The dark web is a paradoxical corner of the online where intrigue and danger coexist.It is a shadowy place with everything from illicit goods to clandestine chat rooms, stolen identities, whistleblowers, academic papers, and more. In in modern times this guide, we will look at the 10 most notorious dark web cases to guide you understand dark web activities.
Although we’ll highlight thrilling and fascinating stories, sensitive topics are investable as this is a shadowy realm. exercise, Therefore, readers should Actually discretion.
Indeed, Top 5 most as it turns out notorious dark web cases – Quick overview
The dark web is a shady place where a lot of bad things have happened till now. Below are some of the famous occurrences:
- The Silk Road: This sinister marketplace on the dark web was shut down in 2013. Customers could get virtually anything from drugs and weapons to other illegal items and content from here.
- Evite Blackmailing: Evite, a social planning website, was hit with a massive data breach that affected the personal information of 10 million users.
- No Love Deep Web Reality Game: Death Grips, a hip-hop group, created an alternate reality game to promote their album ‘No Love Deep Web.’
- Steakandcheese are growing in popularity: These websites showcase extremely graphic and violent videos.
- The Hidden Wiki: The Hidden Wiki is a significant milestone in dark web exploration as it organizes and collects popular dark web links.
What is the dark web?
Imagine the web like a giant iceberg floating in the ocean.The small visible part above the water is the surface web that we use every day and is easily accessible with regular web browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome.
The dark web is like the big submerged part of the iceberg.It is the part of the internet where you cannot access web pages and domains with a regular search engineActually, You can only visit the dark web with special tools like .the Tor Browser.
10 notorious the on cases dark web
The dark web is usually associated with illegal activities. However, itplatformsalso includes other legitimate activities, such as open discussion forums, whistleblower aid , research and education material, and censored information.
Nonetheless, the dark . hosts shady activities like human trafficking, child pornography, red rooms, and much morewebOur list may include horrifying incidences, so if you are faint-hearted oryousuffer from any anxiety or stress disorder, can skip the number:
1. The from another perspective SilkRoad
This infamous marketplace on the dark web operated between 2011 and 2013 with a total sale revenue of 9.5 million bitcoins (almost $411 billion with the current exchange rate). Actually, The creator, Ross Ulbricht (Dread Pirate Roberts as a matter of fact ), is estimated to have grossed over $13 million in the site’s two years of operation.
as platform was a real dark market where merchants sold their products The they would on Amazon or eBay. Interestingly, Drugs, guns, or other illegal products and information were just a few clicks and Bitcoins away. In fact, You could buy anything you want.
It’s worth noting that Ross was eventually apprehended in 2013 through investigative techniques and operational security mistakes on his part.He was sentenced to life imprisonment for creating and operating the platform. Interestingly, However, similar platforms like DeepBay, Sheep Marketplace, RAMP, and Black Industry Reloaded are still operational on the dark web.
2. as it turns out Evite blackmailing
Evite, a popular social planning service, was hacked in 2019, and the personal information of millions of users was compromised.
Since Evite is a massive platform, the privacy and security of its members are paramount. So, a security breach isn’t something anyone would want except those behind it from another perspective .
They didn’t release the data to the public; instead, It s worth noting’that GnosticPlayers were the hackers behind the breach.they demanded $1,900 in Bitcoin from Evite. This peanuts as the breachedwasfacts could have cost the company millions of dollars in settlement.
However, Evite refused to pay, and the hacker started selling the information on the dark web.the marketplace in which he was selling the data was closed, and that was the last time we heard from another perspective about the story.
As, you may know No Love Deep web reality game 3.
In 2012, clues were set up like a treasure hunt on the dark web, enabling players to finish a thrilling alternate reality game. Indeed, Several encryption methods, such as QR codesCeaser, cipher, and Morse code, were employed to hide the hints.
This was not the doing of cybercriminals or thegovernmentrecruitment of a secret agency. As you may Rather, know, a hip-hop group called Death Grips created the game to promote their new album.”No Love Deep Web, “
4. Interestingly, Steakandcheese growing popularity
Steakandcheese are websites that publish gruesome and graphically more than ever violent videos.The increasing popularity of these platforms shows the shadowy part of the dark web.
