Cybersecurity

ICE Investigators Expose Darknet Criminals to the Light

The stark, white walls of the Cyber Crimes Center are a direct contradiction to the work that takes place within them. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Cyber Crimes Unit investigators submerge themselves in the world of illicit criminal activity that takes place in the shadows of the Darknet.

The Darknet, a subset of the darkweb, or deepweb, is a place where illegal activity thrives and criminals function in perceived anonymity. The Darknet requires specialized software and permission to gain access. Cyber Crimes Center Deputy Assistant Director (DAD), Patrick Lechleitner said,

“The Darknet is not a very sophisticated or special place; it just requires specific permission or access to get into it.”