Is It Illegal To Use The Dark Web?
At SOCRadar, we leverage our Machine Learning and AI technology to normalize and classify terabytes of processed data and deliver actionable threat intelligence to SOC teams. While world governments seldom agree on a single issue, they all accept that child pornography is a heinous crime that should be punished with severe consequences. To securely engage in the trade of child sex abuse content, away from the long arm of the law, groomers and abusers turn to the safest and most anonymous corner of the Internet.
Given its anonymous nature, the dark web clearly has an obvious appeal for cybercriminals. The most obvious type of internet activity is the buying and selling of black market goods and services, from illegal drugs to illegal content. Cybercriminals may also run scams when selling such items, for example by taking a person’s money and not delivering the required product. As mentioned, the deep web and the dark web sometimes get confused. Technically, the dark web is a niche or subsection within the deep web.
In some cases, websites use various methods to block spiders and prevent indexing. These methods include using CAPTCHAs, multiple IP addresses for the same content, non-HTML content or data that spiders cannot pick up, password protection, and unlinked content. The Dark Web is a set of sites that are hosted on an encrypted network. Regular browsers can’t access the Dark Web — it requires a special browser that allows users to hide their IP addresses.
A lot of the time, this content isn’t indexed because it includes pages that are meant to be hidden to protect consumer privacy, such as those that require login credentials. The internet is home to billions of websites — an estimated 1.7 billion to be exact, although that number changes every day as new sites are made and others are deleted. Your daily internet activity likely falls within the publicly available and readily accessible portion of the internet (otherwise known as the surface web).
This way, people who use the dark web for illegal purposes can’t be traced, and it’s difficult to tell who hosts a particular site. The Dark Web is a collection of websites, forums, and marketplaces that are only accessible by using the Tor browser. This specialized browser grants users a level of anonymity that is especially appealing to cybercriminals, hackers, and government operatives who want to hide their identity. Everyone from identity thieves, financial fraudsters, money launderers, drug cartels, murderers for hire, and human traffickers buy stolen data on the dark web. However, it’s not just information that’s such a popular currency on the dark web. Drugs, weapons, pornography, malware, and ransomware are all bought, sold, and traded in huge numbers.
It’s certainly not something you need to stress about in your day-to-day browsing, and you shouldn’t let it scare you off the internet. Unless you actively seek it out, you’ll likely never have any contact with the dark web in your lifetime. Not all websites on the dark web facilitate illegal activities, however.
Exploring the Deep Web and Dark Web
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
- GNUnet provides decentralized, peer-to-peer communication, and that is done through TCP, UDP, HTTP, HTTPS, WLAN, and Bluetooth.
- In this method, messages and communication are encapsulated in layers of encryption, like onion layers, so it is hard to detect.
- Managed services install various types of hardware and software to prevent hackers from stealing company information through server break-ins or phishing attempts, among other tactics.
- Web content in the dark web is de facto ‘invisible’ to search engines because they are unable to crawl it.
The terms deep web and dark web are frequently used interchangeably, but they represent different facets of the internet. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for anyone interested in the less visible parts of the web.
What is the Deep Web?
The deep web refers to all parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. This segment of the web contains an enormous amount of information that requires specific credentials to access or is buried deep within databases.
Key characteristics of the deep web include:
- Content that is behind paywalls.
- Information stored in databases that do not allow outside access.
- Private corporate sites or intranets.
- Online banking and medical records.
- Dynamic web pages generated by user queries.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a small portion of the deep web, specifically designed to be hidden and often requires special software, configurations, or authorization to access. The most common method to navigate the dark web is through Tor (The Onion Router), which anonymizes users’ identities.
Characteristics of the dark web include:
- Anonymous browsing and communication.
- Illicit marketplaces for drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
- Forums and websites focused on illegal activities.
- Whistleblower platforms for sharing confidential information.
Risks and Misconceptions
There are many misconceptions regarding the dark web, often painting it solely as a haven for criminal activities. While it’s true that illegal content exists, not all aspects of the dark web are malicious. Some are used for legitimate purposes, such as:
- Protection for activists and journalists in oppressive regimes.
- Privacy from government surveillance.
- Secure communication channels for whistleblowers.
However, exploring the dark web comes with its own set of risks:
- Exposure to illegal content and activities.
- Scams and fraud by malicious actors.
- Potential for viruses and malware.
- Legal consequences for visiting prohibited sites.
FAQs about the Deep Web and Dark Web
What is the difference between the deep web and dark web?
The deep web is the vast majority of the web that is not indexed by search engines, while the dark web is a small segment of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires specific tools to access.
Is the deep web safe?
Generally, the deep web is safer than the dark web, as it mainly consists of benign content that is not indexed. However, safety also depends on how secure the site and its protective measures are against breaches.
Can I access the dark web using a regular browser?
No, accessing the dark web typically requires specialized browsers like Tor or I2P to maintain user anonymity and facilitate access to .onion or .i2p domains.
In conclusion, while the terms deep web and dark web can seem daunting to those unfamiliar with them, understanding their structures and purposes is essential in navigating the broader internet landscape safely and effectively.
