Tackling Dark Web of crime
THE entire world is online. By using a standard browser and an Internet connection, we can access a wealth of information. The Internet makes it easy to search anything online using common search engines.
But do you know that there are also Web pages which are not accessible through the normal Internet browsing?
According to British newspaper The Guardian, only 0.03% of the Internet is indexed and can be accessed through search engines such as Google. The rest of the content is hidden in the Deep Web, the subset of World Wide Web where contents are not indexed by standard search engines and hence invisible to most Internet users. This is not to say the Deep Web is necessarily malicious, however.
What is disconcerting about the Deep Web is a part of it called the Dark Web, which is also internationally hidden and not accessible through standard web browsers. To access this level, you need to have a special browser.
The Dark Web is dangerous because it consists of both legal and illegal content. This Web is used to control access and maintain privacy because it deals not only with confidential but also illegal activities.
It is known to be associated with criminal activity of various degrees, using the underworld part of the Internet.
Web-based gangs, organised criminals, the mafia and terrorists use this Web as their marketplace for purchasing illegal goods such as drugs, human organs, child pornography, counterfeit money, fake passports, firearms, ammunition and explosives.
It also involves money laundering, human trafficking, prostitution, child exploitation and grooming, and bounty hunters.
According to the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) of the University of New South Wales, Australian drug dealers are the most prevalent users of the Dark Web per capita than any other nationalities.
In a recent report titled The Anatomy of Cyber-Jihad: Cyberspace is the New Great Equalizer, James Scott revealed that there are a series of forums and communication channels in the Dark Web where Daesh (IS) and other extremists can get advice on how to contribute to the movement.
Some cybercriminals who build software to attack or hack businesses or government departments also live and thrive in the Dark web.
Political activists also take advantage of this network as they will become virtually untraceable here and can operate beyond supervision of the law enforcement agencies.
The Dark Web is accessible only with specialised software known as TOR (the Onion Routing), a web browser heavily encrypted and designed for anonymous Web surfing and protection against traffic analysis.
TOR was developed by the US Naval Research Laboratory to protect US Intelligence communication online. However, TOR is now a non-profit operated server which allows anyone to use its services to protect privacy and security on the Internet.
Even though TOR is normally associated with criminal and illegitimate activities, the browser is also used for legitimate purposes by governments, law enforcement agencies, politicians, activists, whistle blowers, organisations, journalists and reporters seeking a more accessible and secure Internet experience and to protect themselves.
Combating criminal activities operating in the Dark Web requires more proactive efforts compared to traditional security. It demands cyber security experts and technical resources combined with an innovative approach.
The Malaysian government has to introduce a dedicated cybercrime unit to tackle the Dark Web. For short-term measures, the relevant law enforcement agencies and regulators should form a task force with Cybersecurity Malaysia and acquire the capabilities pertaining to Deep Web analysis.
This is to enable the task force to effectively conduct investigations on serious criminal activities operating in the Dark Web.
For long-term planning, the Government may consider forming a federal crime agency with a range of specialist capabilities to fight serious organised crime. The agency can respond to a wide range of threats including cybercrime, drug, human and weapons trafficking and economic crime.
In 2013, the UK government formed the National Crime Agency (NCA) to fight serious and organised crime. This law enforcement intelligence-led agency has launched a dedicated cybercrime unit to tackle the dark Web.
Finally, Malaysia should also introduce a national plan to fight cybercrime.
According to the 2014 Global Economic Crime Survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), cybercrime will likely emerge as “the most popular” type of economic crime in Malaysia as more IT-related transactions are made in the future.
Prevention and mitigation are other vital aspects in fighting cybercriminals and terrorists especially in the Dark Web. DATUK AKHBAR SATAR Institute of Crime and Criminology Help University