Police also took out a vital part of the dark web’s infrastructure, the information and review site Deepdotweb.com, arresting two suspected administrators in May in France and Israel, and seizing €7.5 million (£6.7 million) in bitcoins. How Kaspersky researchers obtained all stages of the Operation Triangulation campaign targeting iPhones and iPads, including zero-day exploits, validators, TriangleDB implant and additional modules. 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. In this report Kaspersky researchers provide an analysis of the previously unknown HrServ web shell, which exhibits both APT and crimeware features and has likely been active since 2021.
What is a Darknet Drug Market Like?
So, the upper two layers of the internet might not all be entirely visible, but the content is not inflammatory. The upper layer contains all web pages indexed by search engines like Google, the Renaissance Recovery website, for example. Just like e-commerce has changed the way we do business, so the internet has dramatically impacted the landscape of drug dealing in the twenty-first century. It seized 50.8 million euros ($53.4 million) in cash and virtual currencies, 850 kilograms of drugs, and 117 firearms were seized in a series of raids in several countries.
The term darknet drug market refers to online marketplaces that operate on the dark web, allowing users to buy and sell illegal substances. These markets are often hidden from traditional search engines and require specific software to access, such as Tor.
Besides ordering, these apps allow shop clients to communicate with drug vendors and provide specific courier instructions for delivery. EU law enforcement agency Europol coordinated the operation, dubbed SpecTor. It said it was its most successful operation targeting dark web drug trafficking to date, beating the 179 arrests made as a result of the DisrupTor mission in 2020. The increased use of the dark web is also a boon to cyber extortionists, who feed off traffic to their data leak portals and work to build relationships with the mainstream media.
Branwen’s PSA offered advice for users about not panicking, in spite of the “Eye of Sauron” being upon the drug market forum. The agency said it showed international cooperation was key to tackling online crime, with the intelligence used to investigate the suspects based on evidence provided by German authorities. They are all suspected of using an illicit marketplace known as Monopoly Market, where substances including amphetamines and cocaine were bought and sold.
Characteristics of Darknet Drug Markets
Darknet drug markets possess several key characteristics that differentiate them from traditional street-level drug trade:
Orange España Breach: Dark Web Flooded With Operator Credentials
- Anonymity: Users can operate under pseudonyms, enhancing privacy.
- Variety of Products: A wide array of illicit substances are available, from marijuana to synthetic drugs.
- Global Reach: Sellers from various countries can cater to buyers worldwide.
- Feedback Systems: Similar to e-commerce platforms, users can leave reviews and ratings for products and sellers.
- Escrow Services: Payments are often held in escrow until the buyer confirms receipt of the product, minimizing scams.
“Once we get a better sense of these broader picture results, we’re hoping to work with law enforcement a little bit more,” Duxbury said. Their research was recently selected to represent the American Sociological Association at the Coalition for National Science Funding Exhibition and Reception, which is held annually on Capitol Hill to promote the benefits of federally funded science to politicians and policy makers. Haynie and Duxbury also had the opportunity to meet with the offices of Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, as well as Reps. Joyce Beatty and Steve Stivers. I felt like I’d woken up in the 21st century and that everyone around me was idiots. It was safe, easier, and twice as quick as trying to nail down someone on the end of a line. The drugs turned up with the guy, and I paid him, and they were amazing.
Such issues, unsurprisingly, bleed into motivations for app-based drug purchasing. They might start feeling nauseous and sweating and chills, and vomiting and anxiety, and they crave their medication again. But of course, the doctor won’t give them any more so to help with their sickness they turn to the streets to look for more of the same medicine. But of course, the streets have a bigger variety of opioids and for pretty low prices, too.
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. Europol said the operation, dubbed SpecTor, was its most successful targeting dark web drug trafficking to date, beating the 179 arrests made as a result of the DisrupTor mission in 2020.
How Darknet Drug Markets Operate
Darknet drug markets operate through a series of processes that ensure both seller and buyer are protected within the transaction:
- Accessing the Market: Users must download and use specific software to access the dark web, notably Tor.
- Creating a Wallet: Buyers typically need cryptocurrency wallets to make transactions.
- Finding a Market: Users must locate a specific marketplace, often shared in forums or through word-of-mouth.
- Placing an Order: After selecting products, buyers place an order and pay with cryptocurrency.
- Delivery: Sellers ship products discreetly, often using various methods to avoid detection, such as vacuum sealing.
Risks Involved in Darknet Drug Markets
- The findings from Moyle et al. (2019) and Childs et al. (2021) highlight the emergence of this mid-range market space that sits in between the technologically demanding dark web cryptomarkets and pure ‘offline’ street dealing.
- As Gal waited to be sentenced, the feds had to do something with all the Bitcoin that they seized from him.
- It seems the older the market, the more likely these factors account for its closure.
- As a result, US-driven values like ‘zero tolerance against illicit drugs’ are used to reshape the rule of law in other jurisdictions.
Though darknet drug markets may appeal to some due to convenience and anonymity, there are several risks involved:
- Legal Consequences: Engaging in transactions can lead to criminal charges.
- Scams: While feedback systems exist, buyers can still fall victim to dishonest sellers.
- Quality Control: There is no assurance of product quality, leading to health risks.
- Law Enforcement: These markets are often monitored by law enforcement agencies, posing a risk of arrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I access a darknet drug market?
Access typically requires a Tor browser and knowledge of specific market URLs shared within online communities.
2. Is it safe to buy drugs on the darknet?
No purchase is entirely safe; there are significant risks, including exposure to scams, law enforcement, and harm from unregulated substances.
3. What payment methods are accepted?
Most darknet markets accept various cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, due to their relative anonymity.
4. Can I be tracked while using the darknet?
While the darknet provides some level of anonymity, law enforcement has sophisticated methods to track illegal activities.
In conclusion, understanding what a darknet drug market is like involves recognizing its operational mechanisms, the risks associated, and the allure it holds for some individuals seeking illicit substances. These markets function in a complex and often dangerous environment, highlighting the necessity for awareness and caution.
