ThreatBites 02 – Technical Threats

• While the future of darknet markets remains uncertain, it is clear that they will continue to play a significant role in the world of cybercrime and the dark web for the foreseeable future.
• “If [there is a risk] my family finds out about my addiction, yeah, I’d probably rather overdose….
• As per the report, Hydra, a market that serves only Russian-speaking countries, is the largest darkweb market operating via crypto so far.
• Numerous vendors also sold hacking tools and hacking services through Hydra.

Encryption And Security

What Are Darknet Drug Markets?

Hydra Aftermath And The Future Of Dark Web Marketplaces

In total, the value of bitcoin sent and received from KYC exchanges also more than doubled between 2019 and 2020 from $36 million to $73 million. As per the report, Hydra, a market that serves only Russian-speaking countries, is the largest darkweb market operating via crypto so far. In 2021, Hydra accounted for 80% of darknet market revenue worldwide, in terms buy stuff off the dark web of cryptocurrency. Previous analysis showed that illicit crypto activity reached all time highs in 2022, despite the loss of these dark web shops. Part of this was due to some entities being put on lists of sanctioned entities. Still, there was close to $3.8 billion worth of crypto stolen through hacks in 2022, with huge spikes happening in March and October.

Darknet drug markets are online marketplaces where illicit drugs and other controlled substances are bought and sold. These markets operate on the dark web, dark web news which is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is only accessible through specialized software such as the Tor browser.

How Do Darknet Drug Markets Work?

The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies enables anonymous transactions, making it challenging for law enforcement agencies to trace the financial flows within the Darknet. The cloak of anonymity provided by digital currencies facilitates discreet transactions, providing a financial infrastructure for the illicit drug trade to thrive. “The Department of Justice will not allow darknet markets and cryptocurrency to be a safe haven for money laundering and the sale of hacking tools and services,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said. Hydra was the illegal marketplace with the highest turnover worldwide, German authorities said. It also offered a service for obfuscating digital transactions, complicating crypto investigations for law enforcement agencies.

Sellers who deliver the goods as promised receive higher ratings and are rewarded with a better reputation over time. Darknet markets provide resources for sellers and buyers on how to get the products through the mail, including what supplies are needed to disguise shipments and techniques to foil detection. Operation SpecTor is the fifth coordinated law enforcement action since the JCODE team was established in 2018.

Darknet drug markets are typically set up as e-commerce sites, with vendors listing their products and customers placing orders through the site. Payments are usually made in cryptocurrency, dark web apps such as Bitcoin, to maintain anonymity. Once an order is placed, the vendor will send the drugs to the customer through the mail, often using discreet packaging to avoid detection.

What Types of Drugs Are Sold on Darknet Drug Markets?

Finally, the category of anonymity and encryption refers to the untraceability of online shopping and the unidentifiability of the customer. In legal commerce, this is only relevant in terms of storing and managing data related to the purchase and the customer (Ilmudeen, 2019). Some online shoppers are only willing to provide their personal data at the point when they order the products but refuse to register and ask the seller to delete all information about them.

A wide variety of drugs are sold on darknet drug markets, including:

• Cannabis
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Prescription drugs

Are Darknet Drug Markets Safe?

Darknet drug markets are not safe. Transactions on these sites are conducted anonymously, which makes it difficult to verify the identity of the vendor or the quality of the drugs being sold. Additionally, law enforcement agencies regularly monitor darknet drug markets and make arrests, so there is always a risk of being caught. It’s also important to note that buying and selling drugs is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.

FAQs

What is the dark web?

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and world market darknet is only accessible through specialized software such as the Tor browser.

How do I access darknet drug markets?

To access darknet drug markets, you will need