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Using Silk Road

gwern.net

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Re: Using Silk Road

#41

Post by waterlesscloud »

cnp wrote: post #35

Here's an academic analysis of Silk Road. After crawling the site for a few months they came up with this: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/nicolasc/publications/TR-CMU-... "Abstract We perform a comprehensive measurement analysis of Silk Road, an anonymous, international online marketplace that operates as a Tor hidden service and uses Bitcoin as its exchange currency. We gather and analyze data over eight months betw…

$1.2 million is an infinitesimal slice of the illegal drug market, but if an ordinary startup handled 1.2 million in transactions per month they'd be ecstatic.

Still, it seems like the risk far outweighs the gain here.

Re: Using Silk Road

#42

Post by trotsky »

rdl wrote: post #25
sruser wrote: post #17

(throwaway account) I've spent over $50,000 USD on SR in the past year, and I'm happy to answer any questions people have about the site or community.

What types of items have you purchased, and what's the loss rate? Does it vary with types of products? I have an HSA insurance plan where I effectively pay out of pocket, so I'm starting to get more and more tempted to buy non-US drugs for which I have or could get a valid US prescription. Not particularly drugs of abuse, but something like ciprodex (ciproflaxin antibiotic + dexemethasone (steroid) otic (ear drops);…

Things like antibiotics, ssris, antivirals and other mainstream drugs that aren't abused are often available relatively inexpensively from online pharmacies based out of India due to their price controls and flexible intellectual property laws.

Re: Using Silk Road

#43

Post by CamperBob2 »

scarecrowbob wrote: post #27
sruser wrote: post #17

(throwaway account) I've spent over $50,000 USD on SR in the past year, and I'm happy to answer any questions people have about the site or community.

I've heard about the site and am casually curious, but how does the obvious security hole of eventually having a product sent to a specific real world address work out in practice? What is the genearl method for anonymizing this.... I'm sure it's a pretty basic question, but since you're here and all...

I've never ordered anything from Silk Road, but one thing I'm surprised isn't done is using cheap/knockoff consumer products as a "carrier."

For instance, if it were well known that ordering a $295 DVD player from FrobozzCo.cn would result in delivery of a $29 DVD player stuffed full of Adderall or whatever people order, I imagine people would feel pretty safe ordering that way.

The other thing is, I'm not sure that the act of merely receiving illicit goods in the mail is adequate grounds for prosecution in the US. You can always claim that you have no idea where it came from or why it was sent to you, can't you? Otherwise it would be a popular revenge tactic to order something nasty for delivery to someone else.

Re: Using Silk Road

#44

Post by fusiongyro »

sruser wrote: post #32
mindcrime wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, these aren't exactly about the site, but if you'll humor me, a couple of questions jump to mind: Do you have purchases sent directly to your home/business, or do you attempt to obfuscate the delivery somehow? If so, can you share anything about the tactics you use? What percentage of your purchases arrive as expected? Do you have any reason to believe that anything is being intercepted by Customs / Border Polic…

I have purchases sent to my home, most of the time. I have never lost a package that was actually mailed, though I have been scammed a couple of times by vendors who never send anything. I try to stick to domestic vendors to avoid customs, but sometimes it is impossible due to supply issues. When I am ordering internationally I stick to Canada if possible. I once had a package from India get stuck in customs for over…

Does the article reflect your experience?

Re: Using Silk Road

#45

Post by OGinparadise »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #41
cnp wrote: post #35

Here's an academic analysis of Silk Road. After crawling the site for a few months they came up with this: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/nicolasc/publications/TR-CMU-... "Abstract We perform a comprehensive measurement analysis of Silk Road, an anonymous, international online marketplace that operates as a Tor hidden service and uses Bitcoin as its exchange currency. We gather and analyze data over eight months betw…

$1.2 million is an infinitesimal slice of the illegal drug market, but if an ordinary startup handled 1.2 million in transactions per month they'd be ecstatic. Still, it seems like the risk far outweighs the gain here.

$1.2 million is an infinitesimal slice of the illegal drug market, but if an ordinary startup handled 1.2 million in transactions per month they'd be ecstatic.

apples and oranges. This is illegal and their take is maybe enough to pay one criminal lawyer for a month.

Re: Using Silk Road

#46

Post by fusiongyro »

sruser wrote: post #37
fusiongyro wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think mentioning the $50K figure invites some questions.

I am not a dealer. As the OP said, I have a gigantic drug habit. I suspect that, like many HN readers, I am a young guy who works in technology and makes more money than is good for him. I am single and unattached, so I've got plenty of disposable income. And I seem to be good (so far) at remaining a stable, productive employee despite my habit.

Thanks. My curiosity is sated.

Re: Using Silk Road

#47

Post by b6 »

sruser wrote: post #37
fusiongyro wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think mentioning the $50K figure invites some questions.

I am not a dealer. As the OP said, I have a gigantic drug habit. I suspect that, like many HN readers, I am a young guy who works in technology and makes more money than is good for him. I am single and unattached, so I've got plenty of disposable income. And I seem to be good (so far) at remaining a stable, productive employee despite my habit.

Please be very careful. <3.

Re: Using Silk Road

#48

Post by rdl »

sruser wrote: post #37
fusiongyro wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think mentioning the $50K figure invites some questions.

I am not a dealer. As the OP said, I have a gigantic drug habit. I suspect that, like many HN readers, I am a young guy who works in technology and makes more money than is good for him. I am single and unattached, so I've got plenty of disposable income. And I seem to be good (so far) at remaining a stable, productive employee despite my habit.

I hope (for your liver's sake) you stick to unit products like OxyContin or are really good at ice water extraction.

Re: Using Silk Road

#49

Post by [deleted] »

jacques_chester wrote: post #7
cnp wrote: post #5

Everyone needs to read the rest of the site. It's one of the most interesting domains I've ever come across. Fascinating guy through and through, and his short stories are excellent.

I had occasion to correspond with Gwern recently. It is always enlightening to talk to somebody who is smarter than I am.

[deleted]

Re: Using Silk Road

#50

Post by kragen »

mkr-hn wrote: post #40
throw_away2012 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Arrogant much?

What's arrogant about wanting to talk to people you consider smarter than yourself?

Perhaps our anonymous troll was offended at Jacques Chester's implication that talking to people smarter than J.C. is an unusual occasion for J.C.
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