darknet markets links Archives - The News Max https://www.thenewsmax.co/tag/darknet-markets-links/ My WordPress Blog Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:04:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.thenewsmax.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-NMAX-32x32.png darknet markets links Archives - The News Max https://www.thenewsmax.co/tag/darknet-markets-links/ 32 32 Right here Is a technique That Helps Darknet Markets Links https://www.thenewsmax.co/right-here-is-a-technique-that-helps-darknet-markets-links/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:04:32 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=28398 Introduction In today’s interconnected world, where technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, an anonymous and underground corner of the internet known as the darknet has quietly emerged. Often associated with illegal activities and the sale of illicit goods and services, darknet market markets have gained notoriety. In this article, we will [...]

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Introduction

In today’s interconnected world, where technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, an anonymous and underground corner of the internet known as the darknet has quietly emerged. Often associated with illegal activities and the sale of illicit goods and services, darknet market markets have gained notoriety. In this article, we will delve into the world of darknet markets, examining their functioning, risks, and potential implications.

What are darknet market Markets?

Darknet markets, sometimes referred to as cryptomarkets or anonymous marketplaces, are online platforms accessible only through specific software, such as Tor or I2P. These markets exist on the darknet, a part of the internet beyond the reach of traditional search engines, hidden from regular browsing.

Operating anonymously, darknet markets provide sellers with an avenue to trade illegal goods and services. These items may include drugs, counterfeit passports, stolen data, weapons, hacking tools, and more. The transactions on darknet markets are conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to ensure anonymity and evade law enforcement.

Functioning of Darknet Markets

Darknet markets adopt a unique model to facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers. Sellers create listings, providing detailed descriptions, prices, and shipping options for their products. Buyers browse these listings anonymously, often using pseudonyms or avatars, connecting with sellers through encrypted messaging platforms.

After a purchase is made, the buyer typically sends the payment in cryptocurrency to an escrow account held by the market administrators. The funds are released to the seller once the buyer confirms receipt of the product. Although escrow systems aim to enhance trust, there are instances of vendors disappearing after receiving funds, leaving buyers empty-handed.

Risks and Implications

While darknet markets provide a sanctuary for illegal activities, they also pose significant risks for both buyers and sellers. Users may fall prey to scams, receiving counterfeit products or no product at all. Additionally, as financial information is illegally shared on darknet markets, consumers expose themselves to potential identity theft.

From a broader perspective, darknet markets fuel criminal enterprises, contributing to drug trafficking, money laundering, and arms trade. The anonymity offered by these markets creates a haven for cybercriminals and poses a challenge for dark web sites law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Law Enforcement’s Battle

Law enforcement agencies face a daunting task in tackling darknet market markets. The anonymous nature of transactions and the use of encryption make it incredibly difficult to trace buyers and sellers. Nonetheless, authorities have made significant strides in shutting down major darknet market marketplaces, seizing their assets and arresting individuals involved in illegal operations.

Conclusion

Darknet markets, hidden from the mainstream internet, continue to operate as a parallel economy for darknet site illegal goods and services. While there are legitimate reasons for anonymity online, it is essential to acknowledge and combat the risks associated with these markets. Technology and law enforcement must work together to address the challenges posed by darknet markets while upholding the principles of privacy and security for law-abiding citizens.

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Five Undeniable Information About Dark Markets 2024 https://www.thenewsmax.co/five-undeniable-information-about-dark-markets-2024/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 23:04:09 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=28054 In recent years, darknet market markets have become a hot topic of discussion and intrigue. Operating on the hidden corners of the internet, these online bazaars have revolutionized the way illegal goods and services are bought and sold. Despite efforts to crack down on these underground markets, they continue to thrive, attracting users through enhanced [...]

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In recent years, darknet market markets have become a hot topic of discussion and intrigue. Operating on the hidden corners of the internet, these online bazaars have revolutionized the way illegal goods and services are bought and sold. Despite efforts to crack down on these underground markets, they continue to thrive, attracting users through enhanced privacy and a wide variety of offerings, ranging from drugs and weapons to counterfeit documents and stolen data.

What exactly are darknet markets? In simple terms, they are encrypted websites accessible only through specific software, such as Tor, which allows users to browse the internet anonymously. This anonymity, along with the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to conduct transactions, provides a shield for both buyers and sellers.

The allure of darknet markets lies in their ability to facilitate transactions that would otherwise be illegal or difficult to obtain in the real world. While it is true that many individuals use these platforms for nefarious purposes, it is essential to acknowledge that not all listings and trades within these markets are illegal. Ethical hackers, for example, may utilize the services available on darknet market markets to test the security of systems with the consent of the owners.

However, the darknet’s reputation is largely shaped by the sales of illegal substances, like drugs, which dominate these marketplaces. The drug trade on darknet markets has undoubtedly become a significant concern for law enforcement agencies worldwide. However, due to the elusive nature of these platforms and the encryption techniques employed, authorities face significant challenges when trying to shut them down.

