Warning. Read this column at your own risk. Temptations may arise for the reader to embark on risky adventures into the darkest domains of the Internet.
On Thursday, March 18, 2021, the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instituted civil proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana against James Roland Jones of Redondo Beach, California, for selling what he called “insider tips” on the “dark web” from late 2016 into 2017. In its press release, the SEC notes that this is its “first enforcement action involving alleged securities violations on the dark web.”
Vendors are cashing in on people desperate to leapfrog the line—or falsely certify that they got the shot. Tired of waiting to get your vaccine appointment? For just $500, you could get a COVID-19 vaccine dose tomorrow (overnight shipping not included). Too rich for your blood? How about a vaccination card for just $150?
Researchers saw listings increase 300% in the last three months. Tired of waiting to get your vaccine appointment? For just $500, you could get a COVID-19 vaccine dose tomorrow (overnight shipping not included). Too rich for your blood? How about a vaccination card for just $150?
We are all familiar with the web that Google shows us – the “visible” surface web that is indexed by search engines. When you search for your own name on Google, you’re likely met with results that are familiar to you, including social media profiles, your bio on your employer’s website, and maybe a few local media clippings if you’ve been interviewed by the press.
Growing up, my mother always told me that you can’t put a price on love. And while that may still hold true, you can certainly put a price on the illegal obtainment of personal information on the dark web. With the influx in cybercrime activity both before and since COVID-19 and the increasingly online presence of everyday citizens, identity fraud has surged as the costs of stolen information drop.
Personal data is a valuable commodity among hackers, and there is a lucrative market based on selling private data on the dark web. According to NordVPN CTO Marijus Briedis, there are billions of personal records available to buy on the dark web and the market has become so commercialised as to even offer loyalty reward programmes.
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