Everything You Need to Know about the Dark Web

Privacy in this day and age is pretty much obsolete. Data is a big business, and there is no better source of data than our online activity. Every move we make online is being tracked. The software allows companies to continue tracking us and targeting us with ads even after we’ve left their site.

But what are your options if you don’t want companies to cyberstalk you? The only sure way is to stay offline completely. That is not really a practical solution though. In today's time, we live our lives online. Another option is to embrace the dark side of the web.

What is the Dark Web?

You have probably heard about it in movies or crime shows. It is a place that seems exotic and dangerous. It is a place where only the daring tread. The reality of the matter is that the dark web is actually just a section of the internet. The deep web is 500 times larger than the regular old internet of Google and Facebook. It is a place that criminals, drug dealers, assassins use to communicate and offer their services anonymously without the fear of getting caught.

The dark web was originally developed by the United States government as a way of sending secure messages. It was, and still is, a popular tool for spies to use to hide communications. Your movements within the network are difficult to trace and aren’t tracked, therefore it is ideal if you want to stay anonymous.

You can’t use a typical search engine to find sites on the dark web. Dream Market, for example, is a popular marketplace on the dark web. If you search for it on Google or any other search engine, you’ll find a Wikipedia page and posts about the site. You won’t actually be able to link through to the site, though.

Site owners remain anonymous and users can browse without fear of being tracked. Naturally, it wasn’t long before criminals started to use the dark web as well. Today sites like Dream Market sell a range of legal and illicit services. Find the right site and you can buy drugs, sell information, or even arrange a murder. The downside is that you have to know the address of the site you’re looking for.

How Do You Access the Dark Web?

It is not that complicated, all you will need is a Tor (The Onion Router) browser to search for sites. Tor is free and open-source software that allows you to communicate anonymously. This browser is used to root your search through several relays before you are redirected to the site. This makes it difficult to track the original device the message came from. It also means that searches can take a lot longer than usual.

There are some weaknesses here as well. The data in transit is encrypted so it can’t be intercepted by anyone. The transmission exit point is an area of weakness. Unless the site uses HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocols, the data is visible at these points.

Is This Even Legal?

There is nothing illegal about visiting the dark web. There are legitimate sites there simply because the site owners value their privacy. You do need to be careful about the sites you visit, though. You could get into trouble for visiting a site that provides an illegal service.

Final Notes

The name, Onion Router, is a nod to the multiple layers of security that the browser has. If you’d like to surf the dark web, it is essential to use a Tor browser. You might also consider one to safeguard your data when surfing the surface web.