Despite the hurdles faced by law enforcement, efforts have been made to curb the growth of darknet markets. Several high-profile operations, such as Silk Road and AlphaBay, have been successfully shut down. While this may temporarily disrupt the illicit trade, new marketplaces quickly emerge to take their place.

One of the persistent concerns surrounding darknet market markets is the potential harm they pose to society. The easy accessibility and relative anonymity make these platforms appealing to both seasoned criminals and those with no prior involvement in illegal activities. Additionally, the unregulated sale of drugs and other illicit goods raises public health and safety issues, as the quality and safety of products cannot be guaranteed.

However, it is worth noting that darknet markets url markets do serve a purpose that goes beyond illegal trade. Whistleblowers, journalists, and individuals living under repressive regimes often use these platforms to communicate and share information anonymously, exposing corruption and human rights abuses.

As this hidden realm evolves, calls for regulation and oversight of darknet market markets have grown louder. Proponents argue that a controlled and regulated environment could reduce the risks associated with these platforms, enabling users to access goods and services while minimizing the potential harm to individuals and dark web sites society.

In conclusion, darknet market markets continue to push the boundaries of the internet and pose significant challenges to law enforcement agencies worldwide. While their notoriety often stems from illegal activities, there are legitimate uses for these platforms as well. As society grapples with the complexities of these underground marketplaces, finding a balance between regulating illicit trade and protecting individual privacy remains a pressing challenge.

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Inside busted illegal $220million darknet data centre https://www.thenewsmax.co/inside-busted-illegal-220million-darknet-data-centre-9/ Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:04:25 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=27103 Footage has emerged of the inside of a five-storey abandoned underground NATO bunker built with 31inch thick concrete walls in Germany allegedly converted by criminal gangs into a high tech data centre to host darknet market websites.  An Australian man was arrested on Monday accused of running a $220million illegal darkweb marketplace – called the biggest [...]

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Background with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

Footage has emerged of the inside of a five-storey abandoned underground NATO bunker built with 31inch thick concrete walls in Germany allegedly converted by criminal gangs into a high tech data centre to host darknet market websites. 

An Australian man was arrested on Monday accused of running a $220million illegal darkweb marketplace – called the biggest in the world and ‘ for criminals’ – after ha was tracked following the bunker’s discovery. 

The joint investigation by Australian Federal Police, Scotland Yard, the , Europol, and German authorities, among others, arrested the man, 34, as he allegedly tried flee across the Danish border into . 

The man, known only as Julian K, is the alleged operator of DarkMarket and has been detained by German investigators.

The 5,000sq m former NATO bunker located in south-western Germany (pictured) was built with 31inch thick concrete walls and was converted into a data facility called CyberBunker to host darknet websites after being bought in 2012

The 5,000sq m former NATO bunker located in south-western Germany (pictured) was built with 31inch thick concrete walls and was converted into a data facility called CyberBunker to host darknet market websites after being bought in 2012 

A night-vision aerial view of the aboveground portion of the bunker containing a gatehouse, office, helipad and entrance building (pictured) which descends another four levels below the surface

A night-vision aerial view of the aboveground portion of the bunker containing a gatehouse, office, darkmarket list helipad and entrance building (pictured) which descends another four levels below the surface 

A screenshot of the illegal website allegedly run by the arrested Australian man and temporarily hosted on CyberBunker which displays drugs for sale (pictured)

A screenshot of the illegal website allegedly run by the arrested Australian man and temporarily hosted on CyberBunker which displays drugs for sale (pictured) 

German police officers walk through the gate at the perimeter of the former Cold War bunker (pictured) converted into an illegal data centre after it was raided in 2019

German police officers walk through the gate at the perimeter of the former Cold War bunker (pictured) converted into an illegal data centre after it was raided in 2019 

darkmarket 2024 was shut down on Monday and its new servers, located in Ukraine and Moldova after relocating from the bunker, were taken off the internet, prosecutors in the city of Koblenz said.

‘Until its closure, DarkMarket was probably the largest marketplace worldwide on the darknet market, with almost 500,000 users and more than 2400 sellers,’ prosecutors said. 

More than 320,000 transactions were conducted via the website including the sale of drugs, counterfeit money, stolen or falsified credit cards, anonymous SIM cards and malware.

The transactions were reportedly worth a total of 4,650 bitcoin and 12,800 monero – two cryptocurrencies – for an equivalent sum of more than $221million. 

The servers will be forensically examined by authorities to uncover information about the website’s operations and criminal network. 

The solid concrete bunker (pictured) was built to withstand a nuclear blast is located in the south-western German town of Traben-Trarbach

The solid concrete bunker (pictured) was built to withstand a nuclear blast is located in the south-western German town of Traben-Trarbach 

One of the entrances tot he bunker (pictured)

Another of the entrances to the bunker (pictured

Two of the entrances to the disused bunker (pictured) which was raided by police in 2019 after being bought by a private foundation based in Denmark in 2012 

The accused man has already fronted a German court and been denied bail – to be transferred to a German prison in the next few days. 

He has reportedly refused to speak to investigators or court officials. 

