Page 77 - Cyber Warnings

of sites that link to each other, allowing people to easily jump from page to page, the dark web is
more like a collection of self-contained silos, for example AlphaBay (similar to Amazon).

Thus, sites on the Dark Web can be visited by anyone, but it is very difficult to work out who is
behind the sites. And it can be dangerous if you slip up and your identity is discovered.

Safe browsing tips:

• Use a VPN for anonymity

• Do not change the TOR browser window size as this can be used to match identities.

• Use an anonymous email account that is not related to you.

• Some users may prefer covering their laptop’s webcam/microphone to protect themselves
from prying eyes.

The Notorious Silk Road

Not all Dark Web sites use TOR, some use services such as I2P (Invisible Internet Project), but
yet the principle remains the same. An infamous example is the Silk Road and the Silk Road
Reloaded (No Dark Web conversation can ever be complete without mentioning Silk Road).

For a long time, the Silk Road was the biggest game in dark net commerce as it allowed users
to sell a great many illegal things, and inspired a number of similarly designed counterfeit
markets.

Silk Road was selling stolen credit and debit card numbers, fake IDs, counterfeit currencies,
recreational drugs, hacking tools and login credentials for hacked accounts. Transactions there
were conducted in bitcoins and other virtual currency, and then goods were shipped through the
mail.

However, in October 2013, the FBI shut down the website and arrested Ross William Ulbricht
under charges of being the site's pseudonymous founder. On 6 November 2013, Silk Road 2.0
came online, run by former administrators of Silk Road and it too was shut down.

Recently, Silk Road Reloaded has sprung up and comes with multiple cryptocurrency support
and similar listing restrictions to the original Silk Road market. The media spotlight has impinged
on the Silk Road’s relative obscurity, minimising its value as a black marketplace.

This closed service comes with own set of pros and cons.

Good:

• Citizens or activists of highly oppressive regimes: Countries with strict censorship laws
use the Dark Web to access news, educational content and even social media, in a secure way.

77 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – July 2017 Edition
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