The dark web, what’s that?!
From illegal arms and drug trade to hitmen and secret government conspiracies. The mysterious nature of the dark web leads to the wildest rumors. But what exactly does it involve?
Deep, dark, or open for me please ✅
- The open web, or surface web, is freely accessible to everyone. Easy to navigate using standard browsers like Google and Yahoo. In short, the online as our grandma would call it.
- The deep web is much larger than the open web and contains all sorts of non-public data. Think of your workplace’s intranet, online banking, private databases. You can only access these websites with specific login credentials. Thank god!
- The dark web, in turn, is buried even deeper within the deep web. It’s only accessible through special software like Tor (no, we’re not talking about Thor, the hammer-wielding god). This software encrypts your internet traffic (just like WhatsApp does with your messages, for instance) and ensures anonymity by routing it through several servers.
Use and abuse 🕵️♀️
While the dark web is surrounded by wild rumors, it also has legitimate uses. It offers a platform for whistleblowers, journalists, and activists. Remember Edward Snowden and Wikileaks? He used Tor to communicate with journalists and release sensitive information. In countries with strict censorship, the dark web might be the only way to send and receive information.
But of course, the dark web is best known for its illegal side. Think of the trade in drugs, weapons, forged documents, stolen data, and even hitmen. And no, you won’t be paying with Payconiq by Bancontact there. Crypto is king on the dark web! Bitcoin for example is the most popular virtual currency. To call it a paradise for cybercriminals is an understatement. You can easily buy stolen credit card details, passwords, and Fake IDs from hackers. So, regularly check if your passwords are secure enough.
But that’s against the rules, buddy! 🤔
Using the dark web or, for example, the Tor browser itself is not illegal, but what you do on the dark web can be. For instance, buying drugs or trading on illegal marketplaces. Also, even legal activities can still be unethical. Like abusing the anonymity of the dark web to hurt, threaten, or deceive others.
Proceed with caution ☠️
Our advice: stay far away from the dark web! There are tons of viruses and malware out there, making you an easy target for hackers. You’ll also end up on the radar of cybersecurity and law enforcement agencies. Not to mention the many scammers…
So… Just keep on surfing the waves of the open web.