German prosecutors said the man was trying to flee Denmark into Germany when arrested and was travelling through Europe either on holiday or conducting business for the illegal website. 

They said the investigation around DarkMarket originated after the discovery of the data processing centre run by criminals in the 5,000sqm former unused bunker in south-west Germany. 

The discovery of the illegal data centre in the bunker led to the arrest of multiple people accused of being part of a criminal network and being an accessory to hundreds of thousands of illegal transactions. Some went on trial in October (pictured)

The discovery of the illegal data centre in the bunker led to the arrest of multiple people accused of being part of a criminal network and being an accessory to hundreds of thousands of illegal transactions.

Some went on trial in October (pictured) 

The data facility hosted illegal websites, which included DarkMarket temporarily, and was shut down in 2019. 

The building, constructed by the West-German military, in the mid-1970s descended five-storeys below the surface and was built with 31inch thick concrete walls to withstand a nuclear blast. 

A meteorological division of the military used the facility after the Cold War until 2012 to forecast weather patterns where German soldiers were deployed. 

The building was sold to a foundation based in Denmark in 2012 after officials could find no other buyers for the vacant facility. 

A number of people were arrested after the discovery of the data centre – accused of being part of a criminal network and dark web marketplaces being accessories to hundreds of thousands of illegal transactions involving prohibited material such as drugs and hacking tools. 

Some already went on trial in October. 

The darkweb was originally developed for the United States military but has been overrun by criminals because they can conceal their identity on the platform. 

Server rows constructed in the bunker which is made of solid concrete and climate controlled (pictured). The data centre was dismantled after the raid and multiple people linked to the centre were put on trial

Server rows constructed in the bunker which is made of solid concrete and climate controlled (pictured).

The data centre was dismantled after the raid and multiple people linked to the centre were put on trial 

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German prosecutors file charges over major child porn site https://www.thenewsmax.co/german-prosecutors-file-charges-over-major-child-porn-site-2/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 20:05:40 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26873 BERLIN (AP) – German prosecutors said Friday they have filed charges against four men over their alleged involvement with a major international platform for dark web marketplaces child pornography that was taken down last year. Investigators say the “BoysTown” platform, which operated on the darknet market, dark websites had more than 400,000 members. Pedophiles used [...]

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BERLIN (AP) – German prosecutors said Friday they have filed charges against four men over their alleged involvement with a major international platform for dark web marketplaces child pornography that was taken down last year.

Investigators say the “BoysTown” platform, which operated on the darknet market, dark websites had more than 400,000 members.

Pedophiles used it to exchange and watch pornography of children and dark web markets web darknet market list toddlers, most of them boys, from all over the world. It was shut down in April 2021.

The suspects are aged between 41 and 65, Frankfurt prosecutors said in a statement. Their names weren’t released, in keeping with German privacy rules.

They face charges that include spreading and producing child pornography and sexual abuse of children.

Two of the men are accused of building the platform in 2019. One of them also allegedly sexually abused two children. The other was extradited in October from Paraguay, where he had lived for a few years.

A third suspect is accused of acting as an administrator and moderator for the platform as well as sexually abusing two children. Prosecutors say that the fourth man was “one of the most active users” of the platform.

All four are in custody.

The Frankfurt state court now has to decide whether the case will go to trial and darkmarket url if so when. Prosecutors said investigations of other suspected members of the platform are continuing.

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Wife freed while husband jailed pending trial for Bitcoin laundering https://www.thenewsmax.co/wife-freed-while-husband-jailed-pending-trial-for-bitcoin-laundering-4/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 19:04:28 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26848 An alleged fraudster dubbed The Crocodile of Wall Street over claims she laundered $4.5 billion in has been freed on bail  – but her husband has been ordered to stay in jail.   Heather Morgan was freed by a judge Monday, best darknet markets pending trial by a federal court. But her husband Ilya Lichtenstein remains [...]

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An alleged fraudster dubbed The Crocodile of Wall Street over claims she laundered $4.5 billion in has been freed on bail  – but her husband has been ordered to stay in jail.  

Heather Morgan was freed by a judge Monday, best darknet markets pending trial by a federal court.

But her husband Ilya Lichtenstein remains behind bars due to prosecutors’ fears that he could seek immunity in , where he is also a citizen.

Judge Beryl Howell said on Monday that 31-year-old Morgan, referred as ‘Razzlekahn’ due to her rapping background, was no longer held in custody after the government deemed that she wasn’t as involved in the planning of the alleged crimes as her 34-year-ld husband, Ilya Lichtenstein, who was largely in control of the funds. 

The judge also considered Morgan’s health issues as a factor, after she had recently had surgery to remove a lump in her breast.

With follow-up appointments expected, she will be closely monitored with an ankle bracelet GPS monitor while she is under house arrest. 

Morgan has also been given restrictions on computer use, and a ban on carrying out cryptocurrency transactions. 

The defense told the court that both defendants would guarantee to appear for all remaining court dates, and pointed out that both of their families, who were in court, were willing to bet their homes on it.

