Cybersecurity

Europol Takes Down Dark Web Marketplaces that Sold Illegal Data

Two prolific dark web marketplaces have been taken down in simultaneous global operations supported by Europol: the Wall Street Market and the Silkkitie (known as the Valhalla Marketplace). 

The online Wall Street market was the world's second largest dark web market, which enabled the trade in drugs, including cocaine, heroin, cannabis and amphetamines. It also contained stolen data, fake documents and malicious software. 

Most recently, more than 63,000 sales offers were placed on the online marketplace and more than 1,150,000 customer accounts and more than 5 400 sellers registered.

Police officers seized more than $615,532 in cash, alongside cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Monero in 6-digit amounts, several vehicles and other evidences, such as computers and data storage. In the US, during the investigation by the Attorney General in Los Angeles, two of the highest-selling suppliers of narcotics were arrested as well.