Latest news with #Monero
Time Business News
an hour ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Carding Forums Explained
In today's digital age, cybercrime has evolved into a sophisticated industry, with hidden online communities facilitating illicit activity across the globe. Among the most notorious elements of this ecosystem are carding forums—underground platforms where cybercriminals exchange stolen credit card information, hacking tools, and fraudulent services. While often concealed from the public eye, understanding what carding forums are and how they operate is crucial for cybersecurity professionals, financial institutions, and everyday internet users. Carding forums are online discussion platforms—typically hosted on the dark web or secured networks—where users trade, sell, and share information related to credit card fraud, commonly known as carding . The term 'carding' refers to the unauthorised use of credit or debit card data for fraudulent transactions, identity theft, or the purchase of goods and services. These forums are structured similarly to traditional online communities, often featuring: Discussion threads on topics like carding methods, cash-out strategies, and bank drops. Marketplaces for stolen credit card data, CVVs, fullz (full personal identity information), and login credentials. Tutorials and guides aimed at teaching users how to commit fraud. Review systems for sellers and service providers, similar to e-commerce sites. Access to carding forums is usually restricted, requiring invitations, registration fees, or proof of prior illicit activity to join. Carding forums operate like black markets. Members use aliases to hide their real identities and communicate using encrypted messages or private servers. Transactions within these forums typically involve cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Monero to maintain anonymity. Some common services and products offered on carding forums include: Stolen Credit Card Information : Often sold in batches with details like card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address. : Often sold in batches with details like card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address. Fake IDs and Passports : Useful for identity theft or opening fraudulent accounts. : Useful for identity theft or opening fraudulent accounts. Bank Drops and Mule Accounts : Used to receive and launder stolen funds. : Used to receive and launder stolen funds. Carding Tools : Including BIN checkers, VPNs, SOCKS proxies, and credit card generators. : Including BIN checkers, VPNs, SOCKS proxies, and credit card generators. Tutorials and Support: Step-by-step guides for beginners, along with forums for troubleshooting carding attempts. The sophistication of these communities can range from amateur-level scams to advanced criminal networks with connections to organised crime. Many carding forums exist on the dark web, a portion of the internet that is not indexed by standard search engines and can only be accessed through tools like Tor (The Onion Router). The anonymity provided by the dark web makes it an attractive hub for illegal activities, including carding, drug sales, weapons trafficking, and more. However, not all carding forums are exclusive to the dark web. Some exist on the open internet (also called the clearnet) but use secure login systems and other obfuscation techniques to avoid detection. These are often short-lived as law enforcement agencies actively work to shut them down. Participating in carding forums is illegal in nearly every jurisdiction. Activities such as purchasing stolen data, using it for unauthorized transactions, or even accessing these forums can result in severe criminal charges, including: Fraud Identity Theft Money Laundering Conspiracy to Commit a Crime Governments around the world have intensified efforts to dismantle carding networks. Law enforcement agencies like the FBI, Europol, and INTERPOL regularly conduct international operations that lead to forum shutdowns and the arrest of key figures in cybercrime rings. For example, infamous forums like CarderPlanet, DarkMarket, and Joker's Stash were eventually taken down after years of investigations and coordinated global efforts. While the existence of carding forums may seem distant to the average internet user, the effects of their operations are widespread. Millions of people fall victim to credit card fraud every year, often as a result of data sold on these platforms. Here are some tips to protect yourself: Monitor your accounts regularly for unauthorised transactions. for unauthorised transactions. Use strong, unique passwords for financial services and enable two-factor authentication. for financial services and enable two-factor authentication. Avoid suspicious websites or apps that request payment information. that request payment information. Use credit instead of debit cards when possible for better fraud protection. when possible for better fraud protection. Report any suspicious activity to your bank or card issuer immediately. Businesses should invest in cybersecurity measures like intrusion detection systems, encryption, and employee training to minimise the risk of data breaches. Carding forums represent a dangerous and growing threat within the cybercrime landscape. While these hidden communities thrive on anonymity and technical knowledge, law enforcement and cybersecurity experts are constantly working to expose and dismantle their networks. Awareness and proactive protection are the best defences against credit card fraud. By understanding how carding forums operate, individuals and organisations can better safeguard themselves in an increasingly connected and vulnerable digital world. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Crypto's Weekly Winners: From Privacy Coins Breaking Records to Meme Tokens Staging Epic Comebacks — The 5 Hottest Performers You Need to Know
