When most people hear the words “Dark Web”, they imagine hackers in hoodies, secret marketplaces, and illegal activities happening in the shadows. The dark web has been a negative connotation amongst the public ever since it came into highlight. It is most likely due to its name that gives the meaning of suspicious activities with criminal activity and with people who are trying to avoid the eyes of the authorities. It may thus come as a surprise to hear that the dark web was really created and prototyped by researchers at the US Naval Research Lab, who had realised the importance of anonymity due to the significant risk of being monitored when using the public internet.
Based on the research done by these scientists, the Tor Network was created in 2002, making the dark web more accessible to the general public. In 2008, the Tor Project launched their browser, aimed at enhancing public access to the navigation of the dark web.
To really understand the Dark Web, we need to understand the three layers of the internet:
The layer of the internet consists of three layers: Surface Web, Deep Web and Dark Web. Let's give the layers of the internet an analogy with the Iceberg. Imagine the internet as a giant iceberg floating in the ocean.
We can say it is the tip above the water. We can say the tip of the iceberg remains visible and the remaining The surface web is simply the visible or indexed web; the part of the internet that we use on a daily basis. It includes websites that are indexed by search engines like Google and Bing. This doesn't need Tor or any special browser or software to surf the internet. According to Tulane University, it is estimated that the most popular .com, .net and .org sites on the surface web represent only around 5% of the total content available on the internet, with the rest being found on the deep web or dark web. Some examples of surface web are news websites, blogs, youtube videos, online shopping stores.
Deep web refers to the hidden layer from the surface of the iceberg. It refers to parts of the World Wide Web that are not discoverable by standard search engines. This includes content behind password-protected logins, dynamic pages generated in real time, and encrypted networks. In order to get to such content, a user has to perform a form submission with valid input values. The deep web contains private databases, email inboxes, subscription-based services, and internal corporate systems. While it’s often misunderstood, the deep web is not inherently malicious; it simply consists of legitimate web content hidden from public search results for security, privacy, or technical reasons.
The data and information available on the deep web is sensitive. Indexing the web can cause problems with privacy and make corporate data more vulnerable to hacking and other bad things like unauthorized access and fraud. This can be a problem when it comes to keeping things private and safe from cyber threats like hacking. It is important to remember that the deep web is not easy to get to. That does not mean everything on the web is bad. So in conclusion, the deep web is not scary as it sounds. It is used on a daily basis and is used for privacy and security reasons.
Some examples of the deep web are email inboxes, online banking accounts, netflix accounts, private company databases etc.
Also known as the anonymous and intentionally hidden web. It is best known for its association with illicit activities. The dark web has become infamous for its role in the world of illegals. The dark web is a part of the internet that people do not want you to find. You cannot get to the web with the browser you use every day like Chrome or Safari. To see websites you need a special tool.The tool that most people use to get to the web is the Tor Browser. You have to use the Tor Browser to get to the web. Dark web sites usually have an address that ends with.onion, not.com or.org or.net. The dark web sites sound scary because people have the perception that the dark web wants to keep things hidden.
The dark web is not a separate internet. The dark web uses the internet that we use every day. It simply uses encryption and routing techniques designed to hide identities and locations.
The dark web is not against the law by itself. What you do on the web is what can get you into trouble with the law. The things people do on the web are what make it hard to know what is legal and what is not. The dark web is like a place where the rules are not very clear.
The dark web operates primarily through a network called Tor (The Onion Router). The system works by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it through multiple volunteer-operated servers around the world. The public internet or surface web is constructed from visible servers and web content identified by public IP addresses. The dark web also has content that is hosted on servers. Dark web sites do not have standard identifying features, nor are they included in the indexes for website owners. Search engines cannot add dark web sites to their indexes.
Almost all content, close to 99%, avoids search engines. This content includes information that has password portals, obsolete information, and anything that Google determines is irrelevant. However, not all the content that avoids search engines qualifies as the dark web.
In order for the content on the dark web sites to be part of the dark web, it has to be invisible to a standard web browser and search engines.
