The dark web has been in existence for as long as the World Wide Web itself. This shady side of the Internet is a marketplace for all sorts of illegal activities from drug and arms trade to human trafficking. People who access this illegal market place do it through specialized software that isn’t publicly available. In this piece, we will address some of the common criminal offenses that happen in the dark web starting with the most common one. For businesses and individuals concerned about their information being compromised, dark web monitoring can help detect if any of your personal or sensitive data is being sold or traded on these hidden platforms.
Cybercrime and Hacking
It goes without saying that hacking and other forms of cybercrimes are prevalent in the dark web. You can hire hackers from the dark web who are trained to penetrate the defenses of even the most sophisticated firewalls. After penetrating these defenses, they can plant ransomware, malware, or any other type of problematic elements. They can also steal data directly or install password-tracking software that allows them to get access to sensitive financial information. If you find yourself in a difficult position after a cybercrime, reach out to a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Greeley for advice.
Drug Trafficking
Another popular illegal activity that happens seamlessly on the dark web is drug trafficking. Millions of people trade narcotics, synthetic drugs, and prescription drugs over the dark web often using untraceable payment methods like cryptocurrency. Sellers of these drugs host their online stores discreetly, covering their identity and location with different levels of encryption. This has allowed them to evade capture and continue making millions without any fear of getting caught.
Murder-for-Hire
Drug trafficking and cybercrimes are bad no doubt but did you know that you can hire an assassin from the dark web? No, it’s not fiction. There are actual assassins with murder-for-hire ads on these secret sites. Apart from contact killers, there are also human trafficking and organ trafficking rings on the dark web. In most cases, the vendors and the buyers don’t know each other’s identity. Every transaction is handled anonymously.
Child Exploitation
Another terrible criminal activity that has become more prevalent thanks to the dark web is child exploitation. Google and other search engines frown upon websites or web searches that leave children vulnerable. So, these child predators use encrypted platforms on the dark web to access child pornography and child trafficking businesses. Law enforcement agencies across the United States are working hard to crack down on these people, but the dark web makes it incredibly difficult for them to succeed in getting indictments.
Financial Crimes
The dark web is also a hub for financial criminals to engage in their illegal activities with impunity. Things like money laundering, identity theft, credit card fraud, and counterfeiting are commonplace on the dark web. Cybercriminals sell the financial information they steal from unsuspecting Internet users on the dark web. The Europol’s Cybercrime Center, FBI’s Dark Web Task Force and many other similar organizations hunt down these thieves every day but technological advancements make it difficult for them.
Conclusion
No doubt, the Internet revolutionized how legal businesses work and created a lot of opportunities. The downside is that it also paved the way for criminal organizations to improve how they do illegal business. You can avoid falling victim to the dark web by staying away from unauthorized TOR browsers and being suspicious of links you find on the Internet.