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The cryptocurrency market continues to show significant volatility, with several tokens posting impressive weekly gains. Here's a breakdown of the top performers and what's driving their momentum: Price Movement: $1.20 → $1.44 (20% weekly gain) Fartcoin has gained 20% over the past week, though it's beginning to show signs of profit-taking after an extraordinary run. The meme token has surged over 700% from its March lows of $0.20 to a peak of $1.64, representing one of the most spectacular rallies in the meme coin sector this year. Key Considerations: As with all meme coins, FARTCOIN carries extreme volatility risk. The recent pullback from highs suggests some investors are taking profits after the massive rally. Retail investors should be particularly cautious given the speculative nature of these assets. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . Price Movement: $337 → $411 (20% weekly gain) Monero continues its impressive performance, repeatedly setting new all-time highs. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency has gained 20% this week, demonstrating sustained institutional and retail interest. About Monero: Launched in 2014, Monero is designed specifically for private, anonymous transactions. Unlike Bitcoin, where all transactions are publicly visible on the blockchain, Monero uses advanced cryptographic techniques including ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT to obscure transaction details. This makes it nearly impossible to trace the sender, receiver, or transaction amount. Market Context: Monero's strength comes during a period of increased focus on financial privacy and regulatory scrutiny of traditional cryptocurrencies. However, its privacy features have also led to delisting from some major exchanges due to regulatory concerns in certain jurisdictions. Price Movement: $1.07 → $1.40 (30% weekly gain) Worldcoin has posted a solid 30% gain this week, recovering from previous lows and showing renewed investor interest. About Worldcoin: Founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Worldcoin aims to create a global identity and financial network accessible to everyone. The project's core innovation is its 'proof of personhood' system, which uses iris-scanning technology through a device called 'The Orb' to verify unique human identity without storing personal data. The protocol distributes WLD tokens to verified humans as a form of universal basic income. The project has faced regulatory scrutiny in several countries over privacy concerns related to biometric data collection, but continues to expand its verification network globally. Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. Price Movement: $0.64 → $0.86 (34% weekly gain) SPX6900 joins the meme coin rally with a 34% weekly gain, though like many meme tokens, it remains significantly below its all-time highs. Market Reality Check: Despite this week's gains, SPX and similar meme coins have fallen 80-90% from their previous peaks, highlighting the extreme volatility inherent in this sector. The recent uptick appears to be part of a broader meme coin revival, but investors should note that these tokens can lose value just as quickly as they gain it. Risk Assessment: Meme coins like SPX6900 are purely speculative investments driven primarily by social media sentiment and community engagement rather than fundamental utility or adoption. Price Movement: $26.00 → $36.30 (38% weekly gain) Hyperliquid tops this week's gainers with a 38% surge, reaching new all-time highs above the previous December peak of $35.70. About Hyperliquid: Hyperliquid is a decentralized perpetual futures exchange built on its own Layer 1 blockchain. The platform differentiates itself through several key features: High Performance: Claims to process over 20,000 orders per second with sub-second finality Decentralized Architecture: Operates without traditional intermediaries while maintaining institutional-grade performance Native Token Integration: HYPE serves as both the platform's governance token and is used for transaction fees and staking rewards Professional Trading Tools: Offers advanced order types, leverage up to 50x, and institutional-quality infrastructure Recent Catalyst: The price surge appears driven by increased social media attention from influential trading accounts showcasing successful trades on the platform. This organic marketing through demonstrated results has attracted both retail and institutional traders to the exchange. Competitive Landscape: Hyperliquid competes with established players like dYdX and Perpetual Protocol in the decentralized derivatives space, but its focus on performance and user experience has helped it carve out market share. This week's top gainers represent a mix of established privacy coins (Monero), emerging infrastructure projects (Hyperliquid, Worldcoin), and speculative meme tokens (Fartcoin, SPX6900). The diversity suggests broad-based interest across different crypto sectors rather than concentration in a single narrative. Key Takeaways: Privacy coins continue showing strength amid regulatory uncertainty Infrastructure tokens with real utility are attracting sustained interest Meme coins remain highly volatile but are experiencing renewed speculative interest Social media influence continues to drive significant price movements Risk Considerations: All cryptocurrencies carry significant volatility risk Meme coins are particularly speculative and can lose value rapidly Regulatory changes could impact privacy coins and new projects Past performance does not guarantee future results Read Next: A must-have for all crypto enthusiasts: . Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Image: Shutterstock Send To MSN: 0 This article Crypto's Weekly Winners: From Privacy Coins Breaking Records to Meme Tokens Staging Epic Comebacks — The 5 Hottest Performers You Need to Know originally appeared on
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are XMR Traders Buying The Dip? Monero Futures Open Interest Surges as Price Falls By Nearly $100 in 3 Days
