Case Study: How The Swedish Police Authority Chased “Malvax” Across Markets

Understanding How Darknets & Dark Markets Work

Are There Any Active Darknet Markets?

Read The 2016–2017 Global Application & Network Security Report By Radware’s Emergency Response Team

What Is Darknet Markets?

The darknet markets, also known as the “deep web,” are online marketplaces that operate outside the reach of traditional law enforcement. These markets are often used for the sale of illegal goods and services, Cocorico Market url including drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, due to the anonymous nature of these markets, it can be difficult to determine which ones are still active and which have been shut down by law enforcement.

What Happened to the Major Darknet Markets?

This is particularly true in the cyber realm, where hacking, phishing, and identity theft are increasingly prevalent. Our research aims at contributing to cybersecurity efforts by making a collection of malware listings on dark web markets publicly available, ranging from March 2021 to March 2023, on eleven sites. More specifically, this data seeks to enhance the strategic and operational threat intelligence analysis, as well as the response abilities, of any interested party.

In recent years, several major darknet markets have been shut down by law enforcement, including the infamous Silk Road and AlphaBay. These shutdowns have led to a decrease in the overall number of active darknet markets, but new ones continue to pop up to take their place.

In the digital underworld, darknets and dark markets have emerged, reshaping the cybersecurity landscape and posing significant threats to the security of individuals, organizations, and nations. These covert online spaces, often hidden from conventional search engines, are designed to operate beyond the reach of law enforcement and ethical oversight. Individuals began using the darknet to pseudonymously sell illegal content without face-to-face interaction. Over time, ambitious individuals created infrastructure for these transactions, where for a fee, sellers have access to a digital ‘storefront’ to sell their products in a centralized marketplace.

• The general volatility of darknet markets has led to calls for further decentralization of transactions to protect both buyers and vendors.
• All of that suggests AlphaBay may already be the most popular market for dark web vendors to list their wares for sale.
• Users do not choose to migrate to marketplaces that have fewer common users than the third-ranked marketplace.
• Bitcoin is the universally accepted currency (occasionally together with other cryptocurrencies) on every dark marketplace.
• You can also freeze your credit report for a year after you have been a victim of a data breach.
• See how cybercriminals profit from your personal information on the Dark Web.

Silk Road

Dark web intelligence also uses dark web forum portals in order to make counter-terrorism and cyber risk analysis activities. Besides, dark web intelligence is also involved in many legal activities like military intelligence, and as a medium to exchange other confidential information. Just as darknet markets are based on the eBay model, Dread is based on the Reddit model. Moderators control what type of posts are allowed, and they can ban users from their subreddit or subdread if they think they’re a jerk or breaking their rules.

These technologies are simply cybersecurity tools which can be used in a multitude of different ways. The drama surrounding Dream Market is ongoing and involves many uncertainties. Though Dream Market has been around real dark web for 6 years, Dark Web marketplaces are typically short-lived. When a Darknet market announces it is shutting down, or when one disappears suddenly, this leaves the entire Dark Web market ecosystem in flux.

Silk Road, which was launched in 2011, was one of the first major darknet markets. It was a marketplace for illegal drugs, and it operated on the Tor network, which allowed users to browse how to access the dark web and make purchases anonymously. However, in 2013, the FBI shut down Silk Road and arrested its founder, Ross Ulbricht. Ulbricht was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

It was reported that AlphaBay was ten times larger than Silk Road and generated a billion dollars in sales in its three-year history. AlphaBay at the time of its takedown had over 200,000 users and 40,000 vendors selling everything from drugs to attack services. AlphaBay’s forum was also a hotbed of illicit activity involving users buying and selling leaked databases and stolen credit cards. I must emphasize that there is no connection between the eBay corporation and darknet markets. Cybercriminals have simply replicated some of eBay’s mechanics, but for selling illegal products and services rather than things which are lawful to buy. EBay doesn’t directly sell video game consoles and shoes, they provide a platform for vendors to sell those things.

AlphaBay

AlphaBay was another major darknet market that was shut down by law enforcement. It was launched in 2014 and quickly became one of the largest markets on the darknet. However, in 2017, the FBI, DEA and Dutch police shut down AlphaBay and arrested its founder, Alexandre Cazes. Cazes was later found dead in his jail cell in Thailand, where he was awaiting extradition to the United States.

Are There Any Active Darknet Markets?

Despite the shutdown of several major darknet markets, there are still a number of active markets operating on the darknet. These markets can be difficult to find and access, as they require the use of special software and anonym