Spam Trends Of The Week: Cybercrooks Phish For QuickBooks, American Express And Banking Accounts
Understanding the Dark Web
Being aware of the basic facts about these parts of the internet can help you give realistic and honest support to young people if you are concerned they are using them. Finally, the popularity of the dark web with criminals makes it a perfect way for undercover police officers to communicate. ¹ The score you receive with Aura is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit. It is calculated using the information contained in your Equifax credit file.
Cryptocurrencies are decentralized and operate outside of traditional banking systems, making it difficult to trace transactions. This makes them an attractive option for individuals involved in illegal activities such as the sale of drugs or stolen data. The dark web also uses cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin to facilitate transactions.
The biggest differentiator between the deep and dark web is that dark web activity is made anonymous through a variety of encryption and routing techniques. One of the best ways you can keep yourself and your information protected is by using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Strong passwords are at least 16 characters long and contain upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. To make your accounts as secure as they can be, make sure you’re not reusing or using variations of the same password across multiple accounts. According to Dataprot, a rough estimate is that the surface web makes up only 5% of the internet and the rest is made up of the deep web.
Whilst Deep Web sites can’t be accessed through search engines, you’ll be unable to access the Dark Web by a normal web browser altogether. Accessing sites here is comparatively safe and does not warrant particular caution. On the contrary, the dark web should be accessed with extreme caution and special measures in place.
The term dark web refers to a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing.
To fully comprehend what’s dark web, it’s important to differentiate it from the surface web and deep web. Here’s a brief overview:
It is difficult to quantify the exact numbers due to the nature of what we would like to measure, but the increase in internet traffic leads to this natural progression of increased cybercrime. Hidden Services can be used legitimately, for example for whistleblowing or to allow members of the public to share sensitive information such as knowledge about crimes without the risk of reprisals. However, it is generally believed that the majority of Hidden Services contain illicit material. A Hidden Service (also known as an ‘onion service’) is one where not only the user but also the website itself, have their anonymity protected by Tor. This means that the IP address of the site cannot be identified, meaning that information about its host, location, or content is hidden. Hidden Services are sometimes called “onion addresses” because the website name often ends .onion.
This makes TOR popular among people wanting a safer online experience. It achieves a higher level of security than traditional browsing by funneling online data through a network of routers called nodes. Tor uses an encryption method based around “onion routing,” which is where it derives its name. Along with the illegal stuff, there are also many legitimate networks such as chess clubs, social networks, hard-to-find books, and collectibles, as well as chat rooms for innocent purposes.
- Surface Web: This is the content that is accessible through standard web browsers and is indexed by search engines.
- Deep Web: This includes databases, private corporate websites, and anything behind paywalls or requiring authentication. It is much larger than the surface web.
- Dark Web: A small portion of the deep web designed to be hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers.
Accessing the Dark Web
Accessing the dark web typically requires special software, the most well-known being Tor (The Onion Router). This platform allows users to browse the internet anonymously. Here’s how it works:
- User installs the Tor browser and connects to the Tor network.
- The user’s internet traffic is encrypted and routed through multiple nodes.
- Access to .onion sites is granted, which are specifically hosted on the dark web.
- Financial profit is the main motivation for attackers to put data on the dark web.
- The dark web is a collection of sites and services that exist on an encrypted network, accessible only through special software like the Tor Browser.
- This technique is ideal for discovering content on the surface web but is often ineffective at finding deep web content.
- Onion routing has given rise to the term “Onionland” as a synonym for the dark web.
What Can You Find on the Dark Web?
The content found on the dark web can be diverse and, at times, controversial. Some common types of content and activities include:
- Illegal Marketplaces: Places where drugs, weapons, and stolen data are bought and sold.
- Forums and Communities: Groups discussing various subjects, ranging from hacking to cryptography.
- Whistleblowing Platforms: Sites that protect the identity of whistleblowers exposing corruption or illegal activities.
- Privacy-Focused Services: Tools for secure communication, file sharing, and more.
Risks of the Dark Web
While there are intriguing aspects to the dark web, it also comes with significant risks:
- Illegal Activities: Many activities on the dark web are illegal, and engaging with them can have serious legal consequences.
- Cybersecurity Threats: There’s a high risk of encountering malware, scams, and phishing attempts.
- Anonymity Issues: While Tor offers a degree of anonymity, law enforcement agencies have been known to infiltrate dark web sites.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between the dark web and the deep web?
The dark web is a small portion of the deep web specifically designed for anonymous communication and illegal activities, while the deep web contains benign content that isn’t indexed by search engines.
Is the dark web illegal?
The dark web itself is not illegal; however, many activities that take place on it, such as drug trafficking and hacking, are against the law.
Can law enforcement track users on the dark web?
While tools like Tor provide anonymity, law enforcement agencies have methods to track illegal activities and, in certain cases, users.
Should I browse the dark web?
Visitors should proceed with caution, as the dark web can expose users to risks, both legal and cybersecurity-related.
In conclusion, understanding what’s dark web involves exploring its complex and often risky nature. With the right knowledge and precautions, users can navigate this enigmatic part of the internet more safely.
