The dark web, sometimes known as the “darknet,” is a section of the internet that is not accessible through standard search engines. Google will not provide any links to sites or pages containing dark web content. The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is not indexed by search engines or accessible through standard methods.
Most people have heard of the “dark web,” but have no idea what it is or how it works. Information is sometimes sold on the dark web, especially after a big data breach. Cybersecurity researchers conducted tests that revealed that approximately 57% of the material and websites on the dark web are providing illegal goods and services. That amount was determined in 2015; it is now expected to be significantly higher.
The dark web is composed of numerous small darknets (peer-to-peer) networks such as Tor, Freenet, I2P, and Riffle. Government institutions or private persons may own and run these networks. Another section of the dark web known as Clearnet is unencrypted and popular among users. The Tor network is also known as “Onionland.” The reference is to the fact that webpages on the black web do not finish in.com or.net, but rather in.onion.
Silk Road, a notorious darknet on the dark web, was an underground marketplace specializing in drug trafficking, among other things. Silk Road operated from February 2011 to October 2013, when the FBI apprehended Ross Ulbricht, the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.” However, in November 2016, Silk Road 2.0 appeared, and the FBI was forced to shut it down and arrest the developers once more. Following that, Silk Road 3.0 appeared. The first Silk Road rose to prominence after Gawker, an online publication, published a piece about it.
What Can You Find On The Dark Web?
how to access the dark web
The dark web is a haven for unlawful conduct. There are internet marketplaces where you may buy stolen financial and private data (for identity theft), drugs, pornography, and other extremely illegal products and services. To conceal the trail, payments are conducted through exchanges or cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Bitcoin has really aided in the exponential expansion of the dark web.
Guns, counterfeit money, credit card data, bank account details, stolen passwords, phishing and ransomware kits (to wage campaigns and steal from people), prepaid debit cards, hacked Netflix accounts, and a “lifetime” Netflix account for $6 may also be found on the dark web. You can also purchase usernames and passwords or hire a hacker to breach into a site on your behalf. On the dark web, the sky is truly the limit.
Along with the unlawful, there are numerous respectable networks, such as chess groups, social networks, hard-to-find books and collectibles, and chat rooms for non-criminal purposes. There are also a few whistleblower sites and political news forums for those who live in nations where “free speech” is not permitted.
Websites on the dark web may appear to be very similar to ordinary websites. Ratings, reviews, and shopping carts are also used in some marketplaces. However, while dealing in illegal items, you never know who you’re working with. With every transaction on the dark web, you take your chances.
What is the purpose of the Dark Web?
using the dark web
The dark web was created to connect buyers and sellers that require anonymity when transacting with one another. This anonymity is employed not only for illegal acts, but also by journalists who want to interview sources who must stay anonymous or live in countries where heavy sanctions would prevent them from disclosing information. The dark web is totally safe, in contrast to the World Wide Web, which is monitored and regarded non-private. To keep everyone anonymous and everything confidential, the dark web employs sophisticated encryption technologies.
The dark web has attracted hackers, cybercriminals, drug lords, child pornographers, and even hitmen selling their services online due to its secrecy. Many websites are run by scammers who only utilize them for a brief period of time before closing up business and moving on.
According to researchers, at least $180 million in business was transacted on the dark web in 2015, and that was five years ago! That figure is undoubtedly much greater now.
Websites on the dark web frequently require a specific proxy server in order to be accessed. Furthermore, the URLs are scrambled, making it difficult to remember or locate them. This is to thwart law enforcement, which is always attempting to gain access to the dark web in order to control it. However, law enforcement is becoming more adept at monitoring and enforcing the law on the dark web, according to cybersecurity experts CSO. They shut down AlphaBay, the largest marketplace for illegal contraband, in 2017.
Government officials have dedicated hackers and task squads that enter the dark web in order to locate and apprehend criminals doing business there.
Using and Accessing the Dark Web
To access the dark web, you must use an anonymizing browser such as Tor or other specialized software. Tor routes your IP address across dozens of proxy servers, rendering it undetectable and unrecognizable. However, traversing the dark web is not for the faint of heart. “Tor works like magic,” says CSO, “but the consequence is an experience that’s like the dark web itself: unexpected, unreliable, and excruciatingly slow.”
Exploring the Dark Web
It can be tough to search the dark web. Dark web search engines are uncommon and untrustworthy. Because the information is constantly changing and migrating, your results will be inconsistent, resulting in a high number of 404 errors.
Every transaction on the dark web necessitates encryption, which includes a PGP key. Some merchants utilize an escrow service to hold payments until the items are delivered, but there are no guarantees, especially when dealing across borders.
Deep is a site on the dark web.
Dot.Web is a news website that publishes stories about buyers and dealers who have been arrested for dealing on the dark web.
You should explore the dark web at your own risk. Take some time to explore the terrain beforehand so you don’t end up in a dark lane from which you can’t simply escape.
