You’ve heard it thousands of times, but does anyone really know what it means? The dark web is a hidden part of the Internet that’s not accessible through traditional web browsers or search engines. To be clear, there are many parts of the Internet that are similarly hidden. We call this the “deep web”, which you probably access daily, knowingly or otherwise. Common items found on the deep web are the contents of your email account or things that are similarly password-protected. If we were to put every ounce of internet content ever created into a bucket, the deep web would be a sweeping majority.
Within the deep web, the dark web constitutes about 1%, but it’s a 1% that we all should be knowledgeable about. Here's a quick look at what experts believe that the internet is actually comprised of:
With that said, here's the Reader’s Digest version of everything you need to know about the commonly misunderstood dark web.
The Dark Web Is:
- Inaccessible via Standard Browsers: The dark web is not accessible through regular web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari. Instead, it requires special software like Tor (The Onion Router) to access. Note: while not illegal, we do not recommend downloading this browser. While designed to make web browsing completely anonymous, it sacrifices very basic cybersecurity protection.
- Anonymity: The primary feature of the dark web is its focus on anonymity. Nearly everyone accessing the dark web’s identity and location is perfectly concealed (see above about web browsers). Traffic using the Tor network is automatically routed through a series of servers, making it extremely difficult to trace users. This is a leading reason why scammers are able to buy and sell lists of stolen or phished information so easily.
- Hidden Services: Websites on the dark web use ".onion" domain addresses and are known as "hidden services." These websites are not indexed by search engines and are often not accessible without the Tor browser. The ".onion" addresses are generated using complex encryption techniques. You must know where you’re headed before you get there. While this is a hurdle in accessing the illegal dark web, it’s not impossible.
- Wide Range of Contents: The dark web hosts a wide range of content, including forums, marketplaces, blogs, and more. Some of this content is legitimate and used by individuals who require privacy and security, such as whistleblowers or journalists in repressive regimes. The dark web gets a bad rep, but it does serve a very important purpose here, among others.
- Illegal Activities: The dark web is infamous for being a hub for illegal activities, including the sale of drugs, weapons, stolen data, counterfeit currency, and hacking services. It also hosts forums and marketplaces for various forms of cybercrime, making it a significant concern for law enforcement agencies worldwide. Many of these marketplaces are only accessible directly (see point #3 above).
- Access Risks: Accessing the dark web carries risks, as it is unregulated and can expose users to illegal content or malicious actors. It's important to exercise caution, maintain security measures, and be aware of the legal and ethical implications when navigating this part of the internet.
Bloomberg has a great 2-minute video introduction to the dark web, which you can view here. We also recommend a quick view of this interview with leading ethical hacker and international cybersecurity expert, Ryan Montgomery.
Wondering if your information's made its way onto the dark web? Get in touch with us for a free scan. It'll only take a minute and our team of experts can work with you on the next steps if need be.