A dark net or darknet is an overlay network within the Internet that can only be accessed with specific software, configurations, or authorization, and often uses a unique customized communication protocol. Two typical darknet types are social networks (usually used for file hosting with a peer-to-peer connection), and anonymity proxy networks such as Tor via an anonymized series of connections.
Dark Web?
Dark web definition
The dark web is the hidden collective of internet sites only accessible by a specialized web browser. It is used for keeping internet activity anonymous and private, which can be helpful in both legal and illegal applications. While some use it to evade government censorship, it has also been known to be utilized for highly illegal activity.
What is the dark web, deep web, and surface web?
The Internet is sizable with millions of web pages, databases, and servers all run 24 hours a day. But the so-called “visible” Internet (aka surface web or open web) — sites that can be found using search engines like Google and Yahoo — is just the tip of the iceberg.
There are several terms surrounding the non-visible Web, but it’s worth knowing how they differ if you’re planning to browse off the beaten path.
How is the dark web accessed?
The dark web can’t be accessed through your typical browsers, such as Firefox or Chrome. It can only be accessed with a specialized, anonymous browser, such as Tor or the Invisible Internet Project (I2P).
This type of web browser keeps a user’s identity hidden by routing web page requests through a series of proxy servers that renders an IP address untraceable.
Websites on the dark web have an unconventional naming structure. Therefore, users need to know the URL they want to access beforehand. Furthermore, dark web search engines aren’t as effective and prominent as Google.
Instead of ending in .com or other common suffixes, dark web URLs typically end in .onion, a special-use domain suffix. Dark web sites also have URLs that are a mix of letters and numbers, making them hard to find or remember.
For example, the now-defunct darknet black market, The Silk Road, went by the URLs silkroad6ownowfk.onion and silkroad7rn2puhj.onion.
DEFINITION
The dark web, also referred to as the darknet, is an encrypted portion of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires specific configuration or authorization to access.
Although the dark web is sometimes portrayed as a domain frequented by criminal elements, it is also used by people who require privacy for entirely legal reasons, such as the exchange of proprietary business information or communication by political activists.
Information may be exchanged through an encrypted peer-to-peer (P2P) network connection or by using an overlay network, such as the Tor browser. The anonymity that these networks provide has contributed to the dark web’s reputation for housing illegal activity.
What is the difference between the dark web vs. the deep web?
The terms “dark web” and “deep web” are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Rather, the dark web is a small, less accessible part of the deep web.
Both the dark and deep web share one thing in common: Neither can be found in search engine results. The difference between them primarily lies in how their content is accessed. Deep web pages can be accessed by anyone with a standard web browser who knows the URL.
Dark web pages, in contrast, require special software with the correct decryption key, as well as access rights and knowledge of where to find the content.
If you imagine the web in three layers, at the very top would be the surface web, whose content is indexed by search engines like Google and Yahoo. Beneath it is the deep web, and then located underneath that is the dark web.
The dark web is located beneath the surface web and the deep webTECHTARGET
The dark web is a small subsection of the deep web, requiring special tools or credentials to access its pages.
How is the dark web accessed?
The dark web can’t be accessed through your typical browsers, such as Firefox or Chrome. It can only be accessed with a specialized, anonymous browser, such as Tor or the Invisible Internet Project (I2P).
This type of web browser keeps a user’s identity hidden by routing web page requests through a series of proxy servers that renders an IP address untraceable.
Websites on the dark web have an unconventional naming structure. Therefore, users need to know the URL they want to access beforehand. Furthermore, dark web search engines aren’t as effective and prominent as Google.
Instead of ending in .com or other common suffixes, dark web URLs typically end in .onion, a special-use domain suffix. Dark web sites also have URLs that are a mix of letters and numbers, making them hard to find or remember.
For example, the now-defunct darknet black market, The Silk Road, went by the URLs silkroad6ownowfk.onion and silkroad7rn2puhj.onion.
Who uses the dark web?
The dark web began as a channel for anonymous communication, making it attractive to hackers and criminals. While it continues to be a haven for illicit activity, it does have legitimate and lawful uses as well.
For example, the dark web can help users communicate in environments or geographical areas where free speech isn’t protected. Dark web social media networks also exist, such as specialized clubs and BlackBook, which is considered the Facebook of Tor.
The primary use of the dark web is for e-commerce. With the use of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, users can make any purchase on the dark web without revealing their identity.
This lends itself well to criminal activity and hidden services, such as:
Hitmen
Purchasing and selling credit card numbers, Bank account numbers or online banking information
Money laundering
Illegal content like child pornography
Purchasing and selling illegal drugs
Purchasing and selling counterfeit money
Purchasing and selling weapons
Is the dark web illegal?
No, the dark web itself is not illegal, but it can be a platform for illegal activity. There are also several legitimate companies and entities that have a presence on the dark web, and private users may have legitimate reasons for accessing the dark web as well.
