AlphaBay and Hansa Seized by Authorities

Law enforcement agencies from the U.S., Europe, and Canada have scored a major victory against cybercrime, shutting down two of the largest illegal marketplaces on the dark web; AlphaBay and Hansa.

 These platforms were notorious for hosting drug sales, hacking tools, stolen financial data, and even illicit weapons.

AlphaBay, which had ten times the size of Silk Road, was shut down after its alleged creator, Alexandre Cazes, was arrested in Thailand. 

The takedown was followed by a surprise move as Europol had secretly taken control of Hansa for weeks, monitoring transactions and gathering intelligence before shutting it down.

While this operation is a significant win for law enforcement, experts warn that new dark web marketplaces will emerge, keeping the underground economy alive.