So you’ve recently heard about a place called the Deep Web, and the underground darknet markets (DNM) that reside there offering narcotics like cannabis online. Using these websites and the wares these markets sell may be illegal in your country, so learning to take the necessary precautions before visiting a DNM is an absolute must. Educating yourself on the basics of operations security (Opsec) is a great idea before exploring the depths of DNMs found on the invisible web.
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Learn the Very Basics of Deep Web Opsec Before Visiting a Darknet Market
Just recently, news.bitcoin.com reported on the – like the Dream Market, Wall Street, and Point Marketplace places which are entrenched in code within the confines of the deep web. Now maybe you have heard about these places before, but it’s always good to learn the very basic Opsec techniques that are highly recommended before purchasing something, or even entering a darknet market.
A Browser That Crawls the Deep Web is Required
The first and foremost thing to learn is you can’t find DNMs using a Google browser. Only a deep web indexing browser like Tor can get you to those special destinations. that enables a level of anonymous communication by concealing every Tor user’s identity under an overlay network of relay nodes. Tor also allows users to access the deep web and .onion addresses. Basically, a .onion is just a domain suffix, which is tethered to a hidden website found only on the invisible web. Downloading and using a deep web browser like Tor to access any DNM is required.
Tor is a free browser that enables a level of anonymous communication.
Tor is Nice But a VPN Obfuscates Internet Traffic Even More
Next up is acquiring a , because most people would agree that using Tor alone is just not enough Opsec to visit a DNM. Whenever someone surfs the web, and visits any website they leak the IP address which is tied to a physical address. Using a VPN a user can extend a private network transversely online negating an individual or organization’s ability to tie an IP address to the end user.
A VPN is highly recommended for visiting any DNM or doing anything that may get you in trouble with law enforcement.
VPNs are also used for when people download or seed torrents on the , or when a citizen from China wants to see the internet beyond the . VPNs will mask an IP address and encrypt an individual’s online traffic in order to do a lot of things that need privacy including visiting a DNM.
Finding Reliable DNM Vendor Takes Time and Research
Finding a DNM and reliable vendor is the next step and only the first part is fairly easy. DNM .onion addresses for darknet marketplaces, like the ones we recently reported on can be found online within five minutes or less. However, finding a reliable trustworthy vendor for anything on the deep web is pretty difficult, even when perusing through the halls of marketplaces like Dream or Wall Street. Back when Reddit allowed the forum to thrive, people used to try and find reputable vendors through word of mouth, but Reddit shut the forum down. Not all vendors are trustworthy, as you should read about their reputations from customer reviews, and make sure you feel comfortable with the vendor’s terms.
In Order to Make Purchases, You Are Going to Need Some bitcoin
In order to purchase anything on a DNM, the market will require you to obtain some cryptocurrency to buy things. bitcoin Core (BTC) is the most widely used digital currency used on the , but some markets have been known to accept other cryptocurrencies, such as .
Now, you can’t just load up on bitcoins using Coinbase and just head straight to a DNM. Purchasing from centralized exchanges that follow KYC and AML laws is not recommended, unless the coins can be . Coinbase and other exchanges have been known for blacklisting accounts who visit DNMs, and even cryptocurrency gambling sites. Using bitcoins bought from centralized trading platforms can also be tied to your location. So to purchase bitcoins for use on a hidden marketplace most people would recommend utilizing a decentralized exchange, Localbitcoins, or a bitcoin ATM that doesn’t require identification. Buying bitcoins with cash from a friend or another type of non-centralized source would be the best method at hand.
bitcoin is required to make DNM purchases some marketplaces allow other cryptocurrencies like Monero.
These Steps Just Scratch the Surface, Make Sure You Research More About the Best DNM Opsec Methods and Study Marketplace Tutorials
Using these basic tools and Opsec techniques will get you started and along your way towards visiting a DNM, and possibly make a purchase. But remember it may be illegal where you reside to partake in these types of activities, and even the smartest darknet masterminds have been by law enforcement. Studying further on how to use a specific DNM and how they operate is a good idea before attempting a visit. It’s also good to get a as well that allows encrypted messaging abilities, because vendors use this method for communications.
