Dark Web: What Is It and Why Is It Bad

The internet is a huge and convoluted thing. Billions of people log in daily to look for information, view videos, read social media, and purchase items online. However, what most users do not know is that what they see is merely the tip. Hidden beneath this well-known aspect of the internet lies a shadowy realm known as the dark web. It’s a name that sounds like it’s spied, like something out of a spy movie. But the dark web is real, and although some is utilized for lawful means, it’s mostly regarded as being in the business of crime, peril, and concealment.

So, what exactly is the dark web, and why does it have such a dangerous reputation? In this article, we’ll break down what the dark web is, how it works, why people use it, and, more importantly, why it’s considered dangerous. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a clear understanding of this hidden side of the internet—and why it’s not a place for casual browsing.

Comprehension of the Internet Layers

To get a full idea of what the dark web is, it is useful to conceptualize the internet itself as consisting of three layers:

1. Surface Web: It is the internet at the surface level that we typically use on a daily basis. Examples of the surface web include news sites, e-commerce platforms, social media sites, and blogs. It is searchable through normal search engines such as Google or Bing.
2. Deep Web: This is the portion of the internet that search engines don’t index but is legal and widely accessed. It consists of online banks, private company databases, paywall-locked scholarly journals, and email services.

You must have a password or special permission to access these sites.

• Dark Web: And last but not least, there’s the dark web. It is a concealed segment of the internet that is intentionally kept secret. You can’t surf over it using regular browsers. You need to have special software such as Tor (The Onion Router) in order to be able to see websites within this network. Some of the dark web is benign or for privacy reasons, but much of its notorious reputation stems from crime that occurs there.

How the Dark Web Functions

The dark web is not one specific website or location. It’s an entire set of websites that employ encrypted technology to conceal their servers and consumers. When an individual visits a dark web site with Tor, his or her internet traffic is routed through multiple random servers across the globe, rendering it extremely hard to track who he or she is and where he or she is from.

Dark web sites don’t have normal addresses such as “.com” or “.net.” Rather, they have “.onion” at the end, and you’re not able to get to them without special software. They are usually simple in appearance, and their pages have long strings of arbitrary letters and numbers as part of the web address—making it difficult to recall or locate independently.

Why People Use the Dark Web

Not everyone on the dark web is there for criminal purposes. There are also good reasons why individuals get themselves to use this dark network:

Privacy and Free Speech: If a government censors web access or tracks online activity within a nation, citizens, activists, and reporters employ the dark web in order to communicate securely. The dark web will conceal their identities as they attempt to expose corruption or transfer sensitive material.

• Whistleblowing: SecureDrop and other websites are available on the dark web in order for whistleblowers to anonymously send sensitive information to journalists.
• Research and Academic Work: Cybercrime or computer security researchers will study cybercrime or computer security by going into portions of the dark web to monitor criminal activity on the internet on behalf of research or law enforcement.
• Personal Privacy: Some simply prefer their privacy and use the dark web to not be monitored by advertisers, big business, or even hackers.

But unfortunately, however much legitimate uses exist, the dark web is also notorious for attracting criminals. Its composition does not lend itself to making it difficult for individuals to hide their identities, making it a haven for illegal business and malicious activities.

The Dark Side of the Dark Web

Now let us discuss the aspect which gives the dark web its sinister reputation. The concealed nature of the dark web has given rise to a thriving underground market for illegal goods, services, and products. The following are some reasons why the dark web is risky:

1. Illegal Marketplaces

One of the most dismal regions on the dark web is its black marketplaces for illegal merchandise. These black marketplaces deal in almost anything imaginable:

• Drugs