DarkMarket: The Hidden Side of the Internet

The internet has become an essential part of our daily lives, connecting us to a vast network of information, entertainment, and communication. But there is a hidden side to the internet that most people are not aware of – the dark web. This is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and can only be accessed using special software. It is a place where illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, and even hitmen for hire, take place.

German prosecutors in the cities of Koblenz and Oldenburg said on Tuesday that they had shut down what was “probably the largest illegal marketplace on the Darknet” called DarkMarket and arrested the man believed to operate it near Germany’s border with Denmark. Another member of the site, John McHugh, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. The 69-year-old, who used the nick “Devilman,” was an experienced credit card thief who ran a mini card factory out of his house. As recently as December 2020, an announcement on the reddit-style forum Dread highlighted that DarkMarket had hit the milestone of half a million users, signifying its popularity across the criminal underground and status as one of the “go-to” marketplaces.

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What is DarkMarket?

DarkMarket is one of the largest marketplaces on the dark web. It is a website where users can buy and sell illegal goods and services, such as drugs, weapons, and stolen credit card information. The site is accessible only through the Tor network, which allows users to remain anonymous. DarkMarket has been in operation since 2013 and has over 500,000 users. It is estimated that the site has facilitated over $140 million in illegal transactions.

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How does DarkMarket work?

• Although the dark web was once considered to be a relatively safe haven for those selling and buying drugs, international operations like Dark HunTor have seen regular arrests of suspects and speedy closure of marketplaces.
• The operation announced Tuesday was distinct from the closure of another site, also called DarkMarket, in 2009.
• Sellers were also involved in the sale of anonymous SIM cards and malware, a red flag indicating malicious users’ involvement abetting fraudulent cyber activity.
• It is unclear to what extent the shutdown of this dark market will impact cyber criminal operations, beyond the near-term disruption to its current users.

DarkMarket operates similarly to other online marketplaces, such as eBay or Amazon. Sellers list their products for sale, and buyers can browse the listings and make purchases. The site uses a cryptocurrency called Bitcoin as its primary form of payment, which allows users to make transactions without revealing their real identities. DarkMarket also has a feedback system, where buyers can leave reviews for sellers, which helps to establish trust and credibility among users.

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Is DarkMarket dangerous?

At the same time, demand for such services is expected to increase, underscoring the effectiveness of mainstream ad delivery platforms for malware distribution and making it a preferred method among cybercriminals for reaching a wider audience. As a result, we can expect a continued rise in these deceptive practices, posing a persistent threat to online users. The cyber crime unit of the Koblenz Public Prosecutor’s Office then launched an investigation into this person and their dark web marketplace.

It bears no relation to the p2p encrypted platform for digital black markets of the same name that was founded in 2014, which a Wired feature called “a Silk Road the FBI can never seize”. In addition to investigating the website’s operator, Europol has announced plans to investigate the buyers and sellers who frequented the site. US agencies like the FBI, DEA narcotics law enforcement division and IRS tax authority all contributed to the investigation, along with police from Australia, Britain, Denmark, Switzerland, Ukraine and Moldova, with Europol playing a “coordinating role.”

Yes, DarkMarket is dangerous. It is a hub for illegal activities, and users who access the site are putting themselves at risk of criminal charges. The site is also a target for hackers and cybercriminals, who may use it to steal personal information or install malware on users’ computers. Additionally, the anonymity of the site makes it a haven for scammers and fraudsters, who may take advantage of unsuspecting buyers.

Cyber criminals deploy countermeasures that can cost them a lot of time and effort, in hopes of evading our lawful investigative techniques. Consider the fact that cyber criminals routinely change their nicknames, e-mails, digital currency accounts, and the ICQ numbers they use in forums. Not only do they change these accounts and identifying numbers, but they also use different combinations of the information in each forum they participate in.

What is being done to stop DarkMarket?

DarkMarket members taught each other how to hijack online bank and brokerage accounts and install skimming devices on ATMs to siphon bank card numbers and PINs. They also trained one another in phishing attacks and how to launder money through digital currency services such as Web Money and E-Gold. ShadowCrew, TheGrifters and CarderPlanet before them had established a code of rules and procedures, which DarkMarket and other sites adopted. New members had to be invited to join, and vendors selling stolen data or criminal tools underwent assessments by reviewers to measure the value of their goods. A reviewer, for example, would test the legitimacy of a sample set of stolen card numbers by ensuring that the card accounts were still active. The recent disruption we’ve seen in the marketplace scene may have encouraged vendors to diversify their activity, splitting their sales between different marketplaces.

Law enforcement agencies around the world have been working to shut down dark web marketplaces like DarkMarket. In 2017, the FBI, in collaboration with Europol, took down AlphaBay, one of the largest dark web marketplaces at the time. However, DarkMarket and other similar sites continue to operate, and it can be challenging for law enforcement to track down and prosecute the individuals responsible.

In addition to law enforcement efforts, there are also technical solutions being developed to combat the dark web. For example, researchers are working on ways to make it more difficult for sites like DarkMarket to operate by disrupting the Tor network. However, these solutions are still in the early stages of development and may not be effective in the near future.

Conclusion

DarkMarket is a dark and dangerous part of the internet that most people are not aware of. It is a hub for illegal activities and puts users at risk of criminal charges and cyber attacks. While law enforcement agencies are working to shut down these sites, it remains to be seen how effective these efforts will be. Until then, it is essential to be aware of the dangers of the dark web and to avoid accessing these sites altogether.