The Fragmented Darknet Ecosystem
Asian APT groups target various organizations from a multitude of regions and industries. We created this report to provide the cybersecurity community with the best-prepared intelligence data to effectively counteract Asian APT groups. One Darknet Analysis Project highlighted the proliferation of personal protective equipment for sale (e.g. masks, gowns, and test kits) as well as various purported medications, antidotes and serums. The fact that all of this is totally unregulated means you never really know what you’re buying. The Chainalysis report suggests that on the whole, people are placing fewer orders via darknet sites, but at a higher value.
Understanding the Darknet Market
The darknet market refers to online marketplaces that operate on the dark web, a part of the internet not indexed by conventional search engines.
AlphaBay’s marketplace and forum are also available on the darknet I2P. The marketplaces are usually managed by an admin or a small group of admins, and the typical users of the marketplaces are cybercriminals who search for illegal products online that will help their own illicit activities. Despite demand for legitimacy, the world of darknet markets is rife with shady characters, scams, and instability. The marketplaces are also a hotbed for cyberattacks, and the threat of law enforcement means they could be shut down at any time. Darknet markets are an important part of the underground criminal economy and facilitate the trade of illicit goods and services ranging from narcotics to hacking tools.
Upon sale, the vendor would send the buyer geographic coordinates and a picture of where their well-hidden purchase could be found. While darknet markets have largely recovered after Hydra’s closure and fraud shops have not, single vendor shops showed a different pattern. Single vendor shops are standalone shops set up by individual drug vendors who have typically gathered a large customer base on a larger, traditional darknet market.
- It also applies to those who chase after tutorials on how to commit fraud, new services in DNM, latest events on the Darknet or anything connected to it, frauds, drugs or any other illicit activity.
- These DDoS prevention tools are far more complicated than your average CAPTCHA and take some time to work out.
- However, estimating counterfeit goods’ trade (value) is difficult and is mostly achieved through auditing goods seized at borders (OECD, 2018; OECD/EUIPO, 2019).
- We’ve seen dark web vendors listing everything from pirated eBooks and software to counterfeit electronics and fake gold bars.
- At the time of this writing, DarkOwl uncovered that Infinity Market has a promotional presence across several mid and top-tier Russian and English-speaking deep web criminal forums.
These markets facilitate the buying and selling of a wide range of goods and services, primarily using cryptocurrencies to ensure anonymity and security.
The left-hand side features a column with different categories, as visible in the picture below. They are popular with criminals, because buyers and sellers arelargely untraceable. Websites are only accessible with specialisedidentity-cloaking mechanisms, and the sites are often hosted overmultiple encrypted servers to avoid further detection. Focusing on the first week after closure, we find that, on average, one marketplace absorbs \(66.1\% \pm 16.1\) of all migrant users. Only 4% of the users migrate to more than one coexisting marketplace simultaneously after the closure. Figure 6b shows that, in 36.4% of the closures considered, it is the one sharing the largest number of common users with the closed marketplace(the probability that users migrate to the marketplace ranked second or the third is 31.8%).
The observation that trading volumes recover quickly after unexpected marketplace closures suggests that users may move to other dark marketplaces15,36. Our dataset includes transactions between addresses belonging to a dark marketplace (in red) and its nearest neighbours (in black), as well as the transactions between nearest neighbours and “other” Bitcoin addresses (in grey). Arrows correspond to transactions, and their value in Bitcoin (BTC) is reported. Any transaction between two “other” nodes is excluded from our dataset.
Currently, they charge a vendor fee of $150 and one can revoke anytime they want. Previous studies about dark markets sometimes encountered holding prices, which vendors use to mark out-of-stock listings, preventing their removal from the market (Soska & Christin, 2015; Wegberg et al., 2018). Some holding prices are very high to prevent anyone from buying the product.
Characteristics of Darknet Markets
Avast One is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with a built-in VPN that fully encrypts your internet connection for true online privacy. Once access was granted, vendors and customers used the Silk Road to make transactions with cryptocurrency or via an escrow (a trusted third-party). To avoid detection, all purchased items were sent to alternative addresses, like PO boxes. Silk Road operated via a hidden darknet feature in the anonymous Tor network.
Darknet markets exhibit several unique characteristics:
- Anonymity: Transactions are often designed to keep the identities of buyers and sellers hidden.
- Cryptocurrency Transactions: Most darknet markets accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for enhanced privacy.
- Decentralization: These markets are usually not hosted on a single server or domain, complicating law enforcement efforts to shut them down.
- Variety of Products: Goods on these markets can range from legal items to illegal drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
How to Access the Darknet Market
Accessing the darknet market requires specific tools and precautions:
- Use a VPN: This adds an extra layer of security, masking your IP address.
- Install Tor Browser: The Tor network allows users to access .onion sites that host darknet marketplaces.
- Get Cryptocurrency: Acquire Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies to facilitate transactions.
- Choose a Reputable Marketplace: Research the marketplace’s reputation through forums and reviews.
Risks Involved in Darknet Markets
Engaging in activities on the darknet market comes with inherent risks:
- Legal Consequences: Many transactions involve illegal products, which may lead to arrests and convictions.
- Scams and Fraud: Buyers and sellers face the risk of scams, including non-delivery of goods.
- Malware and Hacking: Venturing into these markets can expose users to malware or hacking attempts.
FAQs about Darknet Markets
What types of goods are sold on darknet markets?
A wide range of items are available, including drugs, counterfeit items, hacking tools, and stolen personal data.
Are darknet markets legal?
While browsing them is not illegal, many goods traded on these platforms are unlawful, exposing participants to legal risks.
How is privacy maintained on darknet markets?
Privacy is achieved through the use of cryptocurrencies and encryption technologies, but it is not guaranteed.
In summary, the darknet market is a complex and nuanced ecosystem that operates outside the bounds of traditional e-commerce. Its allure stems from anonymity and the breadth of available goods, but it also poses significant risks including legal troubles and security threats. Understanding this landscape is crucial for anyone considering entering it.
