New platform lets people leak confidential files for a fee
A team of cryptographers and developers wants to set up a website where anyone can sell data sets to the highest bidder. “You’ll hate it”, is the slogan of the service, which can be reached via Tor. Payments are made via Bitcoin.
Anyone who wants to have a file leaked to the highest bidder should soon be able to upload it to Slur, a marketplace for data. There are no restrictions on the type of data offered or the seller’s motives, says spokesman Thom Lauret of u99, the group of cryptographers and developers behind the website. The site’s motive is to ‘undermine and destabilize the established order’.
The website expects stolen databases, source code of closed software, zero day exploits and other confidential documents, as well as “unflattering” photos and videos of celebrities. Only the highest bidder will see the data, and can then choose to release or hide the data. Large companies could thus deposit money to keep leaks out of publicity. To curb this, users can jointly deposit money for datasets through crowd bidding.
Slur.io should, among other things, ensure that whistleblowers, who remain completely anonymous, are compensated. “Slur is introducing a balanced system where whistleblowers’ material interests are protected in return for the risks they take,” said spokesman Lauret. Datasets can only be submitted once.
To prevent false claims being made about the content of the data, the buyer can view the data before the seller gets the money. If he is not happy with the content, an arbitration procedure can be initiated where other members of the community must vote on the content. If they agree with the buyer, the buyer gets his money back.
Payments are made via Bitcoin and the site will only be accessible via Tor, in order to stay out of the hands of the government. The developers themselves do not expect to be targeted by the government, as source code would fall under free speech and they claim not to profit from data sold on the site. The question is whether the US government agrees; the site is located in San Francisco.
The developers of the website hope to get money from the public to pay for the development of the platform. A beta version of the site should open in April, followed by a full release in July.