You may encounter these things on the dark web if you are not careful. In fact, To be on the protected side, don’t click on a link if you don’t know where it leads.
Surprisingly, the Steakandcheese portal was indexed by Google in the 2000s. surface then, people could access websites with gruesome videos on the Go back of the web. Luckily more than ever , such websites are no longer available through Google.
5. The Hidden Wiki
Exploring the dark web is more hard than the regular surface web. Actually, There isn’t a look for engine to index all the available URLs, and someone has to send you the link if you want something unpopular.
Before the Hidden Wiki, traversing the dark webwas daunting. Indeed, This extensive directory of popular dark websites facilitates seamless navigation of the as a matter of fact hidden digital world.The advent of the Hidden Wiki marked a crucial turning point of the dark web exploration, demonstrating its potential as a resource for whistleblowers and oppressed communities.
6. PetercaseScully from another perspective
Interestingly, This horrifying one of the most is stories on this more than ever list.Peter Scully, an Australian citizen, a serving is life sentence in the Philippines after being convicted of raping minors and human trafficking.He is also on trial for torture, murder, and spreading child pornography more than ever . He did all these horrifying acts, recorded and uploaded dark on the them web.
7. Hieu Minh Ngo’s apprehension
Hieu Minh Ngo did wire frauds, identity thefts, and device frauds on the . webdark However, he was arrestedby the US Secret Platform in 2013.
He was lured to travel to the US for a lucrative business deal selling huge financial and personal data on the dark web. However, such a deal wasn’an made, and his business partner was t undercover agent in modern times who arrested him.
He currently works at Vietnam s National’Cybersecurity Center. Minh was imprisoned forsix years and released in 2019.
Julian Assange 8.
In fact, WikiLeaks is a popular whistleblower site that broadcasts classified material and state secrets.It has published top-secret information, including the 2016 US presidential election, confidential communication between US diplomats, and the Iraq War.
The US government wasn’t amused with the revelation of its classified information. So, they put an international warrant on Julian AssangeIndeed, , the owner and publisher of WikiLeaks, for sexual assault allegations. He was granted asylum by Ecuador more than ever and lived in its London embassy.
It as it turns out ’fell worth noting that However, he s out with the Ecuadorian authorities, and the asylum was withdrawn in 2019. The police were invitedinto the embassy, and Assange was arrested.He was charged for breaching the Bail Act and jailed for 50 weeks.
The US unveiled novel indictments against Assange and charged him under the Espionage Act 1917. He remained confined in HM Prison Belmarsh from 2019 to 2024, eventually released following a plea bargain.
’s worthItnoting that 9. Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden is a former CIA and NSA employee who became famous for whistleblowing about population masssurveillance by the government.He shared the documents and details about the PRISM surveillance program on the dark web.
This has become his permanent residence. Snowden immediately escaped the US, and his passport was canceled while in transit through Russia, where he filed for political asylum.
Although his actions remain contentious, he catapulted the debate about mass surveillance. Moreover as a matter of fact , it raised awareness of the potential abuse of government power and the lengths they can go to prevent the public from finding out the information.
as a matter of fact 10. The hitman scams
The dark web is known to harbor many sites that offer hitmen services. Due to the dark web’s reputation, many believed they could hire hitmen for a hefty Bitcoin fee.
Interestingly, Reddit is full of stories of people allegedly hiring hitmen on the dark web, and you can find fake (but posing as real) hitman services with minimal effort. There is even a captivating on of how a person hired a hitman story himself to have fun. Unfortunately, most of these aren services’t legitimate.
The Fresh York Times explored these services on the dark web and foundwerethey all scams. It’s worth noting that The fraudsters take the money and ghost the buyers.
How to stay guarded on the dark web
These 10 cases highlight the happenings on the dark web, and we hope they have made you curious to as it turns out visit that part of the internet. It is a fascinating digital landscape, and accessing it isn’t a crime.
