CINA Distinguished Speaker Series – November: Thomas Holt, Illicit Online Markets

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The CINA Distinguished Speaker Series features leading experts from fields related to the disruption of criminal activities across the physical and cyber spaces. Join us on Thursday, November 21st for a discussion about the economy and organization of dark web illicit markets with Thomas Holt, and learn how an understanding of these markets can crucially inform strategies to disrupt cybercrime.

Understanding the Organization and Economy of Underground Online Markets

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a great deal of media attention paid to the “Dark Web,” and the range of illegal products and services offered there.  At the same time, many may not understand what the Dark Web actually is, how it works, or how the products sold there differ from what is available on the broader Internet.  This presentation will examine the various illicit markets operating on both the regular and Dark Web, using an mixed methods analysis of over 100 vendors’ advertisements.  This study will highlight the range of products offered, their prices, and the ways that goods move in digital and physical spaces.  The implications of this study for our understanding of illicit market operations on and off-line will be addressed in detail.

Biography

Thomas J. Holt is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University whose research focuses on computer hacking, malware, and the role of the Internet in facilitating all manner of crime and deviance. His work has been published in various journals including Crime and Delinquency, Deviant Behavior, the Journal of Criminal Justice, and Youth and Society.

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