However, Howell finally ruled that there would be a significant ‘flight risk’ for Lichtenstein and agreed with federal prosecutors who insisted that just a portion of the millions in cryptocurrency that the couple stole could buy a new house or ‘buy each of their parents a private island.’ 

The judge also shared her concerns that Lichtenstein, who is a dual citizen of the United States and Russia, darknet market sites could seek refuge in a eastern European country, where he could possibly be granted immunity.

In this courtroom sketch, attorney Sam Enzer, center, sits between Heather Morgan, left, and her husband, Ilya 'Dutch' Lichtenstein, in federal court on February 8, 2022, in New York. The couple are accused of conspiring to launder billions of dollars in cryptocurrency stolen from the 2016 hack of a virtual currency exchange

In this courtroom sketch, attorney Sam Enzer, center, sits between Heather Morgan, left, and her husband, Ilya ‘Dutch’ Lichtenstein, in federal court on February 8, 2022, in New York.

The couple are accused of conspiring to launder billions of dollars in cryptocurrency stolen from the 2016 hack of a virtual currency exchange

This illustration photo shows Heather Morgan, also known as 'Razzlekhan,' on a phone in front of the Bitcoin logo displayed on a screen. Along with Lichtenstein, Morgan has been arrested for the couple's Bitcoin laundering scheme but has been freed after paying bail

This illustration photo shows Heather Morgan, also known as ‘Razzlekhan,’ on a phone in front of the Bitcoin logo displayed on a screen. Along with Lichtenstein, Morgan has been arrested for the couple’s Bitcoin laundering scheme but has been freed after paying bail

Federal prosecutors also revealed that Lichtenstein had a file on his computer titled ‘passport ideas,’ which included several darknet market vendors that sell passports, bank cards and other forms of identification. 

The New York couple was arrested earlier in February after they conspired to launder cryptocurrency that was stolen during the 2016 hack of Bitfinex, a virtual currency exchange platform, and currently estimated at $4.5 billion. 

Both are accused of using several techniques to launder Bitcoin, including using fake identifies to create accounts; coding computer programs to execute fast, automated transactions; depositing stolen funds in several accounts across one crypto exchange to cover their previous transactions; converting Bitcoin to other forms of cryptocurrency; and creating U.S.-based business accounts to wire their funds and dark market url make them seem legitimate. 

Over five years, a hacker allegedly laundered 119,754 bitcoin through 2,000 transactions on Bitfinex’s website before transferring the crypto funds into Lichtenstein’s digital wallet. 

The couple could face up to 25 years years behind bars if found guilty. 

Lichtenstein (back) has not been granted bail after prosecutors alerted the judge of his Russian citizenship, where he could seek immunity, if he were no longer held into custody

Lichtenstein (back) has not been granted bail after prosecutors alerted the judge of his Russian citizenship, where he could seek immunity, if he were no longer held into custody

Morgan has been labelled as an 'integral player' in the cryptocurrency laundering scheme but prosecutors identified Lichtenstein as the 'brain' behind the scheme's operations

Morgan has been labelled as an ‘integral player’ in the cryptocurrency laundering scheme but prosecutors identified Lichtenstein as the ‘brain’ behind the scheme’s operations

Bitfinex is a cryptocurrency exchange registered in the British Virgin Islands.

In August 2016, hackers were able to breach its security firewall before stealing about 120,000 bitcoin from its customers.

The amount that was stolen was worth roughly $70 million at the time, when the price of bitcoin was around $600.

At the time, Bitfinex announced to its customers that they would lose 36 percent of their funds to compensate for dark market 2024 the losses from the incident.

It also created special digital tokens that were able to keep track of customers’ losses. 

Some of the tokens could exchanged for shares of iFinex, the company that operates Bitfinex, while other tokens could be redeemed if the stolen bitcoins were recovered in the future.

The US Department of Justice announced that it would create a special judicial process for victims of the hack to reclaim their losses.

The hackers have never been identified. 

Morgan and dark market darknet market onion Lichtenstein were arrested by federal prosecutors of laundering the bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex, but they are not being accused for actually stealing the bitcoin in the hack.

Authorities were able to recover $3.6B after seizing couple’s private keys to digital wallets after their arrest earlier this month. 

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Child porn purveyor to get 21-27 years under new plea deal https://www.thenewsmax.co/child-porn-purveyor-to-get-21-27-years-under-new-plea-deal-4/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 13:04:14 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26581 COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) – A man whom U.S. authorities have described as the world´s largest purveyor of child pornography would be sentenced to 21 to 27 years in prison under the terms of a new plea deal. The deal between Eric Eoin Marques and Justice Department prosecutors is designed to satisfy a judge in [...]

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) – A man whom U.S. authorities have described as the world´s largest purveyor of child pornography would be sentenced to 21 to 27 years in prison under the terms of a new plea deal.

The deal between Eric Eoin Marques and Justice Department prosecutors is designed to satisfy a judge in Maryland who rejected their original agreement, which called for a prison sentence of 15 to 21 years.

Defense attorneys outlined the new terms in a court filing on Friday.

