Thu | Jan 14, 2021 | 10:06 AM PST

For most people, the Dark Web is quite a mysterious place.

It is generally hidden from view, users are anonymized, and cybercriminals buy and sell an incredible range of illegal things.

Recently, one of the world's largest illegal marketplaces on the Dark Web, called DarkMarket, was taken offline due to an international operation. The countries involved in the operation include the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Australia, Denmark, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Europol help support the takedown, as well, with specialist operational analysis and cross-border collaboration. 

What is DarkMarket?

DarkMarket was one of the largest marketplaces on the Dark Web. 

Europol says the market had roughly 500,000 users, more than 2,400 sellers, over 320,000 transactions, and over 4,650 Bitcoin and 12,800 Monero transferred. This equates to approximately €140 million.

One of the things you could buy? Malware for cyberattacks.

Vendors also sold the illegal items you could find on other Dark Web markets, such as illicit drugs, counterfeit money, and stolen credit card data.

How did DarkMarket operate?

We don't have all the answers to questions about how DarkMarket operated, however, we do get a glimpse of things.

Germany's Central Criminal Investigation Department arrested an Australian citizen, the alleged operator of DarkMarket, near the German-Danish border.

The investigation revealed this much:

"...it allowed officers to locate and close the marketplace, switch off the servers and seize the criminal infrastructure—more than 20 servers in Moldova and Ukraine supported by the German Federal Criminal Police office (BKA)."

The data recovered through this investigation will give new leads to further investigate those involved in DarkMarket.

Europol's Dark Web team

Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) has established a Dark Web Team, which will work with EU partners and law enforcement around the world on more cases like this.

Here is what Europol says the primary functions of the team will be:

  • "Sharing information;
  • Providing operational support and expertise in different crime areas;
  • Developing tools, tactics and techniques to conduct dark web investigations;
  • Identifying threats and targets;

The team also aims to enhance joint technical and investigative actions, organize training and capacity-building initiatives, together with prevention and awareness-raising campaigns—a 360° strategy against criminality on the dark web."

Expect to hear about more Dark Web investigations from this team in the days ahead.

Comments