The dark web uses non-standard protocols and encryption methods. Special protocols are used in browsers like Tor, known as "The Onion Router," to establish encrypted entry points. These protocols follow a layered encryption method, whereby data packets are "wrapped" in many layers.
Another function of Tor, in relation to the dark web, is to create a complex path for data to travel. When data is sent from a node to another, the layers of encryption are gradually removed, similar to peeling the skin of an onion. There is no link between the entry point and the final destination.
Another difference between Tor and other browsers is that there are no identifiable data flows between the user and their Internet Service Provider. It deletes cookies and browsing history after each use. It also disables geolocation, which can reveal the location of the user.The majority of the content on the internet can be accessed using standard browsers even though the content is not listed on Google. However, the dark web is a different case.
Experts have estimated that the dark web contains 0.03% of unindexed content. However, the volume of hidden content is increasing. It should be noted that even though the volume of hidden content is increasing, 0.03% is a huge volume of information.
As dark websites are intentionally hidden, you can’t “Google” your way into them. The most common ways dark content is found are in the following three ways:
The majority of dark web sites share their URL, or .onion address, in invite-only sites, encrypted chats, or paste sites. .onion addresses are long and random, so users usually copy and paste them or save them in a password manager. If the URL changes or the site disappears, the site is essentially gone, unless the administrators of the site distribute a new URL to users.
Community-sustained directories behave like unpolished catalogues for .onion services, with the directories organised by categories such as markets, forums, whistleblower platforms, and so on. Dark web sites are ephemeral, and many directories are untrustworthy. Security teams treat public link directories with a degree of suspicion and use curated threat intelligence feeds.
There are search engines that exist in the dark web, and they operate in a very different way from Google:
Torch, Haystak, Not Evil, and other crawlers attempt to index a large percentage of the Tor network, but the results often include spam, clones, or dead markets.
Ahima, meanwhile, has a focus on safer results and filters out some abuse content. They also have a policy that outlines what they index and what they do not index.
Some search engines, particularly those with a focus on privacy, like some Tor-hidden versions of DuckDuckGo, offer a search box that is accessible within the Tor network, although they only index a slice of the hidden services.
Even with these, however, it should be noted that it is difficult to search the dark web because a large percentage of the results include seized markets, phishing, or malware droppers, which is why businesses often prefer to use a dark web monitoring and threat exposure platform.
The dark web has its roots in 1999, when it was born in the research lab of University of Edinburgh student Ian Clarke. As part of his computer science degree, he wrote a landmark paper on "a Distributed, Decentralised Information Storage and Retrieval System."
In 2000, he came up with a working version of his idea, which he called Freenet. His dream was for members of the public to enjoy complete anonymity. As the fear of online privacy and government censorship increased, Freenet was the logical step forward. No one had ever called it the "dark web”, at least, not yet.
Ironically, the US intel agencies would be the ones who would take the next step forward, creating the "Tor" network in 2004. Scientists at the Office of Naval Research came up with the idea for the network, which would allow for anonymity while conducting warfare and intel operations. However, the scientists would successfully argue for the network's release for public use.
The scientists realized that the decentralized network and encryption would require a large number of users. This explains the creation of the Tor Project and the refinement of the Tor browser in 2008.
In 2009, a shadowy website called Silk Road started to make headlines. Based on the dark web, Silk Road thrived as cryptocurrencies expanded. Dark web marketplaces soon sold everything from narcotics and firearms to pornography, pirated software, and prescription medication.
A study published in 2022 found that 24.6 billion pairs of credentials were available for purchase. The dark web is now a credentials brokerage, offering access to vast private databases. Cyber attackers use stolen passwords, which they obtain by breaching data. Other attackers buy the stolen data to use in phishing and other cyber attacks. The prices of stolen data are easily within most attackers’ budgets, with credit card details costing $120 and a single password costing as little as $10.
Considering the amount of crime that occurs on the dark web, it is only logical to wonder, "What is the purpose of the dark web?" The scientists designed the technology for a noble purpose. ONS and Clarke did not want crime to be facilitated, yet the technology led to the development of the dark web.
