What Is the Dark Web?
Hidden in the depths of the internet, lies the enigmatic realm of the Dark Web. Keep reading to find out what is the Dark Web.
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What is the Dark Web?
To define what is the Dark Web, we need to think of a space where anonymity reigns, and traditional search engines don’t tread.
You’ve probably heard many explanations as to what is the Dark Web. Some could define it as a hub for illicit activities, and although this is quite a simple way to put it, in essence it’s true.
There’s no doubt this mysterious corner of the internet has captured the imagination of many, often invoking curiosity and intrigue. The subject has gained popularity as many have discussed it on social media multiple times.
According to a 2019 study called Into the Web of Profit by Dr. Michael McGuires at the University of Surrey. Since 2016, there have been 20% more dark web listings that could harm businesses. Out of all listings 60% (apart from those that offer drugs) have the potential to hurt businesses.
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Credit card numbers, various narcotics, weapons, fake cash, stolen login information for Netflix, and software to break into other people’s computers are among things that can be purchased.
Purchases can go from login information for a $50,000 Bank of America account, to phony $20 bills, prepaid debit cards, or a “lifetime” Netflix premium subscription. You may pay hackers to break into computers on your behalf. Usernames and passwords can be purchased.
Dark Web vs Deep Web
Although they are not the same, the terms Deep Web and Dark Web are occasionally used as the same.
Currently, anything on the internet that is not indexed by and hence available through a search engine like Google is referred to as the Deep Web.
Anything that is behind a paywall or requires login credentials is considered Deep Web content. Additionally, it consists of any content whose proprietors have forbidden web crawlers from indexing it.
The deep web is thought to make up 96% to 99% of the whole internet. A basic web browser can only access a very small fraction of the internet, sometimes referred to as the “clear web”.
The Dark Web is a portion of the deep web that has been purposefully concealed. To reach it, you must use the Tor browser. Although the scale of the dark web is unknown, most estimates place it at about 5% of the whole internet.
The Dark Web, despite its sinister name, is not exclusively utilized for illegal activities.
Services and tools of the Dark Web
According to the Into the Web of Profit report, there are 12 categories of tools or services that potentially pose a risk in the form of a network breach or data:
- Attacks such as botnets, distributed denial of service (DDoS), and malware
- Access, including keyloggers, exploits, and remote access Trojans (RATs)
- Services, customisation, and targeting related to espionage
- Tutorials are examples of support services
- Credentials
- Phishing
- Refunds
- Customer information
- Operative information
- Fiscal information
- Trade secrets and intellectual property
- Further rising dangers
Three risk factors were also listed in the report, one for each category:
- Devaluing the business, which can involve tarnishing consumer trust in the brand, suffering reputational harm, or losing ground to a rival
- Enterprise disruption, such as DDoS assaults or other malware that interferes with business operations
- Theft of intellectual property or espionage that damages a company’s ability to compete or results in a direct financial loss are examples of defrauding the firm.
Dark Web browser
You might believe that browsing the dark web is simple with all the buzz surrounding it. The reality, though, is a lot more complicated. In order to access, users need a special browser.
Tor, an anonymizing browser, users can access the dark web.
Your requests for online pages are routed through a network of proxy servers managed by thousands of volunteers across the world using the Tor browser, which hides your IP address and prevents it from being tracked. Tor works like magic, but the experience it produces is erratic, unreliable, and painfully slow—just like the black web itself.
What is the Dark Web: going back to the start
As far as we know today, when it comes to finding out what is the dark web and where it comes from, we have to get back to the early days of the internet.
The idea of an anonymous network was first created by the U.S. Navy in the 1990s as a result of the need for secure communication. The network was called “Onion Routing (TOR)” and it was later made available to the general public. This site is considered the foundation of the Dark Web as it is known today.
Internet communication is routed through a network of servers, encrypted at each step, and the user’s identity is hidden to enable TOR to function. Users browse websites with “onion” domains, which are only accessible through the TOR network, and these websites are protected by multiple layers of encryption, giving the Dark Web its moniker. Both a benefit and a curse, anonymization promotes illegal activity while allowing for free expression and privacy.
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Multiple Anonymity Levels
When thinking of what is the Dark Web, one must think of several layers of information and, at times, criminal activity.
Among the illegal circumstances that take place in the depths of the Dark Web, include the sale of firearms, drugs, and hacking services.
It is critical to realize that not all content available in the Dark Web is unlawful. In actuality, many people use its anonymity for legal reasons.
For those wondering what is the Dark Web, users access different forums and groups to discuss anything from politics and privacy to literature and art.
Activists and whistleblowers utilize this forum to securely communicate out of the reach of repressive governments. For instance, WikiLeaks has made use of the Dark Web to conceal the sources it uses.
There are undoubtedly parts of the Dark Web that dig into the criminal underworld outside of these acceptable use cases. Drugs, fake currency, and even hitman services were all sold and bought on sites like the famed Silk Road, which was taken down by the FBI in 2013.
Although the collapse of Silk Road sends a clear message, other markets have since appeared.
Challenges of the Dark Web
The issues posed by the Dark Web have been a source of contention for law enforcement organizations around the world.
The fight goes on as Dark Web users and developers constantly adapt to stay one step ahead, despite some achievements in shutting down unlawful operations.
The main conflict in this context is the arms race in encryption. Users of the Dark Web utilize more advanced techniques and tighter encryption as law enforcement agencies develop their ability to track and trace illegal activity. This cat-and-mouse game demonstrates how difficult it is to police the Dark Web.
The future of Dark Web
With the development of technology, that continues to grow steadily, the Dark Web will continue to mutate into a more secure and intriguing site.
When thinking of what is the Dark Web, it is important to understand this network will continue to play a crucial role in defending privacy and free speech as encryption methods improve. Law enforcement organizations will simultaneously adjust and work together globally to combat illegal activity within its depths.
The Dark Web ultimately serves as a window into the intricacies and inconsistencies of the digital era. It puts our notions of security, privacy, and freedom of expression to the test. While it may continue to be a mystery to the majority of internet users, its impact on the web’s bigger picture cannot be disregarded.
The moral dilemmas it exposes force us to wrestle with the darkest facets of human nature as they collide with the purest ideals of liberty and secrecy.
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