Security News > 2023 > January > Darknet drug markets move to custom Android apps for increased privacy
Online markets selling drugs and other illegal substances on the dark web have started to use custom Android apps for increased privacy and to evade law enforcement.
These apps allow shop clients to communicate with drug vendors and provide specific courier instructions for delivery.
"Some of these mobile apps have been recently observed by our experts on seized mobile devices by law enforcement - they belong to several suspects involved in drug trafficking and other illegal operations," warned Resecurity.
"The mobile apps provide the ability to transfer details about successful drug orders, and they can also send geographical coordinates of the"package" left by the courier for further pick-up," explains Resecurity in the report.
Resecurity believes most new marketplaces to be launched in 2023 will feature an Android app, gradually replacing privacy-risking forums and open market platforms.
The most prominent drug market platforms have not bothered adopting the Android app trend yet and instead focus on the new fight for supremacy in the field, which might give one of them a monopoly similar to what Hydra has achieved.