There are many more ways you can prepare to make a trek to the deep web’s dark marketplaces, and this advice just scratches the surface. Research how to use and understand the Tor network, VPNs, tumblers, and maybe read a tutorial on how to make a purchase on the DNM you plan to visit. Preserving your privacy while doing anything online is always recommended, but doing so while visiting a darknet market is probably best. Once you feel comfortable with most of these privacy-centric methods, finding a .onion address for any popular DNM is extremely simple, and hidden marketplace addresses can be found on the open web.
What do you think about the basic Opsec methods needed before visiting a DNM? Is there anything that we missed? How do you best protect your identity while visiting DNMs? Let us know in the comments below.
Images via Shutterstock, Pixabay, and Wiki Commons.
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The popularity of cryptocurrencies has led to the high demand of the powerful computer hardware suitable for creating mining farms. The opportunity to make digital money without buying them has already attracted millions of people. It has caused not only the increase in cryptocurrency volume but the significant growth of energy consumption. The are shocking – annualized estimated global mining costs are over $3.2 billion.
changes the basis of mining process making it energy-efficient and environment-friendly. The project has just completed the pre-ICO stage which has proved that the ideas behind CryptoSolarTech are shared by investors: thus round brought to the company 8.845,026 €. The CST token sale is to continue till the 14th of July.
The high energy consumption is an important factor for the bright future of cryptocurrencies. The crypto economy is constantly developing. Cryptocurrency mining is attracting more and more people all over the world. And – like it always happens – enthusiasts find a way to make it cheaper. The most evident solution is organizing mining farms in the countries where energy costs are cheaper. That may sound like a smart strategy. However, the world is already facing the results of this trend: the countries which are popular among miners have to fight a significant increase in CO2 emissions.
CryptoSolarTech, the company based in sunny Spain, aims to change the basis of cryptocurrency mining by creating a solar photovoltaic pool capable of generating 45,000kW of energy. The team behind the project works hard for this idea to come true. The notable achievement of CryptoSolarTech is a fifteen year power purchase contract with Respira Energía, an organization that provides electricity to consumers at wholesale prices with a guarantee of 100% CO2 free production. This partnership is to play the crucial role in the solar future of mining.
The plans of the company are ambitious and include ten solar plants with a total investment of €42.8 million. CryptoSolarTech is not the first project which tries to solve the problem of energy overconsumption in crypto mining. However, there is a factor which makes this company unique. CryptoSolarTech is to combine its own solar plants with well-developed mining infrastructure. This complex approach makes the company attractive to investors.
“The operation will be based in one of the sunniest areas of Europe. Our team has an extensive experience of in mining operations,” said Pablo Alonso, co-founder and CEO at CryptoSolarTech. “We have no doubt that this is a winning package with excellent returns that any crypto enthusiasts will be interested in.”
The key element of the platform is CryptoSolarTech token (CST), an ERC-20 type token. “Possession of this digital asset will indicate ownership of a fraction of a cryptocurrency mining farm and a photovoltaic solar energy plant. Users of this platform will be able to obtain their own cryptocurrencies during the CryptoSolarTech ICO in a farm where around three thousand equipment are to be installed” said Alain Aguirre, co-founder and director of the mining operation.
CryptoSolarTech is in the process of Phase 1 of ICO. The things are going well – soft cap has already been reached. The bar has been set high – the project aims at hard cap of 71.400.000 €. It still has plenty of time to go as the last round of ICO is to end on the 14th of July.
The company is not waiting till the end of ICO to start active development: in June CryptoSolarTech plans to apply for an environmental approval request for the project, authorization for the public construction, and grid-connection of the power plants. Less than in a year CryptoSolarTech is to launch the photovoltaic activity and mining operations – this stage is scheduled for April 2019.
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