Dark Web – What Is It, When It Is Created And More
The dark web. Does it sound terrifying? Do those two little words make you shiver? And do you know why you feel this way?
The dark web is known for being a haven for illegal activity that many people prefer to avoid, but what the hell is it exactly? And does it have other purposes?
This article will shed some light on the dark web and detail its many uses.
Table of Contents
What is the dark web?
The Internet has three main parts: the shallow web, the deep web, and the dark web. The shallow web accounts for about 10% of the total and includes everything anyone can find by entering terms into a search engine like Google or Yahoo.
Despite its bombastic name, it is simple, the place where information is stored that is not easily accessible to anyone. This includes everything that is password-protects, from subscription services to bank accounts and medical information. This section is what makes up the majority of the web.
The dark web is anything not accessible through standard browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox. Any information can reside on the dark web. It is dark simply because its accessibility is more limited.
It wasn’t that bad, was it?
When it was created?
Well, if we dust off the history books, we will find that the original Internet, ARPANET, sent its first message in 1969. After that, it did not take long for covert, or dark, networks to appear.
How can I enter the dark web?
First, you may be wondering if entering the dark web is illegal. The answer is no,”. What may be illegal is what you do once inside, but that is up to you.
And having clarified this point, how can you, intrepid explorer, enter the dark web?
The most popular method is to use the anonymous Tor browser. This browser can download like Chrome, Firefox, or any other, but it works differently.
Tor is an acronym for “The Onion Router,” which refers to the way it works. Internet activity through Tor must traverse different layers of networks (like an onion), each of which helps encrypt traffic from your computer. Due to these extra layers of security, Tor is slower than normal browsers. Many Tor users recommend using a VPN at the same time for maximum privacy.
But remember that Tor is not itself the dark web, it is just a tool to explore it. With Tor, you can access the same content you do safely … or you can drill down. That’s where the websites with the .onion suffix come in. If you see this termination in a web address (instead of .com, .net, etc.), it is a site, and you need the Tor browser to access it. Sites with the .onion suffix do not appear in normal search engines, even if Tor used, so those who explore the dark web use special directories.
What is the dark web used for?
If you have heard anything about the it, you surely have news about illegal transactions.
However, what the it is is a space to enjoy extreme privacy online. One of the things you can do on the dark web is to order illegal medications to be shipped home. You can also read the New York Times or look at Facebook, as both sites have .onion versions for it (although you will still asked to subscribe or login). Ultimately, what you do on it depends on your personal needs.
Let’s say you live in a country like Iran, where many popular websites, like Facebook and Twitter, are censored. Well, by using Tor to access blocked sites and by using the .onion versions for it (if available), you will be able to access it with complete peace of mind. Although it should noted that for many of the people using Tor and the dark web primarily for privacy (no accessibility), using the Facebook site on it would be quite ironic due to its many innate privacy issues.
Dark Web
Whistleblowers, journalists, and people facing government oppression have also used private online tools like Tor and the dark web.However, privacy exists for good, for the bad, and all the halfway between the two. While it allows the average user to avoid espionage and data collection by governments and companies, it also makes it possible to abuse such users. An example: the dark web is one of the main points of distribution and sale of malware. Another example: the privacy of it allows frauds like selling stolen credit card numbers. And a discussion of it and online privacy wouldn’t be complete without mentioning cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum, which are the blood that allows private transactions to thrive (both on the dark web and the shallow Internet).
There was also a controversial website, Silk Road, a dark web marketplace where just about anything could be found. The site made possible, among other things, a robust drug trade with user reviews that ironically report having reduced violent drug trafficking on the streets. In 2013, the FBI closed this site. It also confiscated servers and deployed malware to catch a pedophile cartel on it, demonstrating that law enforcement agencies can shed light on the most horrendous corners of the it and find ways to overcome the many layers of secrecy.
Oh, there is also a curious fact:
The United States Government has heavily financed Tor. When it comes to average users, even if you don’t do bad things, it is possible that simply taking a look at Tor will find your bones list.
The future can paint dark.
No privacy tool is perfect, but as invasions of privacy by hackers and businesses increase. More and more people turn to “dark” methods for minimal online privacy. If you’re not ready to switch to Tor and the dark web, you can get a VPN to encrypt your connection to help keep anonymity online.
Also Read:What Is Cybersecurity, It Types And Its Challenges
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