- Genesis is one of two popular cyber-criminal marketplaces taken down by the FBI in the past month.
- When the Silk Road was in operation, you could search for it on Tor and get redirected to a signup screen requiring a username and password.
- These websites aren’t as flashy or as well-designed as most eCommerce stores.
- To find other drugs, Doe says that the search process can be more of a “gamble”.
Darknet markets, also known as “cryptomarkets,” are online marketplaces that operate on the dark web. These markets sell a wide variety of goods and services, including illegal drugs, weapons, and stolen data. While it’s important to note that buying from these markets is illegal and can result in severe consequences, some people still choose to do so. If you’re one of those people, this guide will show you how to buy from darknet markets safely and anonymously.
What You’ll Need
Before you can start buying from darknet markets, you’ll need a few things:
- Tor browser: Tor is a free software that allows you to browse the internet anonymously. You can download it from the official Tor project website.
- Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency: Most darknet markets only accept cryptocurrency as payment. Bitcoin is the most widely accepted cryptocurrency, but some markets may also accept Monero, Zcash, or other privacy-focused coins.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): A VPN will help protect your identity by encrypting your internet connection and hiding your IP address.
- PGP encryption software: PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is a free encryption software that allows you to securely communicate with darknet market vendors.
Darknet Marketplaces
Finding a Darknet Market
There are many darknet markets to choose from, but not all of them are trustworthy. Here are some tips for finding a reputable market:
- Do your research: Read reviews and forums to find out which markets have a good reputation.
- Look for established markets: Markets that have been around for a while are more likely to be trustworthy.
- Check for security features: Look for markets that offer two-factor authentication, PGP encryption, and other security features.
- Avoid markets that require personal information: Legitimate darknet markets will not ask for your real name, address, or other personal information.
The dark web is not illegal, and it’s not illegal to be on the dark web. After all, it’s only meant to provide anonymity, which isn’t illegal in most regions. Once cryptocurrencies entered the picture in 2009, Silk Road and other black markets started popping up on the dark web, making it the place to be for various criminals. The TOR network can only be accessed through variations of the TOR browser, and while it can connect to websites on the indexed Web, it is also the only way to access onion domains (.onion).
Creating an Account
Once you’ve chosen a market, you’ll need to create an account. Here’s how:
Accessibility Links
- Download and install the Tor browser.
- Connect to a VPN.
- Go to the market’s website using the Tor browser.
- Create an account using a pseudonym and a strong password.
- Set up two-factor authentication and PGP encryption.
Before it was shut down in April 2022, Hydra accounted for 93% of all economic value received by darknet markets in 2022 — about $357.4 million. The platform, based in Russia, specialized in facilitating drug sales, money laundering services and other illicit offerings. The current study suggests that the share of counterfeits on dark markets (2.69%) seems to be slightly above previous expectations, which were around 1.5–2.5% (Europol, 2017). We also see differences in some product categories observed during seizures and counterfeits offered on dark markets. As already described, seized products are most likely biased through the activities and procedures adopted by authorities affecting estimations on which product types are affected. Examining the counterfeit categories, we see that watches account for most of the value in both cases but are more prominent on dark markets overall.
TRM Labs adds that eight of the top 10 mainstream exchanges that received funds from Hydra before its shutdown also received funds from its successor entities over the subsequent year. Since the summer of 2022, the aforementioned markets have waged war against each other, involving the spreading of rumors, the doxing of administrators and staff members, distributed denial of service attacks and breaches. Almost a year after Hydra’s takedown, five markets—Mega, Blacksprut, Solaris, Kraken and OMG! Market—have emerged as the biggest players based on the volume of offers and the number of sellers. The FBI seized crypto wallets of Silk Road users and arrested Ulbricht, collecting millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin. The seizure of Bitcoin and arrest of Ulbricht were meant to send a clear message to all other cybercriminal enterprises.
Making a Purchase
Now that you have an account, you can start making purchases. Here’s how:
Help Address Today’s Biggest Cybersecurity Challenges
- Browse the market’s listings and choose a product.
- Contact the vendor using PGP encryption to confirm the product’s availability and price.
- Send the payment to the vendor’s cryptocurrency wallet.
- Wait for the vendor to confirm the payment and ship the product.
- Leave feedback for the vendor once you receive the product.
Operators slip up at one point or another leaving traces of their real identity online in a way that can be connected back to the market. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly leveraged the innovative applications being developed in the private sector to augment their abilities and better address the problem. Finding the right URLs involves some research, often into online discussion pages on websites like ‘Discord’ and ‘Reddit’, where users share links to sellers of high quality and safe products. The fusion of automated external cyber intelligence with a dedicated analyst team enables SOC teams to take control of the outer world beyond their perimeters. Feedback, trust score, and vendor level systems derived and optimized from AlphaBay and other old marketplaces. Featured Products with an auction system to allow anyone to promote their products on Deep Sea Market’s homepage.
FAQs
Is it legal to buy from darknet markets? No, buying from darknet markets is illegal and can result in severe consequences.
Can I get caught buying from darknet markets? Yes, there are risks involved in buying from darknet markets, including the possibility of being caught by law enforcement.
What cryptocurrency should I use? Bitcoin is the most widely accepted cryptocurrency on darknet markets, but some markets may also accept Monero, Zcash, or other privacy-focused coins.
And most dark web websites are in English — according to one estimate, a staggering 78% of information on the dark web is in English. Dark web domains tend to be inconsistent — new ones pop up and others disappear, which makes sense since some of these sites may be offering questionable or illegal goods and services. For added safety, first connect to a VPN, then use Tor in a practice known as Tor-over-VPN. Many internet service providers (ISPs) and governments may be suspicious of Tor use, and a VPN will hide your internet activity and prevent anyone from knowing that you’re using Tor.
Do I need a VPN? Yes, a VPN will help protect your identity by encrypting your internet connection and hiding your IP address.
Can I use my real name and address? No, legitimate darknet markets will not ask for your real name, address, or other personal information.
