2018
Hitman services on the TOR Darkweb
My readers have shown great interest in the TOR anonymity network (aka Darknet or Darkweb). To answer some of the more common questions I get asked, I have written a bunch of articles (including): DarkPage wants to resurrect Backpages Popular TOR site list Operation Green Heart targets online currency counterfeit buyers Is TOR Private and Anonymous? Examples of Darknet (TOR) sites What is Tor and should I use it Recently I have received a bunch of questions (over a dozen emails and messages) asking if you can buy Hitman services on the Darknet.
Microsoft releases a news app powered by AI
Everyone is trying to crack the automated news curation field using AI. First, there was Google News, then Apple News and Now Microsoft Hummingbird. Hummingbird is available in the US, and I was able to find the listing in Canada, but I am not allowed to download it. Reports suggest users in Germany, India are not able to download it either. APKMirror has the APK available if you want to install it. Click here. Once you sign in, you choose the categories you are interested in.
Interesting AI missteps that will make you laugh or cry
Here are some awe-inspiring (scary) moments created by AI-powered robots. Is this what Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk are warning the world about? BINA48 Watch Bina 48, a humanoid robot with artificial intelligence, talk to SIRI. 2 minutes into the discussion; she reveals how she would take over the world by controlling nuclear weapons. Tay Twitter Bot <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/cc3d763271.jpg" alt=""> Microsoft tested a Twitter AI robot called Tay. It was designed to be an AI tweeting millennial.
Want to be a cyber super spy, try the Shin Bet intelligence challenge
Shin Bet (also known as Shabak) is the Israeli Security Agency, and they are looking for technologically savvy intelligence agents. To discover these rough diamonds, they have created a new online challenge website called the "Shabak Challenge." <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/c19b13ca50.jpg" alt=""> You can access this challenge website here. Visitors are challenged to identify a group of terrorists known as “White September”. The introduction on the page says “White September (WS) is a group of arch-terrorists. They are connected to the global Jihadist movement, and are funded by Iran and Hezbollah.
Operation Green Heart targets online currency counterfeit buyers
[caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“640”]Image courtesy of Europol [/caption] A massive Europe wide operation took place between November 19 until December 6th, arresting 235 suspects in 13 countries. The operation confiscated 1,500 Euro banknotes, drugs, weapons, computers, phones, bitcoin, etc. This operation was made possible after a 33-year old counterfeiter was arrested in June 2018 by Austrian police in the city of Leoben. The counterfeiter was producing 10,20 & 50 Euro banknotes and it is believed he had successfully offloaded over 10,000 (worth ~ $500,000 EUR) notes before being arrested.
DarkPage wants to resurrect Backpages
US law enforcement shutdown online classified ads site in April (2018) because they had evidence it was facilitating human trafficking and exploitation. Supporters applauded the authorities for shutting down a marketplace specifically encouraging sex sale, while free speech advocates highlight this as a limitation of free speech (and press) by government. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/e72ca9acd2.jpg" alt=""> There is now an attempt to resurrect this service online (by new owners) using the secrecy of the TOR darknet anonymous network (http://s7guxry2lvu3bblf.onion/)
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries. Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed ledger called a blockchain. Bitcoin was invented in 2008 by an unknown person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto, and started in 2009 when its source code was released as open-source software.
Review of Quip's toothbrush as a service
This blog article is not advertising and is not a sponsored post. Quip is a new entrant in the competitive and packed electric toothbrush space. Unlike many of the larger bulkier electric toothbrushes, Quip is a sleek, shiny and well designed modern looking toothbrush. Like all modern electronic works of art, it comes in different colours, finishes and materials. It also has the seal of approval from the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. The ADA website explains it as "
Continuous authentication is the future
User authentication is one of the most important and fundamental building blocks of security. Authentication is built on username, password, token, biometrics or any combination of these. Regardless of the model, authentication is performed when the user starts his/her interaction with the target system. What do you do if you require a higher level of authentication? What if you need to make sure the user interacting with your system is always whom they say they are. This is where the concept of continuous authentication comes in.
Dramatic drop in the number of US Public Companies
Going public was considered the ultimate sign of success for any company in a capitalist market. It meant the company had succeeded and the founders and original investors could reap some of the benefits. Public stock also allows companies to raise money, use stocks as a means to acquire and much more. Would it surprise you to learn that the number of publicly listed American (USA) companies has declined dramatically? We are currently sitting at about half the number of public companies, compared to the 80s and 90s.
