For most of us, the internet is like a bustling city with sensible urban planning. There are the bright, well-lit streets where people shop, chat, and mingle with their friends. There are places like the library where you get information, specialty shops for your hobbies and interests, and agora-like open spaces where people share pictures of their lunch and people comment and re-share content. This is the ‘Surface web’ – the part of the internet that everyone sees. Think social media, online stores, news sites, and the general content of the internet.
Naturally, there are also areas in the city that aren’t open to the public – private, unmarked office buildings, locked basements, gated communities. This is the ‘Deep web’, an area for confidential content like private emails, medical records, paywalled content, online banking pages, legal files, and subscription services. You need to be invited or have specific keys to access these areas.
But every city also has its underbelly – dark alleyways and shadowy neighborhoods with no signs, no rules, no streetlights. This is the ‘Dark web’, a network that prioritizes anonymity precisely to make it hard to know who or what you’re dealing with. Most people avoid areas like this for good reason. Malicious activity naturally flock to where people can’t find out who you are.
But it’s not all bad; there are legitimate reasons why anonymous areas like this are important to the community. But if you wander in without a clue, things can go South for you really fast.
What’s the Dark web?
Shedding off the spooky stories, the Dark web is simply the part of the internet unindexed by the usual search engines (Google, Bing, etc.). It also can’t be accessed by common browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. To gain entry, you’ll need to use a special browser called Tor (The Onion Router). Why is it an “onion”? Because it veils your internet traffic with layers upon layers of encryption to hide your identity. Instead of the usual domain names (.com, .org, etc.), websites on the Dark web end with .onion.
Because it’s not indexed, the Dark web isn’t searchable in the same way that the Surface web is. Moreover, the nature of the content of the Dark web (people who don’t want to be identified or enterprises that want to keep moving to lose anyone on their trail) makes the landscape ever changing. A site that’s open today could suddenly close without any warning. And while there are existing Dark web search engines, even the best of them have a hard time keeping up with the constant and ever present changes in the network.
Like the internet itself, the Dark web was originally developed for military purposes – a way for intelligence agents to communicate anonymously. Today, lots of people populate this shadowy corner: journalists protecting sources, activists avoiding censorship, and yes, criminals running illegal operations. Anyone who has a little more technical know-how than the average person and who has an interest in remaining anonymous can dip into the Dark web for added privacy and security.
What’s in there?
Not everything on the Dark web is sinister, but let’s not sugarcoat it – it’s also where some of the shadiest dealings go down. Here’s what you might blunder into:
Legitimate Uses:
Privacy Protection: Journalists, whistleblowers, and anyone who needs to share information without risking exposure could use the Dark web. SecureDrop, an open-source whistleblower submission system that media organizations and NGOs utilize for anonymous tips and file transfers, use the Dark web.
Uncensored Communication: There are places in the world where internet access is restricted or heavily monitored. The Dark web is a practical way to bypass censorship and access blocked websites.
Secure Transactions: Cryptocurrencies and the Dark web are a match made in heaven. Because they allow anonymous payments, cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, can be used for legitimate but sensitive purchases.
The Shady Side:
Black Market: As is true in ages past, people find ways to acquire items they need even if they’re illegal. Websites such as the infamous Silk Road (the first modern Dark web market) are where people could buy and sell prohibited drugs, counterfeit documents, cloned credit cards, and even illegal weapons. When people needed something that the law has prohibited, the Dark web is where they venture.
Stolen Data: Everything – from hacked Netflix accounts to full-blown identities – can be bought and sold on the Dark web. If your account has been leaked or compromised before, chances are that your credentials are stored somewhere in the Dark web.
Hacking: Need to break into an email account? How about taking your stalking to waaaay past creepy levels? For a price, there are people in the Dark web selling those services too.
Illegal Media: This includes pirated movies, books, audio, and software. On the deeper end, there are also deeply disturbing content available in the Dark web that no one should ever stumble upon, much less purposely seek out.
The Dangers Lurking in the Shadows
You don’t go into the bad part of town without good reason, right? And if ever you really have to, you need to be prepared or risk inviting harm on your own person. Ill-equipped ventures into the Dark web can be dangerous because you can find:
Scams, scams, and even more scams: Because they’re looking for illicit items, buyers in the Dark web have no legal recourse when they’re conned, making the Dark web the perfect playground for scammers. Add the layer of anonymity between buyer and seller and it’s like a dynamite just waiting to explode.
Malicious software: Viruses, malware, keyloggers… the Dark web can be like a minefield if you’re not careful. Designed to steal your personal information or infect your device, all sorts of nasty software abound in the Dark web.
Law Enforcement: Just because there are extra features that enhance anonymity doesn’t mean the Dark web is totally monitor-proof. Authorities know there are unlawful activity there so it’s only natural they have eyes and ears in there somewhere. Visiting the wrong sites could put you on their radar.
Hackers: You walk in the dark and you’ll meet all sorts of shady characters. The Dark web is populated by tech-savvy individuals who could exploit your missteps or laxity in personal security.
Access & Safety
It’s not illegal to rummage around the Dark web. True, there are unscrupulous characters there, but that’s true anywhere. As long as you’re careful, sensible, and knowledgeable on what to do, the Dark web is just another network.
If you’re curious or have a legitimate reason why you’d dip your toes in the Dark web, you’ll need to download the Tor Browser and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – it acts like an extra layer of protection, hiding your real location and making it harder for anyone to trace your online activity.
More importantly, unless absolutely necessary and you’re sure of the source, don’t download anything. As stated earlier, files on the Dark web could be laced with malware. Stay anonymous by using fake usernames, never sharing personal information, and never logging in to accounts you use on the Surface web. And if possible, stick to read-only mode. Look, but don’t touch anything.
Naturally, you also need to secure your device. The ideal set up would be to have a separate device for your Surface and Dark web surfing – and they should never share accounts. If that’s not practical, the least you could do is to keep your antivirus software updated and make sure your firewall is up to block unauthorized access. Also, never ever forget to log off properly once you’re done.
While the Dark web is often envisioned as a den of crime, it’s also an indispensable tool for freedom and self-determination especially in today’s hyper-monitored digital age. If you know what you’re doing, it doesn’t have to be scary.
That said, the Dark web is no place to roam aimlessly. If you have a legitimate purpose, visit with caution. If you’re just bored, go elsewhere and save yourself the peril.