The dark web refers to the encrypted online information that most search engines do not index in their results. Users need to utilize special browsers, like TOR browsers to access these sites, as the conventional browsers do not allow access. Privacy and anonymity are two important factors of these special browsers that you need to keep in mind.
Most of these websites focus on dealing with online marketplaces that deal with drugs, weapons, stolen data, and several other illegal activities. These are the common perceptions that most people have while thinking about the dark web.
Most of the users of these sites include political dissidents or people who want to maintain their anonymity while browsing these sites.
Further Understanding
The dark web operates underground and away from conventional browsing channels. The dark web usually includes websites that most general public cannot access, or has never seen. Traditional search engines like Google use to return results because they use keyword relevancy as a major result filter.
However, the dark web uses other information unavailable on these conventional search engines. This can include information from specific accounts, including e-mails, social media, personal and banking databases, and documents.
Most of the data on the dark web is quite amateur, resonating much like the internet in the 19th century. However, it is quite easy for people to start sites and get attention online. In addition, tech giants and conventional online key players have little impact on the dark web or darknet.
The dark web also has a reputation for hosting and carrying out illegal activities, much like the initial conventional internet streams. However, it also provides a social outlet for people who may face legal issues because of their political beliefs, and identities.
Moreover, the dark web also provides legal authorities the extra edge they require to catch perpetrators who commit serious legal offenses.
The Dark Web Throughout the Years
The dark web first surfaced in the early 2000s with the introduction of Freenet. Ian Clarke was the first person to develop it and helped users against hacker and government attacks. This system allowed online users to express themselves without fearing getting tracked.
Next, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory ran a project called The Onion Router (TOR), which allowed intelligence agencies to communicate with one another without fearing encryption and data leakage. This worked in remote or hostile areas where the safety of the communicators is a priority.
TOR is one of the most famous sources of accessing the darknet, and access databases to collect information individuals require. Moreover, the popularity of cryptocurrency helped the dark web gain more popularity in recent years. It is because the darknet provided crypto dealers the safety they needed to avoid legal persecution.
However, governments around the world are now demanding regulations for the darknet, because of its connection with illegal activities. Various organizations and departments are now voting for this, including the G20 and the Financial Action Task Force.
The Dark Web vs. The Deep Web
While most people use the terms dark and deep web interchangeably, they aren’t completely the same. The dark web is a major part of the deep web, but it is not all. For example, the deep web includes all the information that exists underground, this means it is not always illegal.
However, the information on the deep web is usually encrypted and you cannot find it through conventional internet indexing. Easily put, it includes all the pages that do not show up when you search for things on search engines like Google.
Moreover, the deep web can include anything that requires logging in, such as:
- File hosting services, (Dropbox and its competitors)
- Online banking
- Pay websites (Netflix and Amazon Prime)
- Private databases
Therefore, the deep web includes subscription-based databases, rather than illegal information, unlike the dark web.
Dark Web: Advantages and Disadvantages
Despite popular belief, the dark web offers several advantages and disadvantages for its users, which we are going to mention. These are as follows
Advantages of the Dark Web
The dark web allows individuals to maintain their privacy, avoid tracking, leak information, and several other benefits. For example, people terrorized by stalkers or criminals can easily use their accounts, without fearing a breach of info. Similarly, law enforcement agencies can communicate with potential criminals to apprehend them.
Disadvantages of the Dark Web
Some people abuse the access powers of the dark web and use them for illegal and illicit activities. This makes it easier to participate in criminal activities. Moreover, people may also use it to breach other people’s information and privacy, without consent.
Bottom Line
The dark web is both an asset and a liability, depending on how users utilize it. It has millions of users despite being relatively new. Users can install a VPN to ensure they remain secure while accessing the dark web.