Deep in the depths of the World Wide Web, where search engines can't index, lies the Deep Web—a world of banned websites and illegal activities. Simply accessing it can attract the attention of intelligence agencies.
Or is it all completely different? Here are the top 10 interesting facts about the Darknet and the Deep Web that might make you rethink the World Wide Web.
10. The Darknet is only a small part of the Deep Web.«
There are three levels of the Internet:
- Visible - Surface Web.
- Deep Web.
- Bottom – DarkNet.
The terms "Deep Web" and "DarkNet" are often used interchangeably, although this is not the case. What is the Deep Web? Simply put, it's the part of the internet that's hidden from search engines. This could be, for example, paid content available on a website, or your personal data on a social network that you've blocked from others, etc.
The Darknet, also known as the "Dark Web" or "Dark Net," is a hidden and anonymous network that you can't access with a regular browser. Accessing it requires specialized encryption software. This means users can communicate more freely and without fear of government surveillance.
9. Many of the websites on the Darknet are completely innocent
Matt Wilson, chief information security adviser at US-based BTB Security, says that "there is a boring/sleazy side to the Dark Web that will probably come as a surprise to most people.".
You can share cooking recipes with videos, read e-books, discuss various issues, or perform other actions that do not pose a direct or hidden threat.
People use the Darknet for seemingly innocent reasons, whether it's a desire to avoid having their internet habits tracked, aversion to censorship, or simply a desire to be different.
The Dark Web is also a safe haven for journalists, whistleblowers, and citizens living under dictatorial regimes.
8. To access the Darknet, you need to use The Onion Router (TOR) browser.
The Onion Router (TOR) is the most popular browser used to explore the dark corners of the internet.
It is a proxy server system that allows you to remain anonymous when browsing online, instant messaging, and performing other online activities. All data transmission within TOR is encrypted.
TOR can give you access to the entire internet, not just the Dark Web. That's why many users use it for anonymous internet surfing.
However, some hackers have found a way to bypass TOR encryption, so it's safer to use TOR in combination with a VPN.
7. Darknet sites use the .onion domain
Sites with the .onion pseudo-top-level domain can only be accessed using specific browsers, such as Tor. This makes such resources much more difficult to track.
However, you can't simply launch your Tor browser and enter a query like "10,000 credit card details." Most resources hosted on the Darknet are accessible by invitation only. Finding the correct address, which consists of a chaotic jumble of letters and numbers, is hardly possible on your own.
You may have to pass a test before being invited, such as doing something that law enforcement officers are not supposed to do.
6. Browsing the Dark Web is not illegal
The illegality of accessing the Darknet is a common misconception. However, using the Tor browser or visiting .onion sites for legitimate purposes is not illegal in Russia.
It is possible to browse websites or even communicate on many forums on the "dark side" as long as you do not use them for illegal business transactions or start distributing prohibited content (this includes, in particular, extremist posts, justification of Nazism, and calls for mass riots).
Please remember that since 2016, Russia has had a law on failure to report (Article 206.6 of the Criminal Code ("Failure to Report a Crime")), which provides for a fine or one year in prison (or correctional labor) if it is proven that a person knew about an impending terrorist crime but failed to report it. An exception is the failure to report close relatives or a spouse.
5. Many software on the Darknet uses a EULA.
A curious fact: malware that has migrated to the "Internet within the Internet" often uses a EULA. I wonder if the program's author is prepared to come out of the shadows and sue anyone who violates the terms of this agreement?
4. Most websites selling anything on the Darknet are scams.
The Dark Web offers a wide variety of places to buy everything from illegal software and content to drug labs, prescription medications, and weapons. However, when you buy something illegal on the Dark Web, the chances of it being delivered to your door are slim.
That's it. The seller can easily run off with both your money and your self-respect. Where will you complain?
Some darknet markets, such as the now-defunct Silk Road, displayed supplier trust ratings. But even this doesn't protect against sellers who earned high ratings and then tried to rip off new buyers.
3. Most financial transactions on the Dark Web use Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is a virtual currency ideal for the Darknet. It allows users to conduct business transactions anonymously. Bitcoins cannot be counterfeited and are very difficult (though not impossible) to trace.
Other types of cryptocurrencies can be used in Darknet sales, but Bitcoin is the most popular.
2. Why won't the Darknet be shut down?
The Darknet's strength lies in the fact that it can't be shut down in just one place. Pulling the plug on the American or Russian side doesn't stop the rest of the Dark Web from functioning.
When a darknet website truly needs to be shut down, multiple agencies work together to ensure it happens. For example, if US law enforcement wanted to shut down a website selling Dutch marijuana, they would need the assistance of the Dutch police, Europol, and possibly a number of other agencies and authorities.
Below is a screenshot of a specific website, the takedown of which required the cooperation of at least ten different agencies from several countries. The fact that all these agencies had to work together to achieve this goal demonstrates how difficult it is to eliminate even one part of the Darknet, let alone the entirety of it.
Beyond the inability of any state to completely shut down the Darknet, the United States and likely many other countries also benefit from its presence, even when illegal activities are conducted there. The darknet continues to be used by intelligence agencies as a secure communications channel. It is also one of the best tools for transmitting compromising information on political and other prominent figures. Of course, this is a double-edged sword, as demonstrated by WikiLeaks and the activities of Edward Snowden.
Thus, the Darknet can be both a useful and a dangerous part of the World Wide Web. It all depends on your intentions.
1. The strangest purchase on the Darknet
This amusing and slightly sad story tops our collection of interesting facts about the Darknet. It features both unusual demand and a rather expensive supply.
In 2010, two British men were arrested for illegally selling their semen on the Dark Web. The transactions, which involved semen, netted the enterprising Britons approximately $330,000. The semen was not screened for any diseases. These two individuals represent only a small part of the dark web market for male biomaterials.
But why do people buy such a service? The fact is that in some countries, such as Canada, it is illegal to buy or sell semen. So women who want to become mothers but don't have a partner or friends who could donate this precious fluid are forced to turn to the dark web, where everything is available.