Decoding Kasseika Ransomware: BYOVD Attack Strategy And Evolving Threat Landscape

Innovative ideas of organizations must always be under lock and key, so it doesn’t get stolen by dark hackers. What’s interesting is the dark web has become one of the busiest places for hackers to do their illegal activities, aside from other favorite places like the deep web, TOR network and i2p network. Cyber security experts are always tracking the activities in this digital space to get an idea about the next big cyber-attack. So, it’s essential to know about them, because there are millions of people who are at risk worldwide. Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report revealed that in 2021, login credentials were implicated in 60% of data breaches.

Cybercrime And The Darknet – Cath Senker

They include (1) the darkweb with its related illicit markets (drugs, tobacco, firearms, and identity theft), (2) the form of exchange on the dark net (cryptocurrency) and (3) policing in cybercrime/cryptomarkets. Risks are certainly higher than ever for cybercriminals who use the darknet to openly sell narcotics, stolen data or illegal services. The original Silk Road founder, search the dark web Ross Ulbricht, has lost appeals against a double life sentence plus 40 years for crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering beneath the surface of the web. And it’s easy to believe that the darknet isn’t as sketchy as it once was based on media stories. Narcotics traffickers are voluntarily banning sales of the synthetic opioid fentanyl due to safety concerns.

Alternatives To Darknet Markets

How Do Cybercriminals Use Darknet Markets?

Simultaneously, the search for malicious penetration testers, often called “pen testers” remains a prominent theme in hacker forums. Moreover, hacker forums also witness many advertisements targeting individuals seeking employment in ransomware. These posts indicate the demand for skilled professionals with the technical expertise to develop, deploy, and manage ransomware operations.

The bubble name is the word belonging to the cluster with the higher occurrence value. The bubble size is proportional to the cluster word occurrences, while the bubble position is set according to the cluster Callon centrality and density (Aria and Cuccurullo 2017). There are a range of tools and services that scan the dark web looking for organizational threats and vulnerabilities but it’s a constantly moving target.

This section gives a deeper understanding of the intellectual and social structure, not only of authors but also of the affiliations and countries in which they locate. Overall, not many institutions and nations collaborate worldwide regarding darknet-related criminals. For the former, there are only three institutions from three countries to cooperate and conduct their topics, including the University of Montreal (Canada), the California State University Long Beach (the US), and the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). 22 shows that the first authors have readily co-authored with the last two universities.

Cybercriminals have found a new playground in the darknet markets. These hidden corners of the internet offer a platform for criminals to buy and sell illegal goods and services, including dark web porn link stolen data, hacking tools, and drugs. In this article, we will explore how cybercriminals use darknet markets and what law enforcement is doing to combat this growing threat.

What Are Darknet Markets?

Darknet markets are online marketplaces that operate on the dark web, a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires special software to access. These markets are often used for illegal activities, access the dark web as they offer a level of anonymity and security that is not available on the surface web. Darknet markets are typically accessed through the Tor network, which allows users to browse the internet anonymously.

How Do Cybercriminals Use Darknet Markets?

Cybercriminals use darknet markets to buy and sell a variety of illegal goods and services. Some of the most common items traded on these markets include:

• Stolen Data: Cybercriminals can buy and sell stolen data, such as credit card information, Social Security numbers, and login credentials. This data can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, and other criminal activities.
• Hacking Tools: Cybercriminals can buy and sell hacking tools, such as malware, exploit kits, and ransomware. These tools can be used to launch cyber attacks against individuals, businesses, and governments.
• Drugs: Darknet markets are also used to sell illegal drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and LSD. These markets have become a major source of revenue for organized crime groups around the world.

What Is Law Enforcement Doing to Combat Darknet Markets?

Law enforcement agencies around the world are working to combat darknet markets and the illegal activities they facilitate. Some of the strategies being used include:

• Undercover Operations: Law enforcement agencies often use undercover operatives to infiltrate darknet markets and gather intelligence on the individuals and groups involved. This information can be used to build cases against these criminals and disrupt their operations.
• Technical Disruptions: Law enforcement agencies can also use technical means to disrupt darknet markets. For example, they can take control of the servers that host these markets, or they can use malware to infect the computers of market users.
• International Cooperation: Law enforcement agencies often work together across national borders to combat darknet markets. This cooperation is essential, as many of these markets are operated by criminal groups that operate in multiple countries.

Conclusion

• Workshop participants reported a sharp increase in crime brought to their attention with a dark web element, and according to one reported study[2], total monetary losses from internet-enabled crime was estimated at more than $1.4 billion in 2016.
• A supply chain exists for designing attacks against corporate networks, where criminals will buy different services and technical goods from other actors, some of which are individuals and others are serious, organized criminal groups on the dark web.
• Regarding the darknet-related criminals in this field, these selected articles were classified into psychology social, sociology, law, psychology clinical, social sciences interdisciplinary, and linguistics.
• The FBI’s Cyber Division is the lead federal agency for dealing with attacks by cybercriminals, terrorists or overseas adversaries.
• SMBs, regardless of the industry sector, are often targeted by cybercriminals because they often store sensitive information such as customer, financial, and employee records which can be highly profitable for bad actors.
• Another encryption technology used in darknet markets is virtual Private networks (VPNs).

Darknet markets offer a platform for cybercriminals to buy and sell illegal goods and services. While law enforcement agencies are working to combat these markets, the anonymity and security they offer make them an attractive option for criminals. It is important for individuals and businesses to take steps to protect themselves from the threats posed by darknet markets, such as using strong passwords, monitoring their credit reports, and keeping their software up to date.