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{{short description|Discontinued search engine}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{Infobox website
{{Infobox website
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| logo = File:Grams_search_logo.png
| logo = File:Grams_search_logo.png
| logo_size = 70px
| logo_size = 70px
⚫
| url = <!-- DO NOT CHANGE URL WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON TALK PAGE. ARTICLE IS UNDER PENDING CHANGES PROTECTION BECAUSE OF PERSISTENT ADDITION OF MALICIOUS LINKS. -->{{Onion defunct|grams7enufi7jmdl}}<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/grams-search-darknet-marketplaces/ |title=Grams marketplace listing |website=[[DeepDotWeb]] |access-date=2017-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911003018/https://www.deepdotweb.com/grams-search-darknet-marketplaces/ |archive-date=2017-09-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dnstats.net/other/Grams+DarkNet+Market+Search+Engine |title=Grams listing |website=DNStats |access-date=2017-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/grams-search-engine-dark-web/ |title=New 'Google' for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy |last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=17 April 2014 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160725143053/https://www.wired.com/2014/04/grams-search-engine-dark-web/ |archive-date=25 July 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/z4m4ma/i-let-grams-guide-me-through-the-dark-nets-illegal-bazaars |title=I Used the Dark Net's First Search Engine to Look for Drugs |last=Neal |first=Meghan |date=17 April 2014 |website= [[Vice Motherboard]] |access-date=1 September 2017}}</ref>
| logocaption =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| collapsible =
⚫
| url = <!-- DO NOT CHANGE URL WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON TALK PAGE. ARTICLE IS UNDER PENDING CHANGES PROTECTION BECAUSE OF PERSISTENT ADDITION OF MALICIOUS LINKS. -->{{Onion defunct|grams7enufi7jmdl}}<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/grams-search-darknet-marketplaces/ |title=Grams marketplace listing |website=[[DeepDotWeb]] |access-date=2017-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dnstats.net/other/Grams+DarkNet+Market+Search+Engine |title=Grams listing |website=DNStats |access-date=2017-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/grams-search-engine-dark-web/ |title=New 'Google' for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy |last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=17 April 2014 |website=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |archive-url=https://archive.is/20160725143053/https://www.wired.com/2014/04/grams-search-engine-dark-web/ |archive-date=25 July 2016 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/z4m4ma/i-let-grams-guide-me-through-the-dark-nets-illegal-bazaars |title=I Used the Dark Net's First Search Engine to Look for Drugs |last=Neal |first=Meghan |date=17 April 2014 |website= [[Vice Motherboard]] |access-date=1 September 2017}}</ref>
| collapsetext =
| type = [[Darknet market]] [[search engine]]
| type = [[Darknet market]] [[search engine]]
| language = English
| language = English
| num_users =
| content_license =
| owner =
| author =
| editor =
| launch_date = 2014
| launch_date = 2014
| revenue =
| alexa =
| current_status = Closed in 2017
| current_status = Closed in 2017
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Grams''' was a [[search engine]] for [[Tor (anonymity network)|Tor]] based [[darknet markets]] launched in April 2014,<ref name="wired">{{cite news|last1=Zetter|first1=Kim|title=New ‘Google’ for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/grams-search-engine-dark-web/|accessdate=30 May 2015|date=17 April 2015}}</ref> and closed in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2017/12/15/darknet-search-engine-grams-shutting/ |title=The Darknet Search Engine ‘Grams’ is Shutting Down |last=C. Aliens |work=[[DeepDotWeb]] |access-date=2018-01-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> The service allowed users to search multiple darknet markets for products like [[drugs]] and [[guns]] from a simple search interface,<ref name="wired" /> and also provided the capability for its users to hide their transactions through its [[cryptocurrency tumbler|bitcoin tumbler]] ''Helix''.
'''Grams''' was a [[search engine]] for [[Tor (anonymity network)|Tor]] based [[darknet markets]] launched in April 2014,<ref name="wired">{{cite news|last1=Zetter|first1=Kim|title=New 'Google' for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/04/grams-search-engine-dark-web/|access-date=30 May 2015|date=17 April 2015}}</ref> and closed in December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2017/12/15/darknet-search-engine-grams-shutting/ |title=The Darknet Search Engine 'Grams' is Shutting Down |last=C. Aliens |work=[[DeepDotWeb]] |access-date=2018-01-23 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124070700/https://www.deepdotweb.com/2017/12/15/darknet-search-engine-grams-shutting/ |archive-date=2018-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The service allowed users to search multiple darknet markets for products like [[drugs]] and [[guns]] from a simple search interface,<ref name="wired" /> and also provided the capability for its users to hide their transactions through its [[cryptocurrency tumbler|bitcoin tumbler]] ''Helix''.


