
It's also not uncommon when law enforcement takes control of a hidden site only for them to continue hosting it in hopes of deanonymizing the users of the site. Also remember that there's no guarantee the person behind the persona you are interacting with isn't a criminal, a threat intel company, or possibly even law enforcement! The story of the Besa Mafia is a great example of criminals scamming criminals, getting hacked themselves, and then law enforcement arresting people who were trying to hire these fake hitmen.

Because of this, the reputation of your developed persona is the only currency you truly have.

Anonymous networks help segment your actual identity from the persona (or avatar) you develop on these dark nets. This is an often-ignored part of dark web marketing. The quality of your collection strategy dictates how confident you can be in your analysis. Simple steps can make the difference between losing your online accounts or maintaining what is now a precious commodity: Your privacy.

Cyber security 101: Protect your privacy from hackers, spies, and the government
