The dark web might conjure up thoughts of hackers and cybercriminals stealing and trading confidential data or of drug and gun dealers promoting and selling their goods.
While the dark web is a potent enabler of such nefarious internet activities, that’s not its only use. In fact, it can be argued that it was made primarily for legitimate and productive internet activity like privacy in communication and anonymity.
But like everything else, criminals have and will always find a way to turn well-intentioned technology into a tool for furthering their illicit activities.
What exactly is the dark web?
The dark web is a small part of the internet consisting of veiled and covert sites that are undiscoverable by conventional web browsers and regular internet traffic. According to some unverified sources, it’s claimed that it was created circa 2000 by the US government to allow spies to communicate anonymously.
To access the dark web, you might have to employ alternative means, such as using search engines that are designed to unearth these covert sites and a Tor browser. A Tor browser, short for the Onion Router, allows anonymous browsing of the internet and helps ward off surveillance and ensure privacy. More on Tor Browser.
Dark sites use encryption software to conceal the identity of their users and owners’ to anonymize and their online activities, hence why it’s favoured by cybercriminals. This doesn’t mean that they have dominion over it, though. A lot of daily traffic on the dark web is purely legitimate.
How the dark web works and how to access it
The dark web can be accessed by the Tor Browser, which is widely preferred for its security and privacy. A Tor browser can be downloaded from the official Tor project website, after which one can connect to the dark web.
This doesn’t mean that the Tor browser will find dark web sites automatically, though. A user will have to actively search for them using a dark web search engine and use the browser to access them. Examples of such search engines include ahmia.fi, duckduckgo, and Torch, among others.
Unlike a regular browser, a Tor browser takes a convoluted route from a device to the web, using a random set of encrypted servers to anonymize sites and users.
Dark web sites also don’t come with conventional, easy-to-remember URLs. Whereas websites accessible by regular browsers like Chrome end with domain names like .com,.ke,.org, and such, those accessible by the Tor browser end with.onion.
While a Facebook surface web URL might look like Facebook.com, a dark web URL might look something like facebookwkhpilnemxj7asaniu7vnjjbiltxjqhye3mhbshg7kx5tfyd.onion
Another unique aspect of the dark web is that dark sites typically don’t last for long. While some are changed and moved around to avoid detection, others are shut down for illegal activity or after having served their purpose.
Dark Web benefits
The main purpose of the dark web is private, secure and anonymous communication and thus it can be beneficial in a variety of contexts
Journalists and whistle-blowers who are working to expose nefarious activities such as corruption, drug trafficking, and such. Due to the sensitivity and perils of such exposures, their identities have to remain hidden for the sake of their lives. It’s also helpful for journalists interviewing sources who wish to remain anonymous.
In countries with oppressive and authoritarian policies, dissidents and protesters wary of government prosecution can communicate with each other, journalists, and anyone else without exposing their identities. They can also use the dark web to access news, social media, and information that might have been blocked or is under surveillance from regular channels.
Privacy and Security: Users seeking medical advice or services can remain anonymous and ensure their privacy. For security purposes, the dark web can also be used for sensitive information and financial transactions, made possible by the encrypted and convoluted traffic that makes it hard to track and monitor.
While some use the dark web out of sheer curiosity, the majority use the Tor browser for security and anonymity. This is possible because there’s virtually no way of tracking users and their online activity.
Risks of the dark web
Because a minority but still considerable number of users on the dark web use it for illicit activities, it’s important to understand the potential safety and security risks associated with it before venturing into the abyss.
Hacking
The dark web is a hotbed for hackers and hacking activity. While you can easily find hackers for yourself, they can easily hack into your devices if they convince you to leave a slight channel for them, unwittingly. They can then wreak havoc. They can install malware, viruses, and RATs (remote administration tools) like webcam hijackers and monitor you in real time.
Crime
All manner of criminals and criminal activities live and thrive on the dark web. The chances of running into sites selling and marketing illegal goods and services such as guns, drugs, surveillance, and hired gun services are high. Such criminals might not only steal from you but also seek to exploit or blackmail you.
Legal
In some cases, activities conducted on the dark web can fall into a legal grey area. Not surprisingly, law officials also operate on the dark web in order to try and intercept or investigate actual and potential criminal activity. Transacting in either sensitive information or communicating with ‘wanted’ persons might expose one to legal issues, if found.
Anything can be sold on the dark web, from stolen social security and credit card numbers to fake passports and diplomas. While these are known to be illegal, some seemingly innocuous ones, such as buying hacked Netflix accounts, designer knockoffs, and pornography, can fall into the realm of criminal activity, and one can be liable for prosecution.
Accessing the dark web is not illegal, but activities like buying stolen information and items are what will make one a target for law enforcement.
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As with all online activity, security cannot be understated. Using the dark web can come with even greater risks than regular surface web activity.
For additional protection, using a VPN can provide anonymity and stop cybercriminals from eavesdropping on your network and intercepting any back-and-forth data.
Even while using the dark web for legitimate reasons, it’s of paramount importance to be cautious and avoid reckless activities like clicking on unknown links, divulging personal information, and generally doing anything that you wouldn’t do in real life.
Opportunist criminals are lurking, waiting for a hapless victim to offer them a slight window through which they can download malware and remote administration tools onto unsuspecting users.
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