The services used a custom [[API]] to [[Web scraping|scrape]] listings from several markets such as [[AlphaBay|Alpha Bay]] and others, to return search listings.<ref name="wired" /> The site is described by the Global Drug Policy Observatory to have "transformed how people search the [[dark web|hidden web]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/The%20Rise%20and%20Challenge%20of%20Dark%20Net%20Drug%20Markets.pdf |title=The Rise and Challenge of Dark Net Drug Markets |last1=Buxton |first1=Julia |last2=Bingham |first2=Tim |website=swansea.ac.uk |access-date=31 May 2015}}</ref>
The services used a custom [[API]] to [[Web scraping|scrape]] listings from several markets such as [[AlphaBay|Alpha Bay]] and others, to return search listings.<ref name="wired" /> The site is described by the Global Drug Policy Observatory to have "transformed how people search the [[dark web|hidden web]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/The%20Rise%20and%20Challenge%20of%20Dark%20Net%20Drug%20Markets.pdf |title=The Rise and Challenge of Dark Net Drug Markets |last1=Buxton |first1=Julia |last2=Bingham |first2=Tim |website=swansea.ac.uk |access-date=31 May 2015 |archive-date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310012808/https://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/The%20Rise%20and%20Challenge%20of%20Dark%20Net%20Drug%20Markets.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In May 2014 the site added ''Gramwords'', a service similar to [[Google]]'s [[AdWords]] search sponsorship system for vendors.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title="Gramwords" Launched: Google Adwords Of The DeepWeb!|url=http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/01/gramwords-launched-google-adwords-of-the-deepweb/|accessdate=30 May 2015|date=1 June 2014}}</ref> Additionally their profile system allows for cross-market vendor contact details and reviews to be held centrally.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Grams: Becoming Hub For DarkNet Info & Ads (Part 1)|url=http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/05/31/introducing-grams-infodesk-features-part-1/|accessdate=30 May 2015|date=31 May 2014}}</ref>
In May 2014 the site added ''Gramwords'', a service similar to [[Google]]'s [[AdWords]] search sponsorship system for vendors.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title="Gramwords" Launched: Google Adwords Of The DeepWeb!|url=http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/01/gramwords-launched-google-adwords-of-the-deepweb/|access-date=30 May 2015|date=1 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530225220/http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/01/gramwords-launched-google-adwords-of-the-deepweb/|archive-date=30 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally their profile system allows for cross-market vendor contact details and reviews to be held centrally.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Grams: Becoming Hub For DarkNet Info & Ads (Part 1)|url=http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/05/31/introducing-grams-infodesk-features-part-1/|access-date=30 May 2015|date=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404181238/http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/05/31/introducing-grams-infodesk-features-part-1/|archive-date=4 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Later that year in June the creators released ''Grams Flow'', a [[clearnet (networking)|clearnet]] to Tor [[URL redirection|redirection]] service serving various dark net sites<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Grams Flow: Easy access to Hidden Sites|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/07/grams-flow-easy-access-hidden-sites/|accessdate=9 June 2015|date=7 June 2014}}</ref> and in November, a banner [[advertising network]] for [[Tor hidden services|Tor sites]], ''TorAds''<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Grams Grows with TorAds: First Advertising Network For Tor|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/11/18/grams-torads/|accessdate=9 June 2015|date=18 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Birthday To Grams!|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2015/04/09/happy-birthday-to-grams/|accessdate=10 June 2015|date=9 April 2015}}</ref> which has not yet had much success.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Joseph|title=Banner Ads Don’t Work on the Dark Web|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/advertising-just-doesnt-work-on-the-dark-web|website=[[Vice Motherboard]]|accessdate=3 August 2015|date=21 April 2015}}</ref>
Later that year in June the creators released ''Grams Flow'', a [[clearnet (networking)|clearnet]] to Tor [[URL redirection|redirection]] service serving various dark net sites<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Grams Flow: Easy access to Hidden Sites|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/07/grams-flow-easy-access-hidden-sites/|access-date=9 June 2015|date=7 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611021623/https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/07/grams-flow-easy-access-hidden-sites/|archive-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in November, a banner [[advertising network]] for [[Tor hidden services|Tor sites]], ''TorAds''<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Grams Grows with TorAds: First Advertising Network For Tor|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/11/18/grams-torads/|access-date=9 June 2015|date=18 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611012547/https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/11/18/grams-torads/|archive-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Birthday To Grams!|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2015/04/09/happy-birthday-to-grams/|access-date=10 June 2015|date=9 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611020958/https://www.deepdotweb.com/2015/04/09/happy-birthday-to-grams/ |website=DeepDotWeb |archive-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> which has not yet had much success.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Joseph|title=Banner Ads Don't Work on the Dark Web|url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/advertising-just-doesnt-work-on-the-dark-web|website=[[Vice Motherboard]]|access-date=3 August 2015|date=21 April 2015}}</ref>


