Deep in the wilds of the World Wide Web, where search engine indexing fails to reach, lies the Deep Web or Invisible Internet - a world of forbidden sites and illegal activities. The very fact of penetrating there can attract the attention of the secret services.
Or is it all completely different? Here are the top 10 interesting facts about the Darknet and the Deep Web that might make you take a fresh look at the World Wide Web.
10. The Darknet is just a small part of the Deep Web
There are three levels of the Internet:
- Visible - Surface Web.
- Deep Web.
- Bottom – DarkNet.
Often the words Deep Web and DarkNet are used as synonyms, although this is not the case. What is Deep Web? In simple terms, it is a part of the Internet that is hidden from search engines such as Yandex or Google. This could be, for example, paid content available on a website, or your personal data on a social network that you have closed off from outsiders, etc.
And DarkNet, also known as the "Dark Web" and "Dark Network," is a hidden and anonymous network that you can't access with a regular browser. To dive in, you'll need special encryption software. This means users can communicate more freely and not be afraid of government control.
9. Many of the sites on the Darknet are completely innocent
Matt Wilson, chief information security adviser at US-based BTB Security, says "there is a boring/sleazy side to the Dark Web that will probably come as a surprise to most people."
You can exchange cooking recipes with videos, read e-books, discuss various issues, or do other actions that do not carry a direct or hidden threat.
People use the Darknet for completely innocent things for a variety of reasons: a desire to avoid tracking of their internet habits, an aversion to censorship, or simply a desire to “not be like everyone else.”
The Dark Web is also a safe haven for journalists, whistleblowers, and citizens living under dictatorial regimes.
8. To get to the Darknet, you need to use the Onion Router (TOR) browser
The Onion Router (TOR) is the most popular browser used to explore the dark corners of the Internet.
It is a system of proxy servers that allows you to remain anonymous when visiting online resources, exchanging instant messages and other actions performed on the Internet. All data transfer in TOR is carried out in encrypted form.
TOR can give you access to the entire web, not just the Dark Web. That's why many users use it for anonymous internet surfing.
However, some hackers have found a way to bypass TOR encryption, so it is safer to use TOR in combination with a VPN.
7. Darknet sites use the .onion domain
Sites with the pseudo .onion top-level domain can only be accessed using specific browsers, such as TOR. As a result, such resources are much more difficult to track.
However, you can’t just fire up your TOR browser and type in a query like “10,000 credit card details.” Most of the resources hosted on the Darknet are invite-only, and finding the correct address on your own, which consists of a chaotic mix of letters and numbers, is hardly possible.
You may have to take a test before you are invited, such as doing something that law enforcement officers are not supposed to do.
6. Browsing the Darknet is not illegal
It is a common misconception that it is illegal to access the Darknet. But in fact, using the TOR browser or visiting .onion sites for legitimate purposes is not illegal in Russia.
It is possible to browse websites or even communicate on many forums on the "dark side" as long as you do not use them for illegal business transactions or start distributing prohibited content (this includes, but is not limited to, extremist posts, justifications of Nazism, and calls for mass riots).
Remember that since 2016, Russia has had a law on failure to report (Article 206.6 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Failure to report a crime”), which provides for a fine of up to 100 thousand rubles or 1 year in prison (or correctional labor) if it is proven that a person knew about a planned terrorist crime, but did not report it to the appropriate authorities. The exception is that you can not report on close relatives or a spouse.
5. Many software on the Darknet use EULA
Fun fact: Often, malware that has migrated to the "Internet of the Internet" uses a EULA. I wonder if the author of the program is ready to come out of the dark and sue someone who violates the terms of this agreement?
4. Most sites selling anything on the Darknet are scams
There are places on the Dark Web where you can buy everything from illegal software and content to drug labs, prescription drugs, and weapons. However, when you buy something illegal on the Dark Web, the chances of it being delivered to your door are slim.
That's it. The seller can easily run away with both your money and your self-respect. Where will you complain?
Some Darknet markets, such as the now defunct Silk Road, displayed a trust rating for suppliers. But even that doesn't protect against sellers who earned a high rating and then wanted to rip off new buyers.
3. Most financial transactions on the Dark Web use Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is a virtual currency that is ideal for the Darknet. It allows users to conduct business transactions anonymously. Bitcoins cannot be counterfeited and are very difficult (though not impossible) to trace.
Other types of cryptocurrencies can be used for Darknet sales, but Bitcoin is the most popular.
2. Why won't the Darknet be closed?
The power of the Darknet is that it cannot be turned off in just one place. Pulling the plug on the American or Russian side does not stop the rest of the Darknet from existing.
When a Darknet website does need to be shut down, multiple agencies work together to make it happen. For example, if US law enforcement wanted to shut down a site that sells Dutch marijuana, they would need help from the Dutch police, Europol, and possibly a number of other agencies and authorities.
Below is a screenshot of a particular site that required the cooperation of at least ten different agencies from several countries to shut down. The fact that all of these agencies had to work together to achieve this goal shows how difficult it is to get rid of even one part of the Darknet, let alone the entire thing.
In addition to the inability of any state to completely shut down the Darknet, the US and probably many other countries also benefit from its presence, even if illegal business is carried out there. The hidden network is still used by intelligence agencies as a reliable channel for communication. And it is also one of the best tools for transmitting compromising information on political and other prominent figures. Of course, this is a double-edged sword, as was proven by WikiLeaks and the activities of Edward Snowden.
So, the Darknet can be both a useful and a dangerous place on the World Wide Web. It all depends on your intentions.
1. The strangest purchase on the Darknet
This funny and slightly sad story tops the list of interesting facts about the Darknet. It has both an unusual demand and a very expensive offer.
In 2010, two British men were arrested for illegally selling their semen on the Dark Web. The deals involving the semen earned the enterprising Brits an estimated £1,330,000. The semen was not screened for any diseases. The two men represent only a small part of the Dark Web male biomaterial market.
But why do people buy such a service? The fact is that in some countries, for example in Canada, it is illegal to buy or sell semen. And women who want to become a mother but do not have a partner or friends who could donate such a valuable liquid are forced to go to the Dark Web, where everything can be found.
Оставить Комментарий