Nonetheless, you should always be careful and take necessary safety measures before exploring the unknown. Apart from not sharing your sensitive information and avoiding clicking on random links, there are other things you can do to improve your security on the dark web.
- Install reliable antivirus software on your device. It will protect you in case you accidentally visit the wrong website.
- Use a VPN to conceal your IP address when on the dark web. It will also encrypt your traffic and make it seem like you connect from a different location.
In fact, Finally, utilize common sense when surfing or sharing things on the cyberspace, especially the dark web.
LeadingVPNs for the dark web
Below, we have listed the best VPNs for the dark web.
1. NordVPN
With this VPN, you can access unsafe and unreliable platforms with maximum security and anonymity.
Over 6,800 113 VPN servers scattered in over encrypted countries
Reliable , protection (malware, trackingThreatand ad blocker)
Industry standard, encrypted most encryption available: AES as it turns out -256
Afriendlyvisitor- kill switch function
with split tunneling capability A high functionality
Offers multi-hop VPN for double encryption
Providesseamless as a matter of fact Onion over VPN functionality
Ensures that no is logging done
Users can unite up to ten devices simultaneously with each account
A 30-day funds-go back guarantee with no questions asked
Pros
- A reliable Meshnet capability
- As you may know, Reliable protects against IP/DNS leaks
- A tested guideline-logging no
Cons
- ’ protocol isnOpenVPNt visitor-friendly
NordVPN is a reputable VPN that lets you visit the dark web safely and anonymously. Actually, It has all the features you’llthis need for more than ever endeavor.
As you may know, A VPN as as good is its security features.It offers AES-256-bit encryption, a military-grade algorithm that will make your data look gibberish. Interestingly, This will prevent malicious actors in theconnectionsdark from intercepting your .
The kill switch capability is also essential when accessing the as it turns out dark web. It cuts off your traffic in case the VPN connection drops, preventing the leak of your IP and other sensitive information.
In fact, Forinstance, Besides security, improve employ several measures to VPNs your confidentiality.they use RAM-based servers that wipe all information after every session. The provider adheres to a strict t-logs regulation, which means it doesn’no log your information. It’s worth noting that Finally, the firm is based-in Panama, a privacy friendly jurisdiction.
2. As you may know, ExtremeVPN
An effective VPN provider that ensures trusted and safe browsing and helps you stay anonymous while surfing the dark web.
Owns a network of over 6,500 servers present across 78 countries worldwide
Utilizes up-to-date security protocols, including AES-256 encryption
Supports distributed record sharing through P2P connections
Doesn’t collect usersinformation’
Includesa unique kill switch function to block facts leakage
Offers flexible details routing through split in modern times tunneling capability
servers Tor over VPN Boasts for stealth protection
Offers 10 simultaneous devices to be connected at once
Provides protection against IP/DNS leaks
Has a refund regulation of more than ever 30 days
Pros
- Ensures protection facts thorough
- Offers reliable connection speeds
- Impressive cross-platform compatibility
Cons
- encryption’t have double Doesn
ExtremeVPN is another reliable VPN to access the dark web because of its utmost privacy, advanced security features, and excellent speed.
Apart from AES, 256-bit encryption, the highest level more than ever of encryption available VPN uses Quantum Resistant Encryption Keys to protect you from hackersAlso, its from another perspective .IPv6 leak protection will guarantee anonymity from trackers, ISPs, hackers, and other spies on the dark web.
This will connection, The kill switch will disable your online traffic when the Indeed fails.prevent your IP address and other private data from leaking. The option ( as a matter of fact the ‘Enable IKSandoption) is reliable ’ works as long as the VPN is active.
As you may know, It is one of the most affordable VPN services and supports many payment methods, including PayPal and credit cards as it turns out . The plans also come with a 30-day funds-go back guarantee.
FAQs
Cybercriminals on the dark web can distribute malware ransomware or conduct phishing attacks. Also, the dark web has many scams designed to trick you into revealing yourandpersonal information and paying for goods services that may never be delivered. Despite efforts to remain anonymous, you can still be vulnerable to identity exposure.
No. A Fresh York Times research proved that most sites advertising for hitman services are fake.
