“Chapter 7: Black-Hat Hackers’ Crisis Information Processing in the Darknet: A Case Study of Cyber Underground Market Shutdowns”, 2018-11-10 (; similar):
This chapter explores collective information processing among black-hat hackers during their crises events. The chapter presents a preliminary study on one of Tor-based darknet market forums, during the shutdowns of 2 cryptomarkets.
Content and network analysis of forum conversations showed that black-hat users mostly engaged with rational information processing and were adept at reaching collective solutions by sharing security advices, new market information, and alternative routes for economic activities. At the same time, the study also found that anti-social and distrustful interactions were aggravated during the marketplace shutdowns. Communication network analysis showed that not all members were affected by the crisis events, alluding to a fragmented network structure of black-hat markets.
The chapter concludes that, while darknet forums may constitute resilient, solution-oriented users, market crises potentially make the community vulnerable by engendering internal distrust.
[Keywords: darknet, cybercrime, hidden organization, crisis, collective problem solving, virtual organization, cyber security]