Research has found that till this day, there are over 20 known drug cryptomarkets. It has also been found that there has been a major spike in drug cryptomaket sales due to increasing access for buyers, allowing vendors to expand business due to the worlds continuous development and modernisation. In Australia particularly, research has found that the reasons that vendors have switched to the dark web for their business was to increase their safety and help to mask their identity from law enforcement and buyers. Australia is known to be number one in online drug trades due to more Australian vendors on the dark web. The illicit drugs sold by Australian vendors are seen to be at a higher price than those sold by foreign countries, due to Australia’s increase in boarder line security, making it a risk to bring the drugs into the country. Although the distribution of drugs is completely illegal in Australia, online drug trades are safer and more convenient for both buyers and vendors, therefore explaining the growth of the online drug trade.

 

Black Hat Hackers tend to use doxing as a tool to torment their victims. Doxing is where hackers take possession of an individual’s sensitive personal information and revealing it online. Personal information can include but is not limited to full real name, address, phone number, passwords, workplaces, financial information and so on. Doxing may be done someone a victim may know in order to achieve some sort of revenge. Another example of some sort of hacking is swatting. Swatting is a situation where a hacker tricks emergency services into dispatching police and other emergency services to a scene, usually another individuals address. Swatters deceive emergency services by false bomb threats, false hostage, and other false violent situations, which force police and other services to respond immediately. Swatters are able to gain personal information of their victims by doxing and using that personal information to send emergency services. A hacker main motive may typically be to gain a sense of power over other’s, but hackers may also have their own personal motive for what they do. A Hacker’s actions can have a dangerous effect on victims by exploiting their personal information or even tricking individuals in order to steal from them. Anyone can be at risk of getting hacked and it is crucial to be careful what pop ups you click on and be careful what information you give out to people because these are the resources hackers can use to deceive you

 

Every business or government entity that uses technology, is at risk of being hacked and victimised to cyber terrorism. Cyber Terrorism may be the alternative choice for those who want to inflict maximum damage, so they are able to remain anonymous. As the world is forever evolving, humans are continuing to rely on technology for their day to day life. As technology is developing the threat of cyber terrorism continues to increase. Hackers and Cyber terrorists differ as hackers usually tend to cause personal attacks to acquire a financial gain whereas a cyber terrorist may use the information they illegally obtained to cause maximum damage to many people as possible. Therefore, cyber terrorists can be defined as a greater threat than the modern- day hacker. Hackers can become a cyber terrorist in time, with the right motivation. 

 

A person who is not motivated by terrorist organisations and acts alone in wreaking havoc amongst society in order to create terror is known as a Lone Wolf Terrorism. In recent years, it is seen that the Lone Wolf terrorism trend has increased and is the fastest evolving form of terrorism. Lone wolf terrorism is seen as a great threat and by adding the internet to the mix, it is quite dangerous for society. These individuals work independently on the dark web, planning their attacks and executing them to achieve a sense of power or political gain. That begs the question as to whether cyber terrorists are a threat to society. The simple answer would be yes, as no threat can be taken lightly, and any act of terrorism needs to be addressed.

 

Another major issue which is tied in with the sharing of non- consensual images is the possession or distribution of child pornography. Child pornography is sexual material which directly exploits a child. Sexual material can be defined as a nude images or material of the child performing a sexual activity. Having the possession of child pornography is illegal in Australia and any individual found with such material will be charged and punished accordingly. If an individual is found distributing child pornography they will be charged and sentenced to serve time in jail. Holding consensual images of an individual who is under age is treated very critically and the individual guilty of the crime will remain in the sex offender register for life. A person who is found guilty of holding child pornography can be affected career wise as they will hold a permanent criminal record and will not be allowed to work or volunteer at any job which involves a child. Records show that there has been a rise in cases involving the sexual exploitation of a child and is treated seriously in most countries. 

 

Financial fraud occurs when an individual is able to illegally take control or possess another individual’s financial transactions or financial information in order to attempt to steal money from them. One type of financial fraud is credit card fraud, where perpetrators steal another individual’s physical credit card and uses it for their own transactions. A person may be scammed into giving away financial information through false emails or false websites. A scammer can also take advantage of the lack of security you may have connected to your bank account, giving them enough resources to hack in and use your money. Any individual with any financial background is liable of being risk of financial fraud. Scammers also may tend to use other individuals bank information to make minor purchases, so it takes the victim a long time to realise that unauthorised payments are being made on their credit card. Scammers may also call individuals to posing as their bank provider, causing fear and forcing them to give their credit card information over.

 

Another way where online fraud is recognised is the act of identity theft. Identity theft is where a person steals the personal information of another individual and poses as them usually aiming for a financial gain. By these individuals taking possession of a victim’s identity, they are able to get loans, apply for benefits and create fake documents. Criminals can use scams such as phishing in order to gain the information they need to steal an individual’s identity. Phishing is where cybercriminals pose as a professional business such as a bank or phone company in order to gain someone’s personal sensitive information for their own personal gain. It is quite damaging for a victim when their identity is being stolen, they may suffer immense financial loss and it may take a while for them to gain full control over their own identity again.