The purpose for the development of the dark web was for individual privacy. In the late 1990s, the excitement for the internet had dissipated, and people were worried about crime and the ability for people to monitor them. Individuals wanted the ability to surf the internet and communicate anonymously, and the dark web did a great job with that.
The dark web has a large purpose for individual privacy, and many media outlets, such as the BBC, the New Yorker, and ProPublica, utilize the tools that the dark web has to offer, allowing individuals to surf the internet without any type of censorship in other countries.
The legal situation with respect to the dark web is quite simple. The use of dark web tools is legal, but the use of the dark web to carry out illegal activities is not legal.
The stated advantages of the dark web could be the reasons for it to be legal and supported by some governments. The most reliable way to avoid the surveillance of an authoritarian government is to use Tor. The difficulty of striking a balance between anonymity and illegal activities like credential theft and selling is something that governments prefer to be legal about.
Some governments have banned the use of the dark web. China, Russia, and Vietnam have banned the use of Tor.
The most popular solution is the Tor Browser, which can be downloaded from the official Tor Project website. It contains a web browser and the necessary software to connect to the Tor network, with better default settings (for example, blocking certain plugins and trackers).
When Tor is launched, it establishes an encrypted path via several relays before it is possible to visit any site. In some countries, Tor is either blocked or restricted, and additional configuration, such as “bridges,” is necessary. Users should always verify the laws of the country before they attempt to use it.
After you are connected, you can visit onion sites by typing onion site addresses or by searching through search engines and directories on the dark web. Unlike any other experience of surfing the web, there is no guarantee that the sites you visit are legitimate, legal, and safe. Surfing the dark web for illegal content and purchasing illegal items is against the law even if you use the Tor network.
The dark web may be legal, but it's not safe. Many critical threats make the dark web dangerous. Here are just a few of the most concerning examples:
When one surfs the dark web, it is very easy to engage in illegal activities. The dark web is full of illegal drugs, guns, and even stolen information such as medical and legal documents. When one buys stolen and illegal items, they risk facing the law.
The dark web is not regulated, and the dark web forums one visits could lead one to malware, which could compromise one's device. The dark web forums could also lead one to illegal content without one's knowledge.
The dark web is full of data thieves and hackers. They will be more than willing to hack customers and dark web visitors.
The dark web is selling ransomware, which can be used to carry out cyber attacks by just about anybody. The REvil and GandCrab hacking groups have developed special software that uses stolen data.
The dark web is home to some of the most heinous crimes. One of the scariest is the hijacking of webcams. This is done by attacking visitors with unsecured webcams. The attacker can then use remote administration tools for blackmail.
Here are some tips to secure your data and ruin the bottom line of dark web data vendors:
Using a VPN
VPNs encrypt traffic and hide your data in transit. Secure every endpoint with VPN coverage to block data thieves.
Using dark web monitoring
Dark web monitoring is a must-have for organizations handling sensitive data.
Being cautious about exposing confidential information on dark web forums. Never mention your name, employer, phone number, or address.
Never trust dark websites. There is no SSL encryption on the dark web, and nobody certifies dark web sites as safe to use. Remember that when entering discussions or buying goods.
Don't click links on forum posts. The same applies to links. Dark web links could easily be malicious or lead you to illegal content. As a rule, avoid clicking unknown links if possible.
In conclusion, it is very obvious that the dark web is a lot more complex and intricate than what the myths and stories have portrayed it to be. The dark web is not an altogether different internet, as it is often portrayed to be, with the sole intention of using it for criminal activities. The dark web is, in fact, the smaller part of the world wide web that has been specifically designed with the intention of providing maximum privacy and anonymity. The dark web has, in fact, proved to be beneficial for the promotion and practice of free speech, communication, and for people living under a censored internet. The differences between the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web have helped to dispel the fears and misconceptions that people have about the dark web. The dark web, just like any other technology, is neither good nor bad. The intentions and use of the dark web by its users determine its use.
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