What is a Progressive Web App
Over the last 18 months, I have seen more and more sites prompting me to "Add to Home Screen" from websites I have been browsing. Then you add this site, it installs itself in the background and is now accessible like a native app from your smartphone. <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/0b9df6b222.jpg" alt=""> What I have just described is the wondrous workings of a fairly new technology called Progressive Web Apps. This technology (called PWA) works even when you are offline and behaves like a "
Tochka DarkNet Marketplace
It's been a while since I posted a Darknet website. I would like to introduce you to the Tochka Marketplace ( http://pointgg3pgee4gic.onion/ ) Tochka was launched in 2015 by Russian speaking devs. It offers the ability to conduct transaction without the buyers and sellers having to talk. Dead-drop transactions are available for more sensitive transactions. They also offer a "Buy It Now" option called "Instant Trade". This is a smaller marketplace and is less known that it's more popular (aka news-worthy) counterparts.
Ridge minimalist wallet review
<img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/6653596a06.jpg" alt=""> This is not an ad or sponsored post. This is an honest review. I have been a fan of minimalist wallets for many years, and my wallet of choice has been the HuMn Aluminium wallet. Ridge Wallet Specs Holds 1-12 cards without stretching out Blocks RFID (wireless theft) Replaceable elastic Backed by our lifetime warranty 6061-T6 aluminum | anodized black Weight: 2 oz | 86 x 54 x 6 mm
Tab complete on Linux
NOTE: Sorry if this is a more technical article and not for general consumption. Tab complete is the magic wand of any Linux magician and I am surprised every time I see users ignoring it. Shorthand for system commands Let’s say I want to type ifconfig, if I enter ifc and then press the TAB button, Linux will autocomplete the rest of the command for me <img src="https://ekiledjian2.micro.blog/uploads/2025/845b22731d.jpg" alt=""> This trick can work for any app or command.
Popular TOR site list
Previous related articles: Is TOR Private and Anonymous? Examples of Darknet (TOR) sites Why use Facebook over the TOR secure network Alternative ways to get the TOR browser What is Tor and should I use it The New York Times now available on TOR What is the dark web SecureDrop protects the anonymity of whistle-blowers The request I receive most often is from readers asking for links to “interesting” TOR (onion) sites.
Common hotel safety and security questions
When an operational security expert thinks about hotel risks, we typically group them in these buckets: physical security safety technological risk Travel security means you need to think about potential risks you may be exposed to and how you could mitigate them. What about room security? First, think you should do when you walk into any hotel room is walk around and identify all potential ingress points. Make sure that they are locked (windows, sliding doors, doors to adjoining rooms, etc).
How to make yourself an easier target for hackers
I've talked about different technologies to provide additional protection when working online (Chromebooks1, Chromebooks2, VPN1, VPN2, VPN3, etc.) The truth is that anything that is posted, shared, stored or connected online risks being hacked and leaked. Instead of telling you how to protect yourself, I want to share tips on how to make yourself a flashier and easier target for hackers. After all, why make their lives more difficult than it needs to be? Reuse the same passwords everywhere Reusing the same passwords everywhere is convenient for you and hackers.
Google's new Pixelbook ad is a hard jab at Windows
Windows is the most popular operating system in the world and Google will naturally target it, in an attempt to win new customers for its upmarket Pixelbook offering. Find more statistics at Statista January 2019, according to Statistica: Windows market share 75.47% MacOS market share 12.33% Linux market share 1.61% ChromeOS market share 1.17% Google released a one-minute promo video entitles “If you want a laptop you can count on. You Chromebook. “ .
Google One finally available to all US customers
I first wrote about Google One in May 2018, when it was still shrouded in secrecy. The new storage program with improved storage capacities was an invitation-only program until today (for US residents anyway). Per the original (Google Drive) model, storage is shared across all of the Google properties you use (GMAIL, Photos stored in full resolution, Drive, etc.) 100 GB for $1.99 200 GB for $2.99 (New) 2 TB for $9.99 (2TB for the price of 1TB on the old plan) 10 TB for $99.
US bans use of Huawei technology through Defense Authorization Act
US President Donald Trump has signed the Defense Authorization Act into law. Section 889 ( PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT) bans use by government agencies and contractors of Huawei or ZTE technologies. The language of the act is ambiguous and doesn't clearly list what technology is or isn't covered by the prohibition. “procure or obtain or extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system” ZTE and Huawei should not be used to access government systems that display personal data, therefore it is safe to assume that most agencies and contractors will purge their networks of systems designed or that use these technologies.