Tackling Crime On The Dark Web

GCHQ and the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK have formed a new unit with which to police the Dark Web.

The Joint Operations Cell will tackle a wide range of online crime, including the drugs trade and exchange of stolen information, but its initial focus will be the tackling of online child sexual exploitation.

In a press release issued by the NCA, Robert Hannigan, Director at GCHQ, said:

“The Joint Operations Cell will increase our ability to identify and stop serious criminals, as well as those involved in child sexual exploitation and abuse online…We are committed to ensuring no part of the Internet, including the dark web, can be used with impunity by criminals to conduct their illegal acts”.

NCA Director General Keith Bristow explained how the internet had brought huge benefits to society, especially in terms of enabling communication, but those same advances had also made it significantly easier for criminals to share information between themselves, plan crimes and select targets for sexual exploitation and other heinous acts.
But Bristow said the coming together of the two agencies would enable a sharing of law enforcement skills to tackle the most serious of those offenders and the most complex of cases.

This new joint operation comes at a time when law enforcement globally appears to have taken a keen interest in the secretive part of the web that has become so synonymous with paedophiles, murderers and drug markets.
In August we listed some of the successes enjoyed by police forces around the world and highlighted how INTERPOL's Cyber Research Lab had run its first Dark Web training session. The session was designed to advise police on how criminals were able to employ various methods and strategies to avoid detection in the nether regions of the web.
With a second course scheduled for this month, INTERPOL is hoping senior law enforcement officers will at least gain an understanding of how underground criminal networks operate, and the speed with which they can move around, ditching old websites for new ones.

As Mark Stockley wrote recently, law enforcement has, up until now, struggled to identify Dark Web sites and determine who owns them - and hence who to arrest. But those who frequent the web's underbelly have often dropped themselves deep into trouble, typically through their own mistakes.

Mark explained how stupidity and carelessness led to the closure of the Silk Road drug marketplace and how one firearm seller got everything right online, only to then leave his fingerprints on a gun he sold to an undercover agent.

He also detailed how a 16-year-old boy from Manchester made the wrong type of connection when he attempted to buy Abrin - a toxin 30 times more powerful than Ricin - from an undercover cop, and how 1000 paedophiles were identified by a CGI 'honeypot' run by a Dutch charity.

As Mark wrote, various governments are determined to infiltrate the Dark Web, leveraging both existing technology we are aware of, as well as other methods they are disinclined to discuss - such as through the possible compromise of Tor entry guards and exit nodes.

Whatever capabilities law enforcement has, the truth is that further co-operation between agencies is required if the scourge of the Dark Web is to be defeated or, at the very least, battered into enough submission that some of the players decide the odds are stacked against them.

The coming together of the NCA and GCHQ is likely to only be the beginning of a new trend which will see a greater sharing of intelligence and resources as law enforcement agencies face up to the challenges created by ever-evolving technology.

Naked Security:

« Signal: The Snowden-Approved Crypto App Comes to Android
Can Cyber Intelligence Help Policing Defeat Terrorism? »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Elitecyber Group

Elitecyber Group

Elitecyber group is a team of Cyber Security recruitment experts who work for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence clients and candidates throughout Europe.

ThreatSwitch

ThreatSwitch

ThreatSwitch a software platform for cleared federal contractors to get and stay compliant with NISPOM and Conforming Change 2.

Dell Technologies Capital

Dell Technologies Capital

At Dell Technologies Capital we lead investment in disruptive, early-stage startups in enterprise and cloud infrastructure.

DeepSeas

DeepSeas

DeepSeas is the result of a merger between Security On-Demand (SOD) and the commercial Managed Threat Services (MTS) business of Booz Allen Hamilton.

Forever Group

Forever Group

Forever Group is a Managed Services Provider specialising in Telecommunications, IT Support, and Cyber Security.

Smoothstack

Smoothstack

Smoothstack is a technology talent incubator whose immersive training program kick starts IT careers and delivers a fresh source of IT talent.

Halogen Group

Halogen Group

Halogen Group is the leading Security Solutions Provider in West Africa. Services encompass Physical Security, Electronic Security, Virtual & Cyber Security, Risk Assessments and Training.

Censinet

Censinet

Censinet provides the first and only third-party risk management platform for healthcare organizations to manage the threats to patient care that exist within an expanding ecosystem.

CYMAR

CYMAR

CYMAR The “CYBER” Smart Solution to offer sustainability and bring resilience to Global SMART Terminals and protect the supply chain of the World’s economy.

Supra ITS

Supra ITS

Supra ITS is a leading full-service technology partner offering IT Consulting, Cloud Services, 24x7 Managed IT & Cybersecurity Services, and IT Project Support.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE)

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE)

We are Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. Our mission is to make everything connect with digital age networking, communications and cloud solutions.

Token Security

Token Security

Token is the new approach designed for the identity boom era. Introducing Machine-First Identity Security.

Advania UK

Advania UK

Advania are one of Microsoft’s leading partners in the UK, specialising in Azure, Security, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft 365.

Heritage Cyber World

Heritage Cyber World

Heritage Cyber World is a one stop solution for all your security needs that brings together a team of security experts and analysts to deliver high-class security services.

CYNC Secure

CYNC Secure

CYNC boosts cybersecurity remediation by consolidating fragmented data and optimizing operational processes.

Synechron

Synechron

Synechron is a leading global digital consulting firm, providing innovative technology solutions for business.