The Dark Web - What You Need to Know Before You Visit

 

Many people are curious about the dark web, an online realm that abounds with illicit products and services, such as stolen credit card numbers, hacked Netflix accounts and even software that can break into computers. However, the darker side of the internet can also be dangerous and navigating it requires the use of a browser that offers anonymity—most often Tor. Using a VPN is another important step to protect yourself from malware, ransomware and other threats while surfing the dark web.

The term dark web is often used interchangeably with deep web, but they’re not the same. You can’t access the dark web through normal search engines like Google or Bing, as these sites are unable to index sites with an .onion domain (a top-level website suffix that signifies a hidden service reached through the Tor network). Tor is a free, open-source software program developed in the 1990s to keep the U.S. government from spying on private communications. Its users are referred to as “nodes,” and they use the software to anonymously bounce web page requests through a network of proxy servers around the world, keeping their identities, location and online activities secret.

As with any large, unregulated marketplace, the dark web has its share of scams and shady characters. Some of the most notorious examples include websites that facilitate drug trafficking and selling counterfeit money. In a dark web marketplace that is known as Silk Road, for example, shady sellers could buy and sell drugs, weapons, fake IDs and stolen credit cards. These high-profile dark web marketplaces aren’t the only places where illegal goods and services can be found on the Internet, as many smaller dark market sites exist.

While it isn’t necessarily illegal to visit the dark web, it’s definitely risky and you can find yourself entangled in criminal activity without realizing it. You’ll also be exposed to cyberattacks like phishing and ransomware. And it’s easy to infect your device with malicious software if you browse the dark web without taking precautionary steps, like using a VPN and Tor browser.

In addition, the dark web sites can be difficult to navigate because its websites don’t last very long. Most of them are shut down for illegal activities or they’re abandoned by their owners, who move on to a new site and a different name to avoid detection. As a result, it’s essential to check and recheck the legitimacy of any site or vendor before you decide to spend your hard-earned dollars. Especially since the vast majority of websites on the dark web are devoted to selling illicit goods and services. The dark web can be an invaluable tool for groups advocating for free speech, a free press and other causes that are important to some people, but it’s up to each individual to decide whether the risks are worth the reward.