They said a 21-year prison sentence would be “fair and just” for Marques.

Marques’ lawyers also urged U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang to impose a condition of supervised release that would allow Marques to live in Ireland, his home nation, after he completes his prison sentence.

Marques, who was 35 in May, is scheduled to enter his updated plea agreement and be sentenced next week.

Chuang isn´t bound by the sentencing recommendation.

During a hearing in May, Chuang described the initial plea agreement as “too flawed” and said he was inclined to give Marques a longer sentence than 15 to 21 years. The judge criticized a provision of the plea deal that wouldn´t give Marques credit for darknet market list six years he spent in custody in Ireland while fighting extradition after his 2013 arrest in Dublin. Chuang said he can´t tell the federal Bureau of Prisons to refrain from counting those years when Marques likely is entitled to get credit for that time.

“It´s not going to be 21 minus 6 to 15. That´s not going to happen,” the judge said.

The new plea deal calls for Marques to receive credit for the time served.

Marques, a dual citizen of the U.S.

and Ireland, pleaded guilty in February 2020 to creating and operating a web hosting service called “Freedom Hosting” on the darknet market between 2008 and 2013.

The darknet market is part of the internet but hosted within an encrypted network. It is accessible only through anonymity-providing tools.

Marques’ service enabled users to anonymously access millions of illicit images and videos, Tor Drug Market many depicting the rape and torture of infants and toddlers.

Investigators found what appeared to be more than 8.5 million images and videos of child pornography on the Freedom Hosting server, according to a court filing that accompanied Marques´ guilty plea.

Marques was living in Ireland dark web marketplaces at the time of the offenses.

He was extradited to Maryland in March 2019. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography.

In an April court filing, a prosecutor dark market url darknet market said a government witness was prepared to testify that investigators had identified Marques as the largest purveyor of child pornography in the world and that he had made approximately $3.6 million in U.S.

currency from his servers.

Marques’ lawyers say he made money from his legitimate web-hosting services, not Freedom Hosting.

“Though the contents of many of the websites it hosted were despicable and unlawful, the evidence shows that Freedom Hosting was a free service until just before Mr. Marques´ arrest,” they wrote in Friday’s filing.

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The history of hacking ransoms and cryptocurrency https://www.thenewsmax.co/the-history-of-hacking-ransoms-and-cryptocurrency-7/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 13:04:10 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26561 id=”article-body” class=”row” section=”article-body” data-component=”trackCWV”> Earlier this month, hundreds of companies from the US to Sweden were entangled in the , a company that offers network infrastructure to businesses around the world. The Kaseya hack comes on the heels of other headline-grabbing cyberattacks like the  and the . In each instance, criminals had the opportunity to make off with [...]

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Earlier this month, hundreds of companies from the US to Sweden were entangled in the , a company that offers network infrastructure to businesses around the world.

The Kaseya hack comes on the heels of other headline-grabbing cyberattacks like the  and the . In each instance, criminals had the opportunity to make off with millions — and much of the ransoms were paid in Bitcoin.

“We have to remember the primary reason for creating Bitcoin in the first place was to provide anonymity and secure, trustless and borderless transaction capabilities,” says Keatron Evansprincipal security researcher at .

As Bitcoin grows more prominent in best darknet markets around the world, cybercrooks have found a vital tool to help them move illegal assets quickly and pseudonymously. And by all accounts, the attacks are only becoming more common. 

Ransomware on the rise

Ransomware is a cybercrime that involves ransoming personal and business data back to the owner of that data. 

First, a criminal hacks into a private network. The hack is accomplished through various tactics, including phishing, social engineering and preying upon users’ weak passwords.

Once network access is gained, the criminal locks important files within the network using encryption. The owner can’t access the files unless they pay a ransom. Nowadays, cybercriminals tend to request their ransoms in cryptocurrencies.

The FBI  ransomware attacks accounted for at least $144.35 million in Bitcoin ransoms from 2013 to 2019. 

These attacks are scalable and can be highly targeted or broad, ensnaring anyone who happens to click a link or install a particular software program. 

This allows a small team of cybercrooks to ransom data back to organizations of all sizes — and the tools needed to hack into a small business or darknet market links multinational cooperation are largely the same. 

Private citizens, darknet markets links businesses, and state and national governments have all fallen victim — and many decided to pay ransoms.

Today’s business world depends on computer networks to keep track of administrative and financial data. When that data disappears, it can be impossible for the organization to function properly. This provides a large incentive to pay up. 

Although victims of ransomware attacks are encouraged to report the crime to federal authorities, there’s no US law that says you have to report attacks (). Given this, there’s little authoritative data about the number of attacks or ransom payments. 

However, a recent study from Threatpost  only 20% of victims pay up. Whatever the actual number is, the FBI  against paying ransoms because there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the data back, and paying ransoms creates further incentive for ransomware attacks. 

Why do hackers like cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency provides a helpful ransom tool for cybercrooks. Rather than being an aberration or misuse, the ability to make anonymous (or pseudonymous) transfers is a  of cryptocurrency. 

