Dark webs are mostly seen by the outsider as a shadow underworld or a digital black market where criminals trade drugs, weapons, stolen identities, passports, documents, etc.
This is the story that most commonly spreads or appears in the news, on media, and on blogs.
Is this the real story? Is the dark web really as dangerous as they portray it in the media? Let’s understand and view what really happens on the dark web.
What is the dark web?
It is estimated that 95% of internet users are unaware of the existence of the dark web.
We will explain, in short and simpler terms, what the dark web is for beginners who have learned about it today.
The Internet is separated into three layers: the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web.
The surface web is mostly the search engines you use, like Google and Bing.
News websites, social media, and online stores are classified as the surface web.
The deep web is the next layer, including email inboxes, banking portals, medical records,, etc., that are not indexed by search engines.
The dark web is a subset of the deep web. It is accessible only through special software like the TOR browser(also called the onion browser). Tor works by routing your internet traffic through a series of encrypted relays across the globe, making it extraordinarily difficult to trace the origin of a connection.
There are no special search engines to access the websites, but there are directories that list websites hosted and accessible only through the Tor browser.
These websites are called v3 onion websites, as the extension of these websites ends with .onion
These onion websites do not work on your regular web browsers.
What really happens on the dark web?
The dark web is famous for its notorious activities.
Drugs, illicit contents, weapons, hitmen are a few that immediately come to one’s mind when they think of the dark web. This is because the media and news websites have portrayed it as such.
These criminal activities happen on the surface web, too.
Vast scams happen on the surface web, social media, and through messaging apps.
Still, the dark web has been portrayed as a place where you can easily access illegal content.
It is not true that illegal content is present on the dark web, but finding it will be difficult for you.
Also, if it happens, not only you but also government agencies will know about it, and the web page will be shut down soon, and the owners of those websites will be arrested.
Since the FBI’s shutdown of the Silk Road in 2013, many websites have risen and fallen, only to be shut down by law enforcement agencies.
There are hackers who sell stolen credit card credentials and exploit corporate data.
Is this it? So, is the dark web only for illegal content? No. If you look deep down, you can see that some major news agencies have their presence on the dark web.
The New York Times, The Guardian, and The BBC are some of the few news channels that host their websites on the dark web.
Security researchers and threat intelligence analysts use it to track criminal networks, identify future threats, and study cybercriminal ecosystems before those threats affect the people.
Whistleblowers use it. The kind of people who have information the powerful desperately want to suppress, and who would like to continue living freely after sharing it.
What makes the dark web dangerous?
On the surface web, we can identify who is behind a website, and its owner can be easily found.
But on the dark web, it is completely different; they have no privacy policy or terms and conditions. They operate in the shadows, where finding the owner of the websites will be harder.
Anonymity poses a key challenge in identifying the criminals behind illegal websites. It provides a safe environment for scammers and criminals to hide their anonymity, making it easier to commit crimes.
There are no legal laws to organize this type of website. This results in piracy, illegal hosting, and fraud that happens openly.
Marketplaces disappear overnight, steal users’ money, and pull an exit scam.
Law enforcement struggles to protect effectively, yet they too fail sometimes.
New users of the dark web often misjudge or underestimate the dark web. A single wrong click is enough to compromise your device.
The dark web is not inherently evil, but criminals behind illegal content pose a threat because of its inherent design of anonymity.
Truth is, the dark web is dangerous only if you use it in the wrong way. You can avoid this by simply not using it.
How to stay safe on the dark web?
While the dark web is dangerous, we can still access it safely without compromising our data.
Always use a secondary name. Do not use your name, email, or any personal information. This can affect you in one way or another.
Use a reputable VPN when surfing the dark web.
Turn on anti-virus software if you have one.
It is always smarter to protect yourself before engaging in contact with anyone on the dark web.
Do not trust anyone. Always have a suspicion of the person.
If you think you have come across any of your details on the dark web, read here and protect yourself.
It is better to stay away from the websites you have doubts about.
If you ever have any doubt about any website you visit, just exit the website.
Final thoughts :
The crimes that occur on the dark web also occur on the surface web. If we compare the numbers or the money lost in scams on the surface web or the deep web(social media or instant messaging apps) to the dark web, the dark web will account for less money.
Anonymity is a big challenge.
One should stay safe and use necessary tools to protect from scams or loss of money.
FAQ:
Which browser is used to access the dark web? – Tor browser is the safest browser to access the dark web.
Do I need a VPN to access the dark web? – Although it is safe to use the Tor Browser, adding an extra layer of protection will be helpful.