The Fall Of Kingdom Market
Understanding the Dark Market Onion
Cyble Inc, a threat intelligence provider that helps enterprises protect themselves from cybercrimes. The name Onionland, and its use as a synonym for the dark web, comes from a technique known as onion routing. Onion routing uses multi-layered encryption to anonymize communication over a computer network. Unpacking these layers of encryption is likened to peeling an onion. On November 26, 2021, Panasonic joined a long list of companies that suffered a data breach over the past year. See the posts we found in the dark web that could indicate that an attack was in the making.
This, in turn, means it’s hard to measure what’s really going on in the Dark Web, and how many underground marketplaces exist to bring buyers and sellers together. Law enforcement officials are getting better at finding and prosecuting owners of sites that sell illicit goods and services. In the summer of 2017, a team of cyber cops from three countries successfully shut down AlphaBay, the dark web’s largest source of contraband, sending shudders throughout the network. Medical records, fee-based content, membership websites, and confidential corporate web pages are just a few examples of what makes up the deep web. Estimates place the size of the deep web at between 96% and 99% of the internet.
The site with the highest inbound link count across all our crawled onion domains was a popular market with 3,585 inbound links. An onion site providing help with hosting onion servers had 279 inbound links. We chose eight sites that in our qualitative expertise we view as top-tier criminal sites with significant barriers to entry and a high level of obscurity. For these eight sites, we measured an average of 8.7 domains with links to them, and the highest inbound link count for one of these sites was 15 — a stark contrast with the link counts for well-known sites.
The term dark market onion refers to a segment of the internet that operates on the Tor network, allowing users to browse anonymously.
This hidden part of the internet offers a plethora of illicit goods and services, making it a hotspot for illegal transactions.
Even email services such as Gmail are part of the deep web, as search engines cannot access the data on the platform. The global crackdown on the Silk Road 2.0 and other black markets continued on Friday as federal authorities announced the seizure of more than 400 “dark market” website addresses and servers. The hundreds of .onion addresses shut down by authorities were used to sell illegal goods likes drugs and guns on the anonymous Tor network, the U.S. Given its anonymous nature, the dark web clearly has an obvious appeal for cybercriminals.
Award-winning identity theft protection with AI-powered digital security tools, 24/7 White Glove support, and more. If you’ve confirmed that your personal information is leaked on the Dark Web, you have an elevated risk of identity theft and financial fraud. By using the Tor browser, internet users can access the Dark Web to communicate and share data in confidence, without the risk of being traced. Most users on the Dark Web are logged into a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to further conceal themselves. Many of the activities on the Deep Web involve personally identifiable information, such as medical and legal documents, financial records, academic research, intellectual property, confidential commercial data, and more. Every time you log into your email account, check your online banking details, or use social media, you’re on the Deep Web.
What is a Dark Market?
A dark market is an online platform where illegal activities occur, often involving the exchange of drugs, weapons, hacking services, and stolen data.
This started out at around 2,000 new domains per day and leveled off about two months later. While we do still find some new domains, the overall rate is small enough that there is a high probability that we have found the vast majority of sites that are reachable from our current set of onion pages. It is possible that there are sites that are not reachable from our starting lists of onion sites, which the crawler will never find. While we cannot rule that out, the breadth of our starting lists gives us confidence that we have found the vast majority of onion sites that exist.
These markets typically use cryptocurrencies, making it challenging for law enforcement to trace transactions.
Characteristics of Dark Market Onions
- In this instance they are responding to a dispute over a product order and are outlining the requirements necessary for the dispute.
- Meanwhile, the dark web is part of the iceberg deepest in the water – you’d need special diving equipment to reach it.
- Some even say that the real dark web requires an invitation to participate.
- Using a VPN with Tor can’t guarantee a 100% secure experience, but it definitely makes it a lot safer.
- Some of them can be perceived as relatively less harmful – such as accounts on entertainment platforms and services mentioned above.
- Anonymity: Users are shielded from identification, which encourages participation in illicit activities.
- Encryption: All data is encrypted, ensuring a high level of privacy.
- Decentralization: Dark markets are often decentralized, making them harder to shut down.
- Access through Tor: Users must use the Tor browser to access these markets, which enhances anonymity.
How to Access a Dark Market Onion
While accessing a dark market onion is illegal in many jurisdictions, understanding how they operate can provide valuable insights into the darker side of the internet.
Here’s a brief overview of the steps involved:
- Download and install the Tor browser for anonymous browsing.
- Locate onion addresses through forums or directories that list these dark markets.
- Use cryptocurrency like Bitcoin for transactions to maintain anonymity.
- Exercise caution, as many scams and law enforcement operations exist within these markets.
Common Goods and Services Found
Dark markets often feature a range of illegal offerings, including:
- Drugs: Various illegal substances are sold, often with user reviews.
- Counterfeit products: Fake documents, currency, and IDs.
- Hacking services: Access to compromised accounts or DDoS attacks for hire.
- Weapons: Firearms and other dangerous items.
Risks Associated with Dark Market Onions
Engaging with a dark market onion poses several risks:
- Legal consequences: Participating in illegal transactions can result in severe penalties.
- Scams: Many users report being cheated or receiving subpar products.
- Malware threats: Downloading files from these markets can expose your device to malware.
- Data breaches: Your personal information could be compromised despite anonymity efforts.
FAQs about Dark Market Onions
1. Are dark markets illegal?
Yes, participating in dark markets is illegal in many countries, mainly due to the illicit goods and services exchanged.
2. How do dark markets remain operational?
They often change domains and use decentralization to avoid shutdowns by law enforcement.
3. Can I be traced while browsing a dark market?
While the Tor network provides anonymity, sophisticated tracking methods can still potentially expose users.
4. What should I do if I get scammed?
Recovering from scams is challenging; however, avoiding future engagement in dark markets is advisable.
Conclusion
The dark market onion serves as a significant reminder of the complexities and dangers lurking beneath the accessible web.
While anonymity may seem appealing, the risks far outweigh the benefits, making informed choices crucial for online safety.