'InfoDesk' allows central content and identity management for vendors, reducing the complexity of around maintaining presences on multiple markets.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=A Sneak Peek To Grams Search Engine "Stage 2: Infodesk"|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/05/17/a-sneak-peek-to-grams-search-engine-stage-2-infodesk/|accessdate=8 August 2015|date=17 May 2014}}</ref>
'InfoDesk' allows central content and identity management for vendors, reducing the complexity of around maintaining presences on multiple markets.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=A Sneak Peek To Grams Search Engine "Stage 2: Infodesk"|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/05/17/a-sneak-peek-to-grams-search-engine-stage-2-infodesk/|access-date=8 August 2015|date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116202016/https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/05/17/a-sneak-peek-to-grams-search-engine-stage-2-infodesk/|archive-date=16 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>


On December 9, 2017 the Grams administrator left a PGP signed message on the Reddit subreddit /r/DarkNetMarkets stating that all Grams services, including the Helix tumbler, will be shut down on December 16, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkNetMarkets/comments/7il24c/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish|accessdate=9 December 2017|date=9 December 2017}}</ref>{{dead link}}
On December 9, 2017, the Grams administrator left a PGP signed message on the Reddit subreddit r/Grams stating that all Grams services, including the Helix tumbler, would be shut down on December 16, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/grams/comments/7ikv9r/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish/|date=9 December 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171215041614/https://www.reddit.com/r/grams/comments/7ikv9r/so_long_and_thanks_for_all_the_fish/|archive-date=2017-12-15}}</ref>


==Helix==
==Helix==
In June 2014, Grams released ''Helix'' and ''Helix Light'', a market payment service with an integrated [[cryptocurrency tumbler|bitcoin tumbler]].<ref name="intr">{{cite web|title=Introducing Grams Helix: Bitcoins Cleaner|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/22/introducing-grams-helix-bitcoins-cleaner/|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|accessdate=10 June 2015|date=22 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Helix Updates: Integrated Markets Can Now Helix Your BTC|url=http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/08/05/helix-updates-integrated-markets-can-now-helix-your-btc/|accessdate=30 May 2015|date=August 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Mike|title=Deep Web Bitcoin Mixer’s Recent Hack Restarted The Debate Of Darkcoin Vs Trusted Mixers and Trusted Mixers Won|url=http://coinbrief.net/deep-web-bitcoin-mixers-vs-darkcoin/|website=CoinBrief|accessdate=9 June 2015}}</ref> The site was also available on the clearnet via ''Grams Flow''.<ref name="intr"/>
In June 2014, Grams released ''Helix'' and ''Helix Light'', a market payment service with an integrated [[cryptocurrency tumbler|bitcoin tumbler]].<ref name="intr">{{cite web|title=Introducing Grams Helix: Bitcoins Cleaner|url=https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/22/introducing-grams-helix-bitcoins-cleaner/|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|access-date=10 June 2015|date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611021115/https://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/06/22/introducing-grams-helix-bitcoins-cleaner/|archive-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|website=[[DeepDotWeb]]|title=Helix Updates: Integrated Markets Can Now Helix Your BTC|url=http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/08/05/helix-updates-integrated-markets-can-now-helix-your-btc/|access-date=30 May 2015|date=August 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530225152/http://www.deepdotweb.com/2014/08/05/helix-updates-integrated-markets-can-now-helix-your-btc/|archive-date=30 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=White|first1=Mike|title=Deep Web Bitcoin Mixer's Recent Hack Restarted The Debate Of Darkcoin Vs Trusted Mixers and Trusted Mixers Won|url=http://coinbrief.net/deep-web-bitcoin-mixers-vs-darkcoin/|website=CoinBrief|access-date=9 June 2015}}</ref> The site was also available on the clearnet via ''Grams Flow''.<ref name="intr"/>


