Kidnapping & Sex Trafficking
First, check out our beginner’s guide on how to use Tor, then come back when you’re ready to get started. It’s difficult to say as nobody really knows how much of the internet accounts for the dark web. However, if we take most estimates into consideration, the dark web makes up around 5% of the whole internet. The U.S. government created the dark web as a way to help their spies communicate and exchange information while remaining untraceable in the process. The technology known as The Onion Router (Tor) – developed by computer scientists Nick Mathewson and Roger Dingledine – was made available to the general public in 2002.
Understanding Darknet Sites
Unlike the human-readable domain names that we are accustomed to using when we navigate the web, Dark Websites use names of Tor hidden services. These are always 16-character values prepended to the .onion top-level domain. Any computer that runs Tor software can host a hidden (e.g., web) service. Dark Web users often find names out of band, for example, from pastebin or Dark Web market lists. Many Internet users use encryption – for example, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) – to keep Internet activities private.
Many crime groups use the dark web to access and share certain types of content, making it a risky place to be. While the dark web is a hub for criminal syndicates, it’s also a platform for free press and private communication. It’s designed specifically for people in high-surveillance or restricted countries who can’t access Facebook freely. It’s the same as the original social media platform, just with greater anonymity.
When you connect to the internet through the Tor network, your connection is routed through at least three random nodes, with your data being re-encrypted each time it passes through a node. The deep web and the dark web have a lot of uses, but they also aren’t without their risks. If you know anything about data privacy and protecting yourself from identity theft, it’s easy to mitigate these risks on the deep web. In fact, you probably already do it whenever you log in to a secured website. Law enforcement crackdowns targeting the dark web have increased and generated substantial wins in the last year.
Darknet sites are a part of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines, making them accessible only through specific software, configurations, or authorization. These sites often operate on the dark web, which is a subsection of the deep web.
Accessing Darknet Sites
Whilst the Firefox team might patch vulnerabilities regularly, there can be a delay for the update to reach the TOR bundle and therefore exposure users to risks. Given the nature of the content & site hosts on the dark web, this should be a critical consideration so as to not compromise your machine from both an attribution or malware perspective. Sites on the dark web are marketplaces for emerging cyber threats. These are rich sources of intelligence, often relevant to a broad spectrum of potential targets. This illegally-obtained data can allow malicious actors to gain access to confidential data, use stolen credit card numbers, and even bring down the entire remote infrastructure of an enterprise.
Wasabi Wallet is yet another BitCoin wallet that is available for multiple platforms. It also has a .onion URL for those who truly seek the ultimate in anonymity. It treats privacy seriously, so even if you are not using that URL, all its network traffic is run through Tor by default.
Founded by security researcher Juha Nurmi, Ahmia is essentially a list of “hidden” sites that do want to be found. Onion sites are “crawled” and added to the list provided their “robots.txt” file permits it, and if it is not on their blacklist of sites with abuse material. Site operators can also submit their own .onion sites for indexing. You can’t access these .onion sites from your normal web browser—the one you’re probably viewing this page on.
To access darknet sites, users typically need to use specialized software such as:
- Tor Browser – This software allows users to browse the internet anonymously by routing traffic through various servers.
- I2P – A network layer that allows for anonymous peer-to-peer communication.
Common Features of Darknet Sites
Darknet sites are often characterized by:
- Anonymous User Engagement: Users can engage without revealing their identities.
- Cryptocurrency Payments: Many sites prefer cryptocurrencies due to their anonymity, with Bitcoin being the most popular.
- Varied Content: Content ranges from forums and blogs to illicit marketplaces.
Types of Darknet Sites
The content found on darknet sites can be categorized into several types:
- Marketplaces: These are platforms for buying and selling goods and services, often illegal.
- Forums: Places where users discuss various topics, from technology to criminal activities.
- Whistleblowing Sites: Platforms that allow individuals to leak information anonymously.
- News Outlets: Sites offering news and information that may not be available on the surface web.
Risks Associated with Darknet Sites
- While it can’t know your real IP address, it can see your unencrypted data, which may reveal your true identity (although HTTPS still protects you).
- To access an onion website, simply open its onion link in the Tor Browser or, if using one of Proton VPN’s Tor special servers, inside your regular browser.
- However, when you start exploring the deep web, things can get dangerous.
- Navigating the dark web requires extra layers of privacy, not just because of its content but due to legal scrutiny.
Engaging with darknet sites can pose various risks, including:
- Legal Risks: Many activities on these sites are illegal, which can result in serious legal repercussions.
- Cybersecurity Threats: Exposure to malware and hacking attempts is heightened.
- Scams: There is a significant risk of falling prey to scams, as the platforms often lack consumer protection.
FAQs About Darknet Sites
What is the main purpose of darknet sites?
While some are used for legitimate purposes like privacy protection, many focus on illegal activities, trafficking, and other criminal operations.
Is it legal to access darknet sites?
Accessing darknet sites is not illegal; however, engaging in illicit activities on these platforms can lead to legal consequences.
How can one protect themselves while using darknet sites?
Consider using strong encryption tools, VPNs, and keeping personal information private. Always question the legitimacy of sites.
Conclusion
Darknet sites offer a unique glimpse into an alternate online world, but caution is essential. Users should tread carefully and stay informed about the risks and implications of their online actions. Understanding this complex landscape can demystify its allure and dangers.