Privacy-focused cryptocurrency Monero (XMR) has seen a sharp price sell-off over the past three days, with open positions in futures rising to their highest level since December. On Wednesday, the largest privacy coin by market capitalization fell to $325 on Kraken, having peaked at $420 on Monday, according to data source TradingView. The sell-off follows a meteoric seven-week rise from $165 to $420, supposedly led by a favorable U.S. regulatory outlook and impending FCMP++ upgrade, which will enhance Monero's quantum resistance by providing forward price decline is characterized by increased participation in the futures market, where the number of active or open contracts jumped to 161.37K XMR, the highest tally since Dec. 20, according to data source Coingecko. The OI has increased by 20% over the past three days. An increase in open interest alongside a price drop is typically interpreted as representing a bearish sentiment, with more traders taking short positions in anticipation of a price decline. That's not necessarily the case with XMR, as the perpetual funding rates continue to be positive, indicating a bias for long positions. Funding rates, charged every eight hours, represent the cost of holding levered futures bets, with positive values representing a dominance of bullish long bets. Therefore, the uptick in XMR's open interest likely represents a "buy the dip" mentality – traders taking long positions on the price dip, anticipating a quick in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Monero's Market Cap Flips Litecoin and Toncoin as XMR Enters Top 25 Tokens
Privacy-focused cryptocurrency monero XMR has overtaken litecoin LTC and toncoin TON to rank among the top 25 digital assets by market value. The so-called flippening is characterized by XMR's market capitalization topping $7.5 billion, racing ahead of TON's $7.48 billion and LTC's $7.35 billion, according to data source Coingecko. Monero (XMR) is a decentralized, peer-to-peer cryptocurrency with privacy-enhancing technologies to obscure transaction details. That makes traditional financial tracking and intercepting methods largely obsolete, which explains why criminals love cryptocurrency. Earlier this year, a media outlet linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) Pakistan Province reportedly published a poster calling for contributions of "jihad with wealth" and sought donations in monero. Still, prices for the controversial coin have risen over 100% to above $400 this year, hitting levels last seen in early 2021, CoinDesk data show. The rally has been supposedly led by optimism about the impending privacy upgrade and rumors of re-listing by major exchanges, including the U.S.-listed Coinbase. Meanwhile, litecoin (LTC), considered silver to bitcoin's gold, has dropped 6% this year to trade below $100. Toncoin, which is deeply integrated into the social messaging app Telegram's economy, has dropped 25% this year.
Time Business News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Valid Market Forum – Insight into Carding and Carders Forums
In the world of cybercrime, certain websites serve as hubs for illegal activities. One such example is Valid Market, a notorious forum site that operates within the dark web and focuses on the exchange of stolen credit card information and other illicit digital goods. Although it functions like a typical online forum, its real purpose is far from legitimate. In this article, we will explore what Valid Market is, how it operates, and how it is connected to terms like carding forum and carders forum. Valid Market is an underground forum site where cybercriminals, known as carders, gather to buy, sell, and trade stolen financial data, particularly valid credit card details. The term 'valid' refers to the fact that the stolen cards or accounts being sold are still active and usable for fraudulent transactions. Like many other carding forums, Valid Market allows users to list and purchase items such as: Stolen credit card information (commonly called 'dumps' or 'fullz') Bank login credentials Hacked PayPal and e-wallet accounts Fake identification documents Tutorials on committing fraud Hacking and carding tools Despite being illegal, the site mimics the look and structure of legitimate online communities, offering features such as user profiles, private messaging, and rating systems. Valid Market typically operates on the dark web, accessible only through encrypted browsers like Tor. This ensures a high level of anonymity for its users. The site may also require registration, an invitation code, or even a fee to access certain sections. Transactions on Valid Market are conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Monero, which are harder to trace than traditional payment methods. Some forums also offer escrow services, where the platform holds the buyer's money until the seller delivers the promised data. Communication on Valid Market takes place through private messaging systems that may include additional layers of encryption, further protecting the identity of users. Valid Market is often categorized as a carding forum or carders forum. These terms are used interchangeably and refer to online platforms where carders (people involved in credit card fraud) operate. A carding forum is a general term for any online forum that facilitates the trade of stolen credit card data. is a general term for any online forum that facilitates the trade of stolen credit card data. A carders forum refers to the community of individuals who participate in carding activities and use these forums to share information, tools, and services. Valid Market fits both definitions, making it a central hub in the broader ecosystem of cybercrime. It is part of a network of sites where illegal activities are normalized and conducted openly among members who share similar goals. Engaging with a forum like Valid Market is highly illegal and can lead to severe legal consequences, including arrest, imprisonment, and fines. Law enforcement agencies around the world, such as the FBI, Europol, and Interpol, actively monitor such platforms and frequently carry out operations to shut them down. Beyond the legal risks, there are ethical and financial dangers. Many users fall victim to scams even within these forums. Moreover, the sale and use of stolen data lead to widespread identity theft, financial fraud, and data breaches that impact individuals and organizations globally. Valid Market is a well-known forum site within the cybercrime world that serves as a marketplace for stolen credit card data and other illegal digital goods. Functioning like a carding forum or carders forum, it enables anonymous transactions between cybercriminals, making it a key player in the online black market. While it may seem like just another online forum, Valid Market represents a serious cybersecurity threat. Understanding how these platforms operate is essential in combating online fraud and raising awareness about the dangers lurking on the dark web. By staying informed, users and businesses can take better steps to protect themselves in an increasingly digital world. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