“Bitcoin can be acquired fairly easily. It’s decentralized and readily 

available in almost any country,” says Koen Maris, a cybersecurity expert and advisory board member at IOTA Foundation.

Different cryptocurrencies feature different levels of anonymity. Some cryptocurrencies, like Monero and Zcash, specialize in confidentiality and may even provide a higher level of security than Bitcoin for cybercriminals. 

That’s because Bitcoin isn’t truly anonymous — it’s pseudonymous. Through careful detective work and analysis, it appears possible to trace and recoup Bitcoin used for ransoms, as the FBI  after the Colonial Pipeline hack. So Bitcoin isn’t necessarily used by ransomers simply because of security features. Bitcoin transfers are also fast, irreversible and easily verifiable. Once a ransomware victim has agreed to pay, the criminal can watch the transfer go through on the public blockchain. 

After the ransom is sent, it’s usually gone forever. Then crooks can either exchange the Bitcoin for another currency — crypto or fiat — or transfer the Bitcoin to another wallet for safekeeping. 

While it’s not clear exactly when or darkmarkets how Bitcoin became associated with ransomware, hackers, cybercrooks, and crypto-enthusiasts are all computer-savvy subcultures with a natural affinity for new tech, and Bitcoin was adopted for illicit activities online soon after its creation. One of Bitcoin’s first popular uses was currency for transactions on the dark web. The  was among the early marketplaces that accepted Bitcoin.

Financial impact

Ransomware is big business. Cybercriminals made off just under $350 million worth of cryptocurrency in ransomware attacks last year, . That’s an increase of over 300% in the amount of ransom payments from the year before. 

The COVID-19 pandemic set the stage for a surge in ransomware attacks. With vast tracts of the global workforce moving out of well-fortified corporate IT environments into home offices, cybercriminals had more surface area to attack than ever.

According to , the organizational changes needed to accommodate remote work opened up more businesses for cybercrime exploits, with Coalition’s policyholders reporting a 35% increase in funds transfer fraud and social engineering claims since the beginning of the pandemic.

It’s not just the number of attacks that is increasing, but the stakes, too. A  from Palo Alto Networks estimates that the average ransom paid in 2020 was over $300,000 — a year-over-year increase of more than 170%.

When an organization falls prey to cybercrime, the ransom is only one component of the financial cost. There are also remediation expenses — including lost orders, business downtime, consulting fees, and other unplanned expenses. 

The  report from Sophos found that the total cost of remediating a ransomware attack for a business averaged $1.85 million in 2021, up from $761,000 in 2020. 

Many companies now buy cyber insurance for financial protection. But as ransomware insurance claims increase, the insurance industry is also dealing with the fallout.

Globally, the price of cyber insurance has , according to a new report from Howden, an international insurance broker. The increase is likely due to the growing cost these attacks cause for insurance providers. 

A cyber insurance policy generally covers a business’s liability from a data breach, such as expenses (i.e., ransom payments) and legal fees. Some policies may also help with contacting the businesses customers who were affected by the breach and repairing damaged computer systems. 

Cyber insurance payouts now account for  of all premiums collected, which is the break-even point for the providers. 

“We noticed cyber insurers are paying ransom on behalf of their customers. That looks like a bad idea to me, as it will only lead to more ransom attacks,” says Maris. “Having said that, I fully understand the argument: the company either pays or it goes out of business. Only time will tell whether investing in ransom payments rather than in appropriate cybersecurity is a viable survival strategy.”

Early adopters

The AIDS Trojan, or PC Cyborg Trojan, is the first known ransomware attack. 

The attack began in 1989 when an AIDS researcher distributed thousands of copies of a floppy disk containing malware. When people used the floppy disk, it encrypted the computer’s files with a message that demanded a payment sent to a PO Box in Panama. 

Bitcoin wouldn’t come along until almost two decades later. 

In 2009, Bitcoin’s mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, created the blockchain network by mining the first block in the chain — the genesis block. 

Bitcoin was quickly adopted as the go-to currency for the dark market link web. While it’s unclear exactly when Bitcoin became popular in ransomware attacks, the 2013 CryptoLocker attack definitely put Bitcoin in the spotlight. 

CryptoLocker infected more than 250,000 computers over a few months. The criminals made off with about $3 million in Bitcoin and darkmarket link pre-paid vouchers. It took an internationally coordinated operation to take the ransomware offline in 2014.

Since then, Bitcoin has moved closer to the mainstream, and ransomware attacks have become much easier to carry out.

Early ransomware attackers generally had to develop malware programs themselves. Nowadays, ransomware can be bought as a service, just like other software. 

Ransomware-as-a-service allows criminals with little technical know-how to “rent” ransomware from a provider, which can be quickly employed against victims. Then if the job succeeds, the ransomware provider gets a cut. 

Future legislation

In light of the recent high-profile ransomware attacks, calls for new legislation are growing louder in Washington.

President Joe Biden issued an  in May “on improving the nation’s cybersecurity.” The order is geared toward strengthening the federal government’s response to cybercrime, and it looks like more legislation is on the way.

