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What is it? -

The dark web is a part of the internet that you wouldn’t be able to find on any traditional search engine. It is a very private area of the World Wide Web that requires specific software and authorization to access, all for the sake of keeping its users anonymous.

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Myths and reality -

The dark web is often sensationalized in media and pop culture, which leads to a mix of myths and realities. While it does host illegal activities, the dark web also provides a haven for those needing privacy and freedom of expression in repressive environments.

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Security risks -

Browsing the dark web poses significant security risks, including exposure to malware, phishing scams, and potential law enforcement scrutiny. Users are often recommended to exercise extreme caution and utilize robust security measures.

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ARPANET -

The dark web's origins can be traced back to the 1960s, when the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in the US Department of Defense set up its own experimental network, named ARPANET. The purpose was to link government computers across the nation over telephone lines.

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Cold War -

During the Cold War, the government found ARPANET to be incredibly useful. Enemies weren’t able to destroy the network, since it had no central core. Many have argued that ARPANET is the first forefather of the modern internet.

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Onion routing -

In the 1990s, the US Naval Research Laboratory developed a method of routing internet traffic anonymously. This method is known as onion routing, and it was initially designed to protect US intelligence communications online by anonymizing users and their activities.

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Tor -

In 2002, the US government released a network known as Tor (The Onion Router) to the public, which meant that others were now able to use anonymous networks to communicate.

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Surface web -

As the internet evolved over time, it started splitting into three parts: the surface web, deep web, and dark web. Interestingly, the part of the web that is openly accessible to the public is only about 4% of the entire internet.

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Cryptocurrency -

In 2009, the first cryptocurrency was mined and then later used for transactions on the dark web. As time went on, cryptocurrency became the preferred payment method in black markets, since its financial anonymity complicates efforts to trace and disrupt illegal transactions.

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Silk Road marketplace -

Launched in 2011, Silk Road became the first prominent dark web marketplace, infamous for its trade in illegal drugs, counterfeit currency, and other illicit goods and services. It was operated by Ross Ulbricht, who was eventually arrested in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison. Silk Road was taken offline in October of the same year.

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Playpen -

Before 2015, the extent of the dark web’s malevolence was unknown. But then the FBI shut down a dark website named Playpen that had hosted more than 23,000 explicit pictures of minors.

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Escrow services -

To mitigate risks of fraud, many dark web transactions use escrow services. These services hold payments in a neutral account until both the buyer and seller confirm the transaction.

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Content -

The dark web hosts a wide variety of content, including legal and illegal activities. Legal uses include forums for political activists, journalists, and whistleblowers living under oppressive regimes. However, it is more infamous for the plethora of illegal activities that take place there. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

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Child exploitation -

The dark web is notorious for hosting sites that share illegal and deeply disturbing content, including child exploitation materials. Law enforcement agencies around the world continuously battle to shut down these sites and bring perpetrators to justice.

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Hit men for hire -

Some dark web sites offer assassination services for a fee, allowing individuals to hire hit men anonymously. Although many of these sites are scams, the existence of such services reflects the dark web's potential for facilitating violent crime.

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Weapon sales -

Various marketplaces on the dark web offer firearms, explosives, and other weapons for sale. This illegal trade bypasses international arms regulations and poses significant threats to public safety.

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Cybercrime forums -

Dark web forums are hotbeds for cybercriminals to exchange knowledge, tools, and services. These forums enable activities such as hacking and the distribution of malware, all of which contribute to global cybercrime.

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Identity theft -

The dark web is a major hub for the sale of stolen personal information, including credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive data that contributes to widespread identity theft and financial fraud.

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Illegal drugs -

Numerous dark web marketplaces facilitate the sale of illegal drugs and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. According to studies conducted on Tor, illicit drugs are among the top searches on the dark web.

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Human trafficking -

The dark web has also been used as a platform for human trafficking, including the sale of people for forced labor and other kinds of exploitation. Due to the secretive nature of these online networks, it is incredibly challenging for authorities to track and rescue victims.

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Censorship resistance -

Many questions have arisen over time regarding the ethics of the dark web, especially since there are various networks that are used for humanitarian purposes. Indeed, some activists and journalists in oppressive countries use the dark web to bypass censorship and communicate freely.

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Financial services -

The dark web offers various illegal financial services, including money laundering and tax evasion schemes. These services exploit the anonymity provided by the dark web to circumvent legal financial systems.

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Counterfeit goods -

Besides drugs and weapons, the dark web is also a marketplace for counterfeit goods such as fake IDs, passports, luxury items, and even money.

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Terrorism -

Terrorist organizations have been known to use the dark web for propaganda, recruitment, and communication. The anonymity afforded by the dark web allows them to coordinate attacks and spread extremist ideologies.

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Piracy -

Interestingly, sites that distribute pirated software, movies, and music are also part of the dark web, since this illegal distribution violates intellectual property rights.

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Organ trafficking -

Although rare, there are reports of organ trafficking facilitated through the dark web, where illegal clinics sell human organs for transplants to the highest bidder, all of which pose severe ethical and health risks.

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Law enforcement -

Law enforcement agencies around the world continuously battle against dark web markets, employing advanced cyber tactics to infiltrate and shut them down. Despite these efforts, new markets quickly emerge to replace those taken offline.

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Future threats -

Emerging technologies (like artificial intelligence) could further complicate efforts to monitor and control the dark web. This has the potential to increase the amount of cybercriminal activity that plays out on the internet.

Sources: (The Conversation) (Standard Office Systems) (Encyclopedia Britannica) (IdentityIQ)

See also: How to protect yourself against identity theft

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