TyperTech
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When Dread Pirate Roberts was apprehended, his operational security (OPSEC) oversights became a topic of widespread discussion among the DN communities. In particular, his imprudent use of one pseudonym to allude to another pseudonym's email address inadvertently created a trail for investigators to connect the activities of both accounts. This fatal error underscored the significance of meticulous pseudonym management and the potential consequences of failing to do so. It serves as a cautionary tale that remains relevant to this day for anyone seeking to maintain good OPSEC and security in these realms.
The advice to "compartmentalize" one's life and identity, keeping them separate and distinct, has been reiterated time and time again in this subdreddit. However, for many, this is easier said than done. The challenge lies in finding ways to effectively manage and maintain these separate compartments without allowing them to overlap or intersect. To make this process more manageable, one can consider a few insights and strategies that can help simplify the task of compartmentalization.
Start From Scratch: A Lesson in Caution:
When Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR) embarked on his journey and ventured into the DN, he likely didn't anticipate the immense success of his dark market (Silkroad) and it's forum, nor did he foresee becoming a prime target for law enforcement. Consequently, he created pseudonyms and conducted research without exercising much caution.
The lesson to be learned is that when one decides to go dark, there's no turning back; one must start from scratch. Regardless of the reputation and credibility earned under previous aliases, it's crucial to leave it all behind and one must be willing to let it all go.
To begin from scratch, carefully consider your objectives. Create new accounts and identify potential adversaries to plan for. If there's any risk of accidentally crossing back over, eliminate those accounts. Generate new passwords and promptly forget them, ensuring you never log into them again. To keep a good OPSEC posture, vigilance and caution are paramount.
Shred The Ego: You're Not That 'Guy':
Starting from scratch also entails acknowledging that, to some extent, your previous efforts have been in vain. The accounts you established in the past can no longer serve the same purpose as your current ones. It is very unwise to privately inform your previous acquaintances or friends, saying, "Hey, this is actually 'X' (the former alias you were known by), because regardless of the trust you have in them, they now pose a potential risk and have become a liability.
This issue is exemplified by the downfall of DPR. He wrote boasting about his wealth and influence, feeling invincible. However, it was his final display of power – an attempt to eliminate someone – that actually took him down the hardest.
Know Your Identity:
If you are creating multiple identities, it is crucial to know each one inside and out. This includes not only the obvious details but also more subtle aspects of your identity, such as writing style and personality type. These seemingly minor details can be used by adversaries to correlate your accounts and potentially compromise your security. Recent developments have shown that law enforcement agencies are increasingly using stylometry technology to attribute people, and this tactic has proven to be highly effective for them.
Real Life is its Own Identity:
Your real life identity should be your most prized possession. It’s the most difficult one to burn, you can’t just start from scratch, and most do not want to cut ties with their personal relationships. So this is the one you should protect the most.
One of the most common mistakes is tie your real life identity, to an online pseudonym. It’s becoming popular for “hackers” and “security researchers” to share all their projects and information; some of which is illegal. Technically, port scanning an un-owned host is illegal but it’s one of those accepted things like speeding. As “hackers” are becoming famous at things like Defcon, Blackhat, and any of the other thousands of security conferences, the reward for disclosing things to the public is higher. This makes them make riskier decisions to get that fame.
Establish Your OPSEC Measures: Know Your OPSEC
To protect yourself and your identities, it is important to establish your OPSEC (operational security) measures. As I have previously mentioned in my posts, each of your risky online activities will usually require its own separate OPSEC measures. Therefore, it is crucial to know your threat model and tailor your OPSEC measures accordingly.
E.D.
The advice to "compartmentalize" one's life and identity, keeping them separate and distinct, has been reiterated time and time again in this subdreddit. However, for many, this is easier said than done. The challenge lies in finding ways to effectively manage and maintain these separate compartments without allowing them to overlap or intersect. To make this process more manageable, one can consider a few insights and strategies that can help simplify the task of compartmentalization.
Start From Scratch: A Lesson in Caution:
When Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR) embarked on his journey and ventured into the DN, he likely didn't anticipate the immense success of his dark market (Silkroad) and it's forum, nor did he foresee becoming a prime target for law enforcement. Consequently, he created pseudonyms and conducted research without exercising much caution.
The lesson to be learned is that when one decides to go dark, there's no turning back; one must start from scratch. Regardless of the reputation and credibility earned under previous aliases, it's crucial to leave it all behind and one must be willing to let it all go.
To begin from scratch, carefully consider your objectives. Create new accounts and identify potential adversaries to plan for. If there's any risk of accidentally crossing back over, eliminate those accounts. Generate new passwords and promptly forget them, ensuring you never log into them again. To keep a good OPSEC posture, vigilance and caution are paramount.
Shred The Ego: You're Not That 'Guy':
Starting from scratch also entails acknowledging that, to some extent, your previous efforts have been in vain. The accounts you established in the past can no longer serve the same purpose as your current ones. It is very unwise to privately inform your previous acquaintances or friends, saying, "Hey, this is actually 'X' (the former alias you were known by), because regardless of the trust you have in them, they now pose a potential risk and have become a liability.
This issue is exemplified by the downfall of DPR. He wrote boasting about his wealth and influence, feeling invincible. However, it was his final display of power – an attempt to eliminate someone – that actually took him down the hardest.
Know Your Identity:
If you are creating multiple identities, it is crucial to know each one inside and out. This includes not only the obvious details but also more subtle aspects of your identity, such as writing style and personality type. These seemingly minor details can be used by adversaries to correlate your accounts and potentially compromise your security. Recent developments have shown that law enforcement agencies are increasingly using stylometry technology to attribute people, and this tactic has proven to be highly effective for them.
Real Life is its Own Identity:
Your real life identity should be your most prized possession. It’s the most difficult one to burn, you can’t just start from scratch, and most do not want to cut ties with their personal relationships. So this is the one you should protect the most.
One of the most common mistakes is tie your real life identity, to an online pseudonym. It’s becoming popular for “hackers” and “security researchers” to share all their projects and information; some of which is illegal. Technically, port scanning an un-owned host is illegal but it’s one of those accepted things like speeding. As “hackers” are becoming famous at things like Defcon, Blackhat, and any of the other thousands of security conferences, the reward for disclosing things to the public is higher. This makes them make riskier decisions to get that fame.
Establish Your OPSEC Measures: Know Your OPSEC
To protect yourself and your identities, it is important to establish your OPSEC (operational security) measures. As I have previously mentioned in my posts, each of your risky online activities will usually require its own separate OPSEC measures. Therefore, it is crucial to know your threat model and tailor your OPSEC measures accordingly.
E.D.