Table of Contents
Top 10 Things You Might Not Know About The Dark Web
What is the dark web? How to access it and what you’ll find
1. The‘Deep Web’ Is Not Necessarily The ‘Dark Web’.
2. People Might Use Hidden Wiki Sites To Find Links.
3. The FBI Has Performed Sting Operations On The Dark Web.
4. Most Sales On The Dark Web Use Bitcoin (BTC).
5. Most Websites Are Scams.
6. Silk Road Was One Of The Most Popular Sites On The Dark Web.
7. Not All People Use The Dark Web For Crimes.
8. It Is Not Illegal To Browse The Dark Web.
9. Dark Web Sites Use A Special Domain Ending In onion.
10. It’s Accessible Through A Browser Known As The Onion Router (aka TOR).
10 thing About Dark Web
The dark web, often shrouded in mystery and misconception, exists as a hidden part of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines. While its reputation may be tinged with intrigue and illicit activities, there’s much more to this clandestine realm than meets the eye. Let’s uncover ten lesser-known facts about the dark web.
1. It’s a Small Fraction of the Deep Web:
Contrary to popular belief, the dark web is just a tiny subset of the deep web. The deep web encompasses all web pages not indexed by search engines, including private databases, academic libraries, and more. The dark web represents a fraction of the deep web known for its anonymity and hidden services.
2. Tor Network: Gateway to Anonymity:
The most commonly used tool to access the dark web is the Tor (The Onion Router) network. Tor anonymizes internet traffic by routing it through a network of servers, concealing users’ identities and locations.
3. Marketplace for Goods and Services:
While the dark web does harbor illegal marketplaces for drugs, firearms, and stolen data, it also hosts legal services such as forums, whistleblower platforms, and privacy-enhancing tools for activists living under repressive regimes.
4. Dark Web Encryption:
Encryption plays a pivotal role in the dark web. Websites on the darknet use encryption protocols like HTTPS, similar to regular websites, ensuring secure communication between users and sites.
5. Cryptocurrencies as the Preferred Currency:
Cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, are the primary mode of transaction in the dark web due to their pseudonymous nature. They provide a level of anonymity for users engaging in transactions.
6. Hidden Services and .onion Sites:
Websites on the dark web often have URLs ending with “.onion,” denoting their hidden nature. These sites are not accessible through regular browsers and require specific configurations to access.
7. The Dark Web and Privacy Advocacy:
The dark web is not solely a hub for illegal activities. It’s also a haven for privacy advocates, journalists, and whistleblowers seeking anonymity to share sensitive information without fear of censorship or surveillance.
8. Legal Risks:
While using the dark web is not illegal, engaging in illegal activities on the dark web can lead to severe legal consequences. Law enforcement agencies actively monitor and prosecute criminal activities on these platforms.
9. Dark Web Myths and Legends:
Several myths surround the dark web, including rumors of hitmen for hire, red rooms (supposed live streams of torture), and other sensationalized stories. Many of these claims lack credible evidence.
10. Ethical Use and Caution:
Exploring the dark web out of curiosity is permissible, but exercising caution is paramount. Visitors should avoid clicking on suspicious links, refrain from engaging in illegal activities, and be mindful of their online security.
You must take some precautions before venturing onto the dark web, like employing a virtual private network, using the proper browser, knowing which websites to avoid, and far more.
In addition, tons of history has been made on and thru the dark web, like influential sites rising and falling.
highly capable people impacting the important world in a serious manner, and knowledge spreading like wildfire that has influenced the planet in major ways.
With all that to think about, you want to know these 10 critical facts if you propose on exploring this interesting yet disturbing corner of the Internet!
1. The‘Deep Web’ Is Not Necessarily The ‘Dark Web’
Are you surprised to read this? You shouldn’t be.
There are two sorts of “hidden” websites—the dark web, which features the illegal stuff, and therefore the deep web, which is simply an umbrella term for love or money that uses a .onion link.
For example, whistleblowers who use the .onion domain to call out their governments aren’t a part of the dark web.
Instead, they’re within the deep web. However, Silk Road would are considered a part of the dark web
2. People Might Use Hidden Wiki Sites To Find Links
There are many various “Hidden Wiki” sites, a number of which are even on the clearnet. These sites are useful to find .onion links to explore.
