What is the Dark Web?

The Dark Web is a section of the Internet that isn’t accessible via traditional web browsers and search engines. Instead, Dark Web sites are accessed via special browsers either with knowledge of the specific URL or using a special Dark Web search engine.

One of the main benefits of the Dark Web is that it provides greater anonymity and privacy than the Surface Web. This is valuable for various purposes, ranging from supporting criminal activities to protecting journalists, activists, and other people whose lives would be in danger if their identities are revealed.

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What Can You Find on the Dark Web?

The Dark Web is designed to protect the anonymity of its users, which makes it an ideal location for criminals. On the Dark Web, it’s possible to buy and sell stolen credit card numbers and other sensitive information, usernames for various accounts, hacking tools, and various other illegal goods and services.

Like the Surface Web, the Dark Web isn’t all about shopping, it also supports informational websites and communities. On the Dark Web, you can also find information about data breaches and cyberattacks, and cybercriminals commonly use Dark Web sites to communicate and plan their attacks.

Entering the Dark Web

The Dark Web is built on top of the Tor Network, a protocol originally designed by the U.S. government to enable anonymous communications by activists and similar parties. All traffic flowing over the Tor Network goes through multiple hops to make it more difficult to determine the source and destination of a particular request. Accessing the Dark Web requires the use of a Tor-enabled browser. This will route all requests through the Tor Network’s proxy servers, which helps to protect your anonymity, a good thing when browsing the Dark Web.

However, having a Tor-enabled browser isn’t enough to access the Dark Web. You also need to know where to go. Dark Web addresses have a .onion extension. You can access sites either if you know their address or use a Dark Web search engine. However, these search engines tend to be buggy and may not be able to find all sites on the Dark Web.

Difference Between the Deep Web and the Dark Web

The Dark Web and Deep Web are similar in that they are not part of the surface Web, which is the set of webpages that are indexed by Google and other search engines. However, these two sections of the Internet are very different.

Unlike the Dark Web, the Deep Web can be accessed via a traditional web browser. In fact, you probably use the Deep Web every day. The Deep Web is the portion of the Internet that isn’t indexed by search engines because the pages require authentication or are protected in some other way. Your private account pages with various online services — webmail, social media, corporate apps, etc. — are all parts of the Deep Web. Pages on the Deep Web are designed to provide confidentiality, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized parties. The Dark Web, on the other hand, provides anonymity and privacy.

Risks of Accessing the Dark Web

The Dark Web has legitimate uses, such as protecting the anonymity of journalists and other parties. However, a large portion of the Dark Web is devoted to illegal activities, and this means that the Dark Web can be a dangerous place to visit. While the Tor Network may conceal your IP address, your anonymity may be broken if you accidentally reveal certain information. Additionally, Dark Web sites may be infected with malware and will likely contain illegal and upsetting content.

Top Principles to Follow in Order to Remain Safe on the Dark Web

The Dark Web isn’t illegal to use. In fact, many security researchers perform Dark Web research to keep up with the latest cybersecurity threats. However, it’s important to be careful when browsing the Dark Web.

Some best practices when visiting the Dark Web include:

Use a Reputable Browser: The Dark Web requires a Tor-enabled browser, and some browsers are infected with malware or monitoring code. Download your Tor browser from a legitimate site, such as the Tor website (torproject.org).
Use a VPN: The Tor Network hides the source and destination of traffic, but an ISP can see traffic en route to the Tor Network. A VPN can help to protect against eavesdropping.
Use Secure Email: Don’t use your normal email address when using the Dark Web. Instead, use a burner email address and encrypt messages with PGP.
Disable JavaScript: JavaScript can be used to collect sensitive data or perform other malicious actions in your browser. Turn it off in your Tor browser before visiting the Dark Web.
Visit Legitimate Sites: The Dark Web contains various sites with illegal, malicious, or upsetting content. Verify sites’ authenticity before visiting a site.

Dark Web Risk Assessments with Check Point

Check Point offers cybersecurity risk assessments that include the use of the Dark Web to find breached data and learn about the latest cybersecurity threats. You’re welcome to get started with a free checkup.