In August 2017, it was noted that an elaborate darknet [[phishing]] scam appeared as the top Google search result for "how to mix bitcoins", directing users to a fake version of the Grams Helix Light website that would steal their bitcoins.<ref name="vice">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d33ey7/an-elaborate-darknet-phishing-scam-is-the-top-google-result-for-basic-bitcoin-tutorials |title=An Elaborate Darknet Phishing Scam Is the Top Google Result for Basic Bitcoin Tutorials |last=Pearson |first=Jordan |date=31 August 2017 |publisher= [[Vice Motherboard]] |access-date=31 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="ibtimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/popular-darknet-markets-tutorial-bitcoin-mixing-dubious-phishing-scam-1637368 |title=Popular Darknet Markets tutorial on bitcoin mixing is a dubious phishing scam |last=Jotham |first=Immanuel |date=31 August 2017 |publisher=[[International Business Times]] |access-date=31 August 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20170901070734/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/popular-darknet-markets-tutorial-bitcoin-mixing-dubious-phishing-scam-1637368 |archive-date=1 September 2017 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref>
In August 2017, it was noted that an elaborate darknet [[phishing]] scam appeared as the top Google search result for "how to mix bitcoins", directing users to a fake version of the Grams Helix Light website that would steal their bitcoins.<ref name="vice">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d33ey7/an-elaborate-darknet-phishing-scam-is-the-top-google-result-for-basic-bitcoin-tutorials |title=An Elaborate Darknet Phishing Scam Is the Top Google Result for Basic Bitcoin Tutorials |last=Pearson |first=Jordan |date=31 August 2017 |publisher= [[Vice Motherboard]] |access-date=31 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="ibtimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/popular-darknet-markets-tutorial-bitcoin-mixing-dubious-phishing-scam-1637368 |title=Popular Darknet Markets tutorial on bitcoin mixing is a dubious phishing scam |last=Jotham |first=Immanuel |date=31 August 2017 |work=[[International Business Times]] |access-date=31 August 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170901070734/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/popular-darknet-markets-tutorial-bitcoin-mixing-dubious-phishing-scam-1637368 |archive-date=1 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Due to the enduring popularity of the site, and relative ease of replicating the first few digits of a [[.onion]] address,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dingledine |first1=Roger |title=[tor-talk] Facebook brute forcing hidden services |url=https://lists.torproject.org/pipermail/tor-talk/2014-October/035412.html |website=lists.torproject.org |accessdate=19 December 2018 |language=en |date=Oct 31, 2014}}</ref> a number of illegitimate copies of the original Gram hidden service have been created.<ref name="ibtimes" /> These include a scam version of flow, the search engine, and even copies of the drug marketplaces indexed.<ref>An example of an scam site is "grams.link" [https://web.archive.org/web/20180331225450/https://grams.link/ Copy on archive.org].</ref><ref name="ibtimes" /> Several competing scams have replicated the "grams7e" portion of the address and are listed on links aggregators as if they are the now defunct original site.<ref>Both "grams7ebnju7gwjl" and "grams7enqfy4nieo" are examples of onion hostnames copying the first digits of the original site.</ref><ref name="vice" /> Like the Helix scam, these sites defraud unsuspecting visitors of any money or personal details entered on the fake site or fake marketplaces it linked to.<ref name="ibtimes" /><ref name="vice" />
Due to the enduring popularity of the site, and relative ease of replicating the first few digits of a [[.onion]] address,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dingledine |first1=Roger |title=[tor-talk] Facebook brute forcing hidden services |url=https://lists.torproject.org/pipermail/tor-talk/2014-October/035412.html |website=lists.torproject.org |access-date=19 December 2018 |language=en |date=Oct 31, 2014}}</ref> a number of illegitimate copies of the original Gram hidden service have been created.<ref name="ibtimes" /> These include a scam version of flow, the search engine, and even copies of the drug marketplaces indexed.<ref>An example of an scam site is "grams.link" [https://web.archive.org/web/20180331225450/https://grams.link/ Copy on archive.org].</ref><ref name="ibtimes" /> Several competing scams have replicated the "grams7e" portion of the address and are listed on links aggregators as if they are the now defunct original site.<ref>Both "grams7ebnju7gwjl" and "grams7enqfy4nieo" are examples of onion hostnames copying the first digits of the original site.</ref><ref name="vice" /> Like the Helix scam, these sites defraud unsuspecting visitors of any money or personal details entered on the fake site or fake marketplaces it linked to.<ref name="ibtimes" /><ref name="vice" />
== Owner ==
On February 6, 2020, the FBI and IRS arrested an Ohio man, Larry Dean Harmon, who they alleged was the operator of Helix and Grams.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heisig |first1=Eric |title=Bath Township man ran service that laundered $311 million in bitcoin for darknet transactions, feds say |url=https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2020/02/bath-township-man-ran-service-that-laundered-311-million-in-bitcoin-for-darknet-transactions-feds-say.html |publisher=cleveland.com |date=Feb 12, 2020}}</ref> Helix was said to have been partnered with [[AlphaBay]], an illegal darknet market shut down in mid-2017. Harmon pled guilty in August 2021 and agreed to forfeit 4400 bitcoins as part of a plea deal, and faces up to 20 years imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/operator-of-helix-bitcoin-mixer-pleads-guilty-11629328791|title = Operator of Helix Bitcoin 'Mixer' Pleads Guilty|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|date = 18 August 2021|last1 = Sun|first1 = Mengqi}}</ref> As of November 2021, Harmon's sentencing has been deferred indefinitely while he works under a cooperation plea agreement.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.millerchevalier.com/publication/money-laundering-enforcement-trends-spring-2022 | title=Money Laundering Enforcement Trends: Spring 2022 &#124; Miller & Chevalier }}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Tor hidden services}}
{{Tor hidden services}}


