Category Archives: dea

Justice Department announces shut down of AlphaBay, Hansa dark markets

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The dark web’s largest network of illegally trafficked narcotics, weapons and other illicit materials has been taken down by an international team of law enforcement officials. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the shutdown of AlphaBay and Hansa in a Thursday press conference. AlphaBay abruptly went offline on July 5, while Hansa has been under the control of law enforcement since June 20. AlphaBay was primarily used by international criminals within what is known as the “Dark Web,”, websites only accessible to users who have masked their identity online through different tactics. AlphaBay and Hansa were among the prominent marketplaces on the dark web. “The dark net is not a place to hide,” Sessions said. The operation to take down the marketplaces involved collaboration from Thailand, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Lithuania, Canada, the UK and Europol, which officials touched on as a positive sign for the future of international cybercrime […]

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The FBI Says It Can Finally Find Hackers Who Don’t Smoke Weed

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The agency says it’s managing to meet its hiring goals despite a ban on hiring anyone who’s used marijuana within the last three years. Continue reading The FBI Says It Can Finally Find Hackers Who Don’t Smoke Weed→

How the FBI relies on dark web intel firms as frontline investigators

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A cadre of former intelligence officers is lurking on the dark recesses of the internet on behalf of government and a shortlist of wealthy clients. U.S. law enforcement officials regularly rely on a complex network of relationships they’ve formed with a select group of private intelligence firms to monitor the vast, opaque expanses of the dark web, former FBI officials, company executives and defense contractors tell CyberScoop. Insiders say the relationships are especially distinct because the companies operate in a hazardous legal environment where they must constantly balance operational risks and client interests while maintaining law enforcement’s trust. “Generally, private sector companies want to help law enforcement catch bad guys, but they don’t want to be dragged into diverting time and other resources to assist in the prosecution process,” said Levi Gundert, vice president of intelligence and strategy for threat-intel firm Recorded Future. “The business needs to focus on serving customers, not […]

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