The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It requires the use of special software, such as the Tor browser, to access. The dark web is often associated with illegal activities, but it also has legitimate uses. In this article, we will explore what is on the dark web and what you can find there.
The Dark Web: What Is It And Why Do People Use It?
Illegal Activities
What if my Gmail account was found on the dark web?
Update your credentials immediately. Change all passwords associated with the breached email address or account. If your device was compromised, you should update all of your online accounts.
Unfortunately, the dark web is often associated with illegal activities. This is because it provides a level of anonymity that is not available on the surface web. Some of the illegal activities that can be found on the dark web include:
- Drug markets
- Weapons markets
- Stolen credit card information
- Hacked accounts
- Child pornography
Check Point offers cyber security risk assessments, which help organizations to identify their cyber risks and develop plans for remediating them. For our clients, we constantly scan the Dark Web for any information related to their company domains. The Dark Web is not dissimilar to the regular internet that you are accustomed to using daily. The major difference is that it is only accessible by using a specific web browser called, Tor browser. Offer pros and cons are determined by our editorial team, based on independent research.
Cyber Defence
It’s important to note that engaging in these activities is illegal and can result in severe consequences. Law enforcement agencies actively monitor the dark web for illegal activity, and many people have been arrested for their involvement in these markets.
The best thing you can do is a) have reliable cybersecurity protection, and b) ensure you will find out ASAP in the event of being affected. We would encourage readers to head over to our new FREE ID Protection platform, which has been designed to meet these challenges. Tor routes web page requests through a network of volunteer-operated servers, making it difficult to trace the user’s IP address. However, accessing the Dark Web is not as simple as using a regular browser. It’s important to note that accessing the Dark Web can be unreliable and slow due to the nature of the network.
Legitimate Uses
Beneath The Surface: Extracting Threat Intelligence From The Dark Web
Despite the association with illegal activities, the dark web also has legitimate uses. Some of these uses include:
- Whistleblowing: The dark web can provide a safe space for whistleblowers to share information without fear of retribution.
- Political activism: Activists can use the dark web to organize and communicate without fear of government surveillance.
- Journalism: Journalists can use the dark web to communicate with sources and protect their identities.
- Secure communication: The dark web can provide a secure platform for communication, especially for those who are concerned about government surveillance or cyberattacks.
The Tor network also gave hackers, terrorists, and distributors of illegal pornography a secure method of communication. The term dark web first appeared in print in a 2009 newspaper article describing these criminal applications. However, the software that popularized the dark web is The Onion Router (Tor), which launched on September 20, 2002. The U.S. government’s Naval Research Laboratory developed Tor for members of the U.S. intelligence community to use the Internet without risk of identification. A dark web monitoring service continuously scans the dark web to make sure an organization’s content and data are safe from cybercriminals.
Download The Tor Browser
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the dark web:
- Is it illegal to access the dark web? No, it is not illegal to access the dark web. However, engaging in illegal activities on the dark web is illegal.
- How do I access the dark web? You need to use special software, such as the Tor browser, to access the dark web.
- Is the dark web safe? The dark web can be dangerous, especially if you are not familiar with how to navigate it. It’s important to take precautions, such as using a virtual private network (VPN) and being cautious about the sites you visit.
- Can I get viruses on the dark web? Yes, it is possible to get viruses on the dark web. It’s important to have up-to-date antivirus software and to be cautious about the sites you visit.
Conclusion
- For example, privacy laws prevent bots from indexing pages, including banking statements, health records, or chat messages.
- In most nations, if you’re using it for legitimate purposes like browsing the web or streaming material, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
- Personal ID Monitor scans the dark web and can alert you if it finds your personal information there, such as email address, phone number, driver’s license number and more.
- Dark web sites are not indexed by search engines, so there are no search engines to guide users.
- Internet traffic first passes through the Tor Network, and then through the VPN.
- Researchers at King’s College in London finding that 57% of 2,723 live dark web sites hosted illegal content.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. While it is often associated with illegal activities, it also has legitimate uses. It’s important to be cautious when accessing the dark web and to avoid engaging in illegal activities. By taking precautions and being aware of the risks, you can explore the dark web safely and securely.
Can we find anything on the dark web?
You can find legitimate products such as basketball shoes, apparel, research papers, and other items on the dark web. Of course, you can also find plenty of illegal items such as hacked Netflix accounts, stolen Social Security numbers, credit card account numbers, firearms, and drugs, too.