The  was recently introduced by a bipartisan group of senators. The bill aims to ramp up penalties for cyberattacks that impact critical infrastructure, dark web market links darknet market url so the Justice Department would have an easier time charging criminals in foreign countries under the new act.

States are also taking their own stands against cybercrime:  have proposed legislation to outlaw ransomware payments. North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas are all considering new laws that would outlaw taxpayer money from being used in ransom payments. New York’s law goes a step further and could outright ban private businesses from paying cybercrime ransoms. 

“I think the concept of what cryptocurrency is and how it works is something that most legislative bodies worldwide struggle with understanding,” says Evans. “It’s difficult to legislate what we don’t really understand.”

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U.S. arrests alleged 'Bitcoin Fog' money launderer https://www.thenewsmax.co/u-s-arrests-alleged-bitcoin-fog-money-launderer-4/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 10:04:38 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26378 By Lawrence Delevingne BOSTON, April 28 (Reuters) – U.S. officials on Tuesday arrested Roman Sterlingov, the alleged principal operator of cryptocurrency money laundering website Bitcoin Fog, darkmarket list according to a federal court filing. Sterlingov, dark websites a citizen of Russia and Sweden, darknet market site was detained in Los Angeles on money-laundering related charges. [...]

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By Lawrence Delevingne

BOSTON, April 28 (Reuters) – U.S.
officials on Tuesday arrested Roman Sterlingov, the alleged principal operator of cryptocurrency money laundering website Bitcoin Fog, darkmarket list according to a federal court filing.

Sterlingov, dark websites a citizen of Russia and Sweden, darknet market site was detained in Los Angeles on money-laundering related charges.

Bitcoin Fog, launched in 2011, is one of the original Bitcoin “tumbler” or “mixer” services designed to help users anonymize cryptocurrencies payments, especially on so-called darknet market online markets that trafficked in drugs and other illegal products, according to a legal statement accompanying the criminal complaint by Internal Revenue Service special agent Devon Beckett.

“Analysis of bitcoin transactions, financial records, Internet service provider records, email records and additional investigative information, identifies Roman Sterlingov as the principal operator of Bitcoin Fog,” Beckett wrote.

More than 1.2 million Bitcoin (BTC) — worth approximately $336 million at the time of the transactions — were sent through Bitcoin Fog, according to the Beckett statement.

A spokesperson for darkmarket 2024 the U.S.

Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which is handling the case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Requests sent to email addresses tied to Sterlingov were not immediately returned. (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

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Irish health system struggling to recover from cyberattack https://www.thenewsmax.co/irish-health-system-struggling-to-recover-from-cyberattack-2/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 06:04:05 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26228 LONDON (AP) – Ireland´s health system was still struggling to restore its computers and treat patients on Tuesday, four days after it shut down its entire IT system in response to a cyberattack. Thousands of diagnostic appointments, cancer treatment clinics and surgeries have been canceled or dark market 2024 web link delayed since a ransomware [...]

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LONDON (AP) – Ireland´s health system was still struggling to restore its computers and treat patients on Tuesday, four days after it shut down its entire IT system in response to a cyberattack.

Thousands of diagnostic appointments, cancer treatment clinics and surgeries have been canceled or dark market 2024 web link delayed since a ransomware attack on Friday.
Authorities said hundreds of people have been deployed to tackle the attack, but it could be weeks before the health service can return to normal.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Tuesday that the attack was a “heinous” one that targeted patients and “the Irish public.” Health Service Executive chief clinical officer Colm Henry said the attack had had “a profound impact on our ability to deliver care,” and that the disruptions would undoubtedly “mount in the coming days and weeks.”

More than 2,000 patient-facing IT systems are affected, with around 80,000 devices linked to such systems throughout the health service, Henry told Irish broadcaster RTE.

Authorities are prioritizing systems involving direct patient care diagnostics, darknet market list such as radiology, radiotherapy and maternity and newborn services.

“That´s what our experts are focusing on this week, with external help, to ensure those services are not reliant on manual exchange of information,” he said.

Ransomware attacks are typically carried out by criminal hackers who scramble data, paralyzing victims´ networks, and demand a large payment to decrypt it.

Irish officials say a ransom has been demanded but they will not pay it.

Conti, a Russian-speaking ransomware group, was demanding $20 million, according to the ransom negotiation page on its darknet market site viewed by The Associated Press. The gang threatened Monday to “start publishing and selling your private information very soon” if the money was not paid.

“The government will not be paying any money,” Justice Minister Heather Humphreys told RTE.

“We will not be blackmailed.”

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine urged people not to turn up at hospitals’ emergency departments unless they have a genuinely urgent need to do so. It said that electronic ordering of blood tests, Dark web market list X-rays and scans is not available, and clinicians have no access to previous X-rays or scan results.
Many hospitals’ telephone systems are also not functioning because they are carried on computer networks, it added.