[[Category:Darknet markets]]
[[Category:Internet search engines]]
[[Category:Internet search engines]]
[[Category:Cryptocurrency tumblers]]
[[Category:Cryptocurrency tumblers]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2014]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2014]]
[[Category:Tor hidden services]]
[[Category:Defunct Tor hidden services]]
[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2017]]

Latest revision as of 18:46, 12 October 2024

Grams
Type of site
Darknet market search engine
Available inEnglish
URLgrams7enufi7jmdl.onion (defunct)
[1][2][3][4]
Launched2014
Current statusClosed in 2017

Grams was a search engine for Tor based darknet markets launched in April 2014,[5] and closed in December 2017.[6] The service allowed users to search multiple darknet markets for products like drugs and guns from a simple search interface,[5] and also provided the capability for its users to hide their transactions through its bitcoin tumbler Helix.

The services used a custom API to scrape listings from several markets such as Alpha Bay and others, to return search listings.[5] The site is described by the Global Drug Policy Observatory to have "transformed how people search the hidden web".[7]

In May 2014 the site added Gramwords, a service similar to Google's AdWords search sponsorship system for vendors.[8] Additionally their profile system allows for cross-market vendor contact details and reviews to be held centrally.[9]

Later that year in June the creators released Grams Flow, a clearnet to Tor redirection service serving various dark net sites[10] and in November, a banner advertising network for Tor sites, TorAds[11][12] which has not yet had much success.[13]

'InfoDesk' allows central content and identity management for vendors, reducing the complexity of around maintaining presences on multiple markets.[14]

On December 9, 2017, the Grams administrator left a PGP signed message on the Reddit subreddit r/Grams stating that all Grams services, including the Helix tumbler, would be shut down on December 16, 2017.[15]

Helix

[edit]

In June 2014, Grams released Helix and Helix Light, a market payment service with an integrated bitcoin tumbler.[16][17][18] The site was also available on the clearnet via Grams Flow.[16]

