When we hear about the dark web, it often brings to mind a mysterious and shady corner of the internet where illegal activities thrive. From drug trafficking to human trafficking, the dark web has become a hub for criminal enterprises looking to operate under the radar.
The Tor Browser uses several layers of encryption to strengthen your anonymity and has integrated the DuckDuckGo search engine, a system that makes a point of not saving or logging your search queries. Access is created through a backend web application and requires a key to access. While it was originally used by dissidents to circumvent censorship laws, it is now popularly used by cyber criminals to offload stolen and malicious content.
Stay Alert To Social Engineering Attacks
What is the Dark Web?
It is a more guarded subspace of the deep web, hosting encrypted websites for its users. However, these sites are only accessible through certain web browsers. Some people use this encrypted space to help protect their identity and online privacy, but other hackers like to use these features to carry out illegal activities. It is these shady dealings that give the dark web its seedy, dangerous reputation. In addition, the dark web can’t be accessed through typical browsers such as Firefox or Chrome.
Early 2000s – Present: Tor’s Illegal Uses
But it isn’t the sinister abyss of illegal and disturbing activity that the media clamors about. The answer to the title question is easy, NO it is not illegal to browse the dark web, but it really does depend on what you are doing that will determine whether your activity is legal or not. Buying an air rifle in the UK is not illegal, but if you start shooting people then clearly your activity would be. With a daily darknet user count of 3.29% or users, French users display interests in pornography, stolen goods, and items, electronics, and data dumps. The only type of illegal thing that those Dark Web markets usually forbid is explicit child exploitation material. Pedophiles have their own Dark Web sites and forums which are completely separate and unrelated from the sorts of places where cocaine and computer viruses are sold.
What are the different types of dark web?
A: The three types of Dark Web are the Deep Web, the Darknet, and the Surface Web. The Deep Web is the largest, containing information that can't be found through regular search engines. The Darknet is a smaller part of the Dark Web that is designed for people to communicate anonymously.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. It requires special software, such as Tor, to access and provides users with anonymity through encryption and layers of obfuscation. While the dark web does have legitimate uses, such as protecting the privacy of activists and journalists, it has also become a breeding ground for illegal activities.
Criminal Access
Illegal Activities on the Dark Web
How many people are active on the dark web?
Takeaway #1: The Dark Web isn't just accessed by a small number of people. 2 million active users connect to the Dark Web through the TOR browser every day. 26% of North American and 17% of EU users access the Dark Web daily.
The project’s development continued through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) until the U.S. Playpen, a widely used dark website for the distribution of child pornography, amassed as many as 150,000 users at one point. Thankfully, the site was shut down in 2015 following a collaborative sting effort from the FBI and related agencies in other countries.
One of the most well-known illegal activities on the dark web is the sale of drugs. Websites like the now-defunct Silk Road made headlines for allowing users to purchase drugs like heroin, cocaine, and prescription medications with the click of a button. Despite law enforcement efforts to shut down these sites, new ones inevitably pop up in their place.
Imagine your online activity as something akin to walking through the labyrinthine streets of a city. It’s the biggest international operation targeting this kind of traffic happening on the darkest corners of the Internet – the ones most people never dwell on, and many don’t even know how to reach. Authorities reported seizing 850 kilograms of drugs—including the deadly fentanyl – €50.48 million in cash and cryptocurrencies, and 117 firearms. An international crackdown on marketplaces on the dark web has brought the fight against illegal trades to shadowy corners of the Internet.
In addition to drug trafficking, the dark web is also a hotspot for human trafficking. Criminal organizations use the anonymity provided by the dark web to buy and sell individuals for forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other nefarious purposes. The lack of oversight and regulation on the dark web makes it difficult for law enforcement to track down and prosecute these criminals.
Protecting Yourself
- You can now safely browse dark web websites and hidden wikis, but if you plan to do anything more than that, you’ll need to take several precautions.
- Besides Tor, there are other browsers you can use to access the dark web, but they offer different levels of accessibility and security and have smaller node networks.
- Most internet users browse content online using the surface web, a segment of the internet where sites are indexed by popular search engines and can be easily viewed using traditional web browsers.
- For example, citizens of countries like North Korea use the Dark Web to share information.
- It’s also important to unfreeze or temporarily thaw credit reports when applying for a new credit card.
It’s important to be aware of the dangers of the dark web and take steps to protect yourself online. Avoid accessing the dark web unless absolutely necessary, and even then, exercise caution and use a VPN to protect your identity. Remember that engaging in illegal activities on the dark web can have serious consequences, both legally and ethically.
While the dark web may seem like a mysterious and fascinating place, it is crucial to remember the very real dangers that lurk beneath the surface. Stay safe and stay informed when it comes to navigating the complexities of the internet’s darker side.
Is Tor still safe?
Because of how it operates, Tor is generally safe to use, and Tor onion browser offer several benefits like heightened safety and privacy. Before using the Tor browser, though, users should be aware of any potential legal issues with Tor in their country, and that they could be flagged for its use.