Patients have described their frustration about the attack, describing it as another torment thrown into the already difficult struggle to face illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eimear Cregg, 38, darknet market lists a primary school teacher who is fighting breast cancer, had radiation therapy briefly postponed while doctors sought to restore her records so they could treat her properly.

“This is a very cruel thing to do to vulnerable people,´´ she told The Associated Press. “We´re fighting every day as it is and this was just another curve ball that wasn´t needed.´´

The Health Service Executive said in a statement late Monday that there were “serious concerns about the implications for patient care arising from the very limited access to diagnostics, lab services and historical patient records.”

The attack has also shut down the system used to pay health care workers.

The health service said it was working methodically to assess and restore its computer systems.

“Our priority is keeping our patients safe and maintaining essential care and support services,” it said.

Ransomware attacks are an increasing problem for dark web market links private companies and public bodies around the world.

T he Thai affiliate of Paris-based insurance company AXA and a public health provider in New Zealand were both dealing with ransomware attacks on Tuesday.

In the U.S., the nation´s largest fuel pipeline was hit with a ransomware attack earlier this month.

The disruption of the Colonial Pipeline caused long lines at gas stations due to distribution problems and panic-buying, Tor Drug market draining supplies at thousands of gas stations.

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One of the biggest ever dark web police stings leads to 150 arrests https://www.thenewsmax.co/one-of-the-biggest-ever-dark-web-police-stings-leads-to-150-arrests-3/ Sat, 06 Jan 2024 05:04:13 +0000 https://www.thenewsmax.co/?p=26208 Police around the world have arrested 150 suspects in one of the largest-ever dark web sting operations. The suspects arrested included several high-profile targets, involved in buying or selling illegal goods online, Europol said today. Operation Dark HunTOR also recovered millions of pounds in cash and , as well as drugs and guns.  The bust [...]

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Police around the world have arrested 150 suspects in one of the largest-ever dark web sting operations.

The suspects arrested included several high-profile targets, involved in buying or selling illegal goods online, Europol said today.

Operation Dark HunTOR also recovered millions of pounds in cash and , as well as drugs and guns. 

The bust stems from a German-led police sting earlier this year taking down the ‘world’s largest’ darknet market marketplace.

Darknet markets are e-commerce sites designed to lie beyond the reach of regular search engines and are popular with criminals, as buyers and sellers are largely untraceable. 

Police around the world have arrested 150 suspects in one of the largest-ever dark web sting operations. The suspects arrested included several high-profile targets, involved in buying or selling illegal goods online, Europol said today (stock image)

Police around the world have arrested 150 suspects in one of the largest-ever dark web sting operations.

The suspects arrested included several high-profile targets, involved in buying or selling illegal goods online, Europol said today (stock image)

Dark HunTOR, ‘was composed of a series of separate but complementary actions in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, dark web sites the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States,’ the Hague-based Europol said.

In the United States alone, police arrested 65 people, while 47 were held in Germany, 24 in Britain, and four each in Italy and the Netherlands, among others.

A number of those arrested ‘were considered high-value targets’ by Europol.

Law agents also confiscated 26.7 million euros (£22.45million) in cash and virtual currencies, as well as 45 guns and 516lbs of drugs, including 25,000 ecstasy pills.

Italian police also shut down the ‘DeepSea’ and ‘Berlusconi’ marketplaces, ‘which together boasted over 100,000 announcements of illegal products’, said Europol, darknet market markets onion address which coordinated the operation together with its twin judicial agency Eurojust.

German police in January closed down the ‘DarkMarket’ online marketplace, used by its alleged operator, an Australian, to facilitate the sale of drugs, stolen credit card data and malware.

Europol said the arrest of the alleged operator, caught near the German-Danish border at the time, darknet market markets and the seizure of the criminal infrastructure provided ‘investigators across the world with a trove of evidence’.

German prosecutors at the time said DarkMarket came to light in the course of a major investigation against the web-hosting service Cyberbunker, located in a former NATO bunker in southwest Germany.

Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre EC3 has since been compiling intelligence packages to identify the key targets, the continent’s policing agency said.

The secret ‘darknet market‘ includes websites that can be assessed only with specific software or authorisations, ensuring anonymity for users.

Dark HunTOR, 'was composed of a series of separate but complementary actions in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States,' the Hague-based Europol (their HQ pictured) said

 Dark HunTOR, ‘was composed of a series of separate but complementary actions in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States,’ the Hague-based Europol (their HQ pictured) said

They have faced increased pressure from international law enforcement in recent months.

‘The point of operations such as this is to put criminals operating on the dark web on notice (that) the law enforcement community has the means and global partnerships to unmask them and hold them accountable for their illegal activities,’ Europol deputy director of operations Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said.

Rolf van Wegberg, cybercrime investigator at the TU Delft university said the operation signalled a break in the trend of recent police actions against suspected online criminals.

‘This kind of operations in the past looked at arresting the controllers of these marketplaces, we now see police services targeting the top sellers,’ he told investigative journalists at the Dutch KRO-NCRV public broadcaster.

A press conference about the operation has been set for 10am local time (2pm GMT) in Washington with the Department of Justice. 

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