued acquisition for the markets that actually sold digital goods.
- Let’s begin our thrilling adventure by understanding what the Dark Web is and how it works.
- Download the Tor browser.
- Set up a secure internet connection.
- Navigate to dark web URLs that often change due to law enforcement crackdowns.
German federal police (the Bundeskriminalamt) working with US law enforcement have seized Hydra Market, billed as the world’s largest and longest-serving dark web marketplace. It reportedly accounted for about 80 percent of all dark web-linked cryptocurrency transactions and had taken about $5.2 billion in crypto since 2015. One possible avenue is via the ‘dark web’, which hosts many different online black markets that facilitate the sale of firearms, weapons, explosives and banned digital materials.
Likely a response to increase law enforcement activities, it is even harder to get access to dark web hacker forums. Dark web forum admins have always been wary of newcomers and visitors, routinely screening for law enforcement (often ineffectively). In light of recent busts, however, dark web operators have increased their vigilance and are scrutinizing applicants more thoroughly. These days, you often have to pass stringent verification and vetting processes to join a forum.
A few markets even had delivery options; others had data on how many products were left in stock. While our primary concern was collecting data on the products’ names, vendors, and prices, we found that more data-rich markets could help us maximize the size of our public data set. Furthermore, these extra features had the potential to be incredibly enriching for our own data analysis, so we made sure to include these markets in our programming. There are also studies that contribute to methods of dark web data analysis. One example of particular intrigue is Spitters’ analysis, which discusses methods of analyzing dark web data to identify users’ aliases. We did not apply this technique to our data, but it could be considered for future analysis [25].
Once inside the dark web, users can explore numerous marketplaces where transactions are typically conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which can offer additional layers of anonymity.
Popular Products and Services on the Dark Web
Items available on the dark web black market can range widely, including but not limited to:
- Illegal drugs
- Stolen data (e.g., credit card information, personal identities)
- Counterfeit products
- Hacking services and software
- Firearms and ammunition
- Human trafficking
Risks Associated with the Dark Web Black Market
While the dark web black market can seem appealing for anonymity and access to restricted products, it comes with significant risks:
- Legal Risks: Engaging in illegal activities can lead to serious legal consequences, including arrest and imprisonment.
- Scams: Many users fall victim to scams, receiving nothing in return for their money or getting substandard products.
- Security Risks: Installing malware or exposing personal information can lead to identity theft or financial fraud.
FAQs About the Dark Web Black Market
Q1: What is the difference between the dark web and the deep web?
A1: The deep web includes all parts of the internet not indexed by standard search engines, while the dark web is a small portion of the deep web specifically designed for anonymity and illegal activities.
Q2: Is it safe to browse the dark web?
A2: Browsing the dark web black market carries inherent risks, including exposure to illegal content, potential scams, and security threats.
Q3: How do law enforcement agencies combat the dark web?
A3: Law enforcement uses various techniques, including undercover operations, surveillance, and digital forensics to track illegal activities on the dark web.
The dark web black market is a complex and dangerous space that represents a significant challenge for both users and law enforcement. Understanding its workings and the associated risks is vital for anyone considering venturing into this hidden digital landscape.
