The dark web is a section of the internet that is encrypted and inaccessible to the general public using conventional search engines like Google. The dark web, also referred to as the "darknet," makes up a sizable portion of online criminal activities. To a lesser extent, legitimate users also use it for legal purposes, like protecting the privacy of certain information or wishing to join an exclusive online club or social network.

What distinguishes the deep web from the dark web?

A tiny, harder-to-access portion of the deep web is called the dark web. One thing unites them both: neither appears in search engine results. How their content is accessible is where they diverge most from one another.

Anyone with a normal web browser who knows the URL can visit deep web pages. Dark web pages, on the other hand, call for specialised tools and familiarity with content locations.

How can one use the Dark Web?

When a user types a keyword into the search field, Google and other search engines can provide relevant results thanks to indexes of website links. Search engines do not index websites found on the dark web. Rather, individuals can obtain information on the dark web by using information from personal documents, databases, and social media or email accounts.

Additionally, standard browsers like Firefox and Chrome cannot be used to access the dark web. It can only be viewed via an overlay network, such as the Tor browser, or using an encrypted peer-to-peer network connection.

Tor, also known as The Onion Router, uses a network of relays, many encryption layers, and a traffic-routing system to sporadically bounce internet traffic through these relays, making IP addresses untraceable. All of these techniques combine to provide total anonymity on the dark web. You may download and use the browser for free, and it is compatible with all major operating systems. When using a virtual private network (VPN) to access the dark web, users can further safeguard their identities in addition to the Tor browser.

URLs of websites on the Dark Web

Users must first know the URL of the desired website in order to access it on the dark web. This is a result of the unusual name convention used for these websites. Dark web URLs usually terminate in.onion, a special-use domain suffix connected to The Onion Router, rather than more popular ones like.com,.org, or.edu. Additionally, the mix of letters and digits in dark web URLs makes them difficult to locate and recall.

Dark Web, who uses it?

Due to its anonymity, the dark web is known for being a shelter for criminals and for accommodating unlawful conduct. This anonymity makes it easier to engage in a variety of illegal operations, including the trafficking of drugs and people, the sale of firearms, and money laundering. It also creates a high barrier to entrance.

Those wishing to purchase or sell any of the following items should use the dark web:

• Credit card numbers were taken and stolen
• Stolen data that is individually identifiable.
• Credentials to streaming services like Netflix were stolen
• Stuff that is prohibited, including images of child sex abuse.
• Fake currency
• Enterprise accounts were compromised
• Programmes and services used to carry out online crimes include phishing schemes and ransomware attacks.

Visitors to the dark web frequently use crypto currencies like Bitcoin to conduct these kinds of anonymous online transactions with a lower chance of being discovered.

The dark web is not unlawful in and of itself, although it has many dubious applications. For instance, it can facilitate communication between users in settings or places where the right to free expression is unprotected. Journalists and political activists are two examples of these users. There are also clubs and social media networks on the legal dark web. Banned books and "underground" discussion forums are only two examples of the vast amount of content that can only be discovered on the dark web. Additionally, it satisfies users' privacy requirements for some permissible activities, such as exchanging confidential business data.

The dark web is also utilised by experts in cyber threat intelligence and law enforcement. When these experts want to better understand the threat environment and create plans to defend governments, businesses, and the general public from these dangers, they usually search it for information about cyberattacks, data breaches, frauds, and other illicit actions.

Is there a risk on the dark web?Paradoxically, the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and the U.S. Navy collaborated on a legal project that gave rise to the Tor network in 2006. In large part, the dark web's transformation into a haven for criminals occurred with the advent of Bitcoin in 2009. Bitcoin also played a role in the 2011 rise of the Silk Road, an underground marketplace for the purchase and sale of illicit substances. Two years later, the Silk Road was taken down by the FBI.

It can be very risky for both individuals and businesses to access and use the content, tools, or services accessible on the dark web because it is a hub for illicit and criminal activities. The following are some risks associated with using the dark web:

Ransomware, malware, keyloggers, remote access Trojans, and distributed denial-of-service assaults are examples of cyberattacks.

• Phishing
• Theft of identity
• Theft of credentials
• Compromise of operational, financial, consumer, or personal data
• Leaks of trade secrets or intellectual property
• Cyberespionage or espionage
• Hijacking of a webcam

These risks have the potential to compromise a company's operations, swindle it, and damage a brand's reputation. The best defence against these risks is to never use the dark web. If this isn't feasible, though, you should use trustworthy security tools, such as antivirus software, and only use a VPN to access dark web sites. Furthermore, it is important to maintain the most recent versions of the Tor browser, Tor apps, and operating systems. Additionally, businesses may wish to restrict or oversee their use.

Businesses should keep an eye out for signs of dark web compromise, such as database dumps or the publication of sensitive personal or financial data, in order to enhance their security measures. Frequent monitoring can help identify potential hazards early on and enable quick action to lessen any potential effects. Businesses can also think about using dark web monitoring services, which comb through material on the dark web to find anything relevant to their particular business or personnel. Monitoring the dark web can support other methods, such as the Mitre ATT&CK framework, that are used to obtain proactive threat intelligence.