Policy Observatory

The arrests were part of a joint European and US operation stretching across 17 countries and culminating in the shutdown of over 400 other illicit web sites and services not usually accessible through normal search engines or by typing out standard web addresses. UK police revealed that more British nationals involved in the “dark web” global trade of illegal drugs, forged documents and firearms will be arrested as part of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) “project protein”.

FBI and Europol, took down Doxbin, one of the darkweb’s most notorious sites where users and admins posted the names, addresses, social security numbers, healthcare histories and other personal details in a spirit of digital vigilantism – or plain malice. Although the police were able to seize the domain, it is technically trivial to re-establish control of a “seized” site. And the Doxbin’s new overlord has simply set up a new domain that agents cannot touch.

Offline, one common use of data from Doxbin is to employ it in “SWATing” a target, where a victim’s phone number is spoofed and used to call in armed police. The caller claims they need urgent assistance to the related address, officers arrive with guns drawn and surprise the victim.