In August 2017, it was noted that an elaborate darknet phishing scam appeared as the top Google search result for "how to mix bitcoins", directing users to a fake version of the Grams Helix Light website that would steal their bitcoins.[19][20]

Due to the enduring popularity of the site, and relative ease of replicating the first few digits of a .onion address,[21] a number of illegitimate copies of the original Gram hidden service have been created.[20] These include a scam version of flow, the search engine, and even copies of the drug marketplaces indexed.[22][20] Several competing scams have replicated the "grams7e" portion of the address and are listed on links aggregators as if they are the now defunct original site.[23][19] Like the Helix scam, these sites defraud unsuspecting visitors of any money or personal details entered on the fake site or fake marketplaces it linked to.[20][19]

Owner

[edit]

On February 6, 2020, the FBI and IRS arrested an Ohio man, Larry Dean Harmon, who they alleged was the operator of Helix and Grams.[24] Helix was said to have been partnered with AlphaBay, an illegal darknet market shut down in mid-2017. Harmon pled guilty in August 2021 and agreed to forfeit 4400 bitcoins as part of a plea deal, and faces up to 20 years imprisonment.[25] As of November 2021, Harmon's sentencing has been deferred indefinitely while he works under a cooperation plea agreement.[26]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Grams marketplace listing". DeepDotWeb. Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  2. ^ "Grams listing". DNStats. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  3. ^ Zetter, Kim (17 April 2014). "New 'Google' for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy". Wired. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016.
  4. ^ Neal, Meghan (17 April 2014). "I Used the Dark Net's First Search Engine to Look for Drugs". Vice Motherboard. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Zetter, Kim (17 April 2015). "New 'Google' for the Dark Web Makes Buying Dope and Guns Easy". Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  6. ^ C. Aliens. "The Darknet Search Engine 'Grams' is Shutting Down". DeepDotWeb. Archived from the original on 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. ^ Buxton, Julia; Bingham, Tim. "The Rise and Challenge of Dark Net Drug Markets" (PDF). swansea.ac.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  8. ^ ""Gramwords" Launched: Google Adwords Of The DeepWeb!". DeepDotWeb. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Grams: Becoming Hub For DarkNet Info & Ads (Part 1)". DeepDotWeb. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Grams Flow: Easy access to Hidden Sites". DeepDotWeb. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Grams Grows with TorAds: First Advertising Network For Tor". DeepDotWeb. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Happy Birthday To Grams!". DeepDotWeb. 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  13. ^ Cox, Joseph (21 April 2015). "Banner Ads Don't Work on the Dark Web". Vice Motherboard. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  14. ^ "A Sneak Peek To Grams Search Engine "Stage 2: Infodesk"". DeepDotWeb. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  15. ^ "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish". 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15.
  16. ^ a b "Introducing Grams Helix: Bitcoins Cleaner". DeepDotWeb. 22 June 2014. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Helix Updates: Integrated Markets Can Now Helix Your BTC". DeepDotWeb. August 5, 2014. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  18. ^ White, Mike. "Deep Web Bitcoin Mixer's Recent Hack Restarted The Debate Of Darkcoin Vs Trusted Mixers and Trusted Mixers Won". CoinBrief. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  19. ^ a b c Pearson, Jordan (31 August 2017). "An Elaborate Darknet Phishing Scam Is the Top Google Result for Basic Bitcoin Tutorials". Vice Motherboard. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  20. ^ a b c d Jotham, Immanuel (31 August 2017). "Popular Darknet Markets tutorial on bitcoin mixing is a dubious phishing scam". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  21. ^ Dingledine, Roger (Oct 31, 2014). "[tor-talk] Facebook brute forcing hidden services". lists.torproject.org. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  22. ^ An example of an scam site is "grams.link" Copy on archive.org.
  23. ^ Both "grams7ebnju7gwjl" and "grams7enqfy4nieo" are examples of onion hostnames copying the first digits of the original site.
  24. ^ Heisig, Eric (Feb 12, 2020). "Bath Township man ran service that laundered $311 million in bitcoin for darknet transactions, feds say". cleveland.com.
  25. ^ Sun, Mengqi (18 August 2021). "Operator of Helix Bitcoin 'Mixer' Pleads Guilty". Wall Street Journal.
  26. ^ "Money Laundering Enforcement Trends: Spring 2022 | Miller & Chevalier".
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