Luckily, most Hidden Wikis don’t include links to sites that are illegal to click on. Some people even say that the FBI sets up Hidden Wiki sites to offer criminals easier access to sites utilized in sting operations.
3. The FBI Has Performed Sting Operations On The Dark Web
At times, some links simply won’t load on the dark web or they’re going to show a screen with the FBI logo that tells you the location has been seized.
But this isn’t the complete extent to which legal authorities are involved within the dark web. One example is Operation Bayonet, where Dutch police hijacked Hansa, a dark web market.
4. Most Sales On The Dark Web Use Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin may be a cryptocurrency, which suggests that it exists digitally without a central regulatory or issuing authority just like the United States government.
It also relies on cryptography to stop fraud and counterfeiting. As a decentralized sort of currency, Bitcoin is tough (though not impossible) to trace, making it easy to use for dark web purchases.
As Bitcoin is often tracked, people tend to also use mixing services to form their transactions completely anonymous.
Sales can sometimes involve other cryptocurrencies, like Litecoin or Bitcoin Cash. However, Bitcoin is the commonest.
5. Most Websites Are Scams
There are thousands of internet sites on the dark web, many of which claim to be selling certain things.
However, once you buy something (which you seriously shouldn’t), you’ll find that it almost never makes it to your home. That’s right. the vendor just made off with both your money and your pride.
you furthermore may probably order something illegal from dark web, which causes you to a criminal.
In addition, some marketplaces are dedicated to selling things that assist with scams.
Certain marketplaces, like the now-defunct Silk Road, had trust ratings for vendors. However, this will be abused by vendors who first gain their customers’ trust then address scam.
Afterward, these criminals create new accounts and restart the cycle.
6. Silk Road Was One Of The Most Popular Sites On The Dark Web
Before it had been seized and pack up by the FBI in October 2013, Silk Road was among the most important marketplaces on the dark web.
it had been founded in February 2011 to host independent online vendors selling various things, typically illegal substances, and services. They sold almost any illegal item or service you’ll consider,
with only a few restrictions on what might be sold.
After the first site was taken down, it took only a month for a replacement site to surface. it had been called Silk Road 2.0. However, that site has also been pack up.
7. Not All People Use The Dark Web For Crimes
When you hear about dark web, you’ll consider people using it to sell illegal substances or upload illegal content.
Perhaps you even imagine that stereotypical image above: a person wearing a hoodie during a barely lit room who is hiding his face and searching at binary digits on his laptop while typing in a way that resembles hacking.
But this is often not always the case. Various people on dark web have used it to evade censorship and make claims that might be illegal to mention openly in their countries.
Examples include opposing their country’s leader and whistleblowing. In addition, people have much more anonymity and privacy on certain forums on dark web.
There, they will have more open discussions about various things than on the open Internet (aka the “clearnet”).
8. It Is Not Illegal To Browse Dark Web
One common misconception that scares many of us from using the dark web?
The concept they’re committing a criminal offense by doing so. this is often not true. actually, no crime is committed unless someone views specifically illegal content on the dark web.
It’s against the law to even click on certain sites. But if you attend various dark web marketplaces and appearance at the content without buying anything.
you’re probably not committing a criminal offense until you create the acquisition.
it’s also legal to browse or maybe talk in many forums on the dark web as long as you are doing not use them to line up illegal business transactions or engage in illegal activities.
9. Dark Web Sites Use A Special Domain Ending In .onion
In a way, this is often the “magic” behind the operation of dark web. Most browsers can only view domains with specific top-level domain suffixes.
Examples include .com, .org, and .gov.However, sites with the pseudo-top-level domain suffix .onion can only be accessed by specific browsers, like TOR.
As a result, .onion sites are far more difficult to trace down and report.
10. It’s Accessible Through A Browser Known As The Onion Router (aka TOR)
The Onion Router (TOR) could also be the foremost popular browser wont to explore the dark web. It features a kind of encryption function almost like that of a virtual private network (VPN).
However, that’s far away from the sole sort of security needed to browse the dark web. Some hackers have found ways to figure round the encryptions on TOR, so it’s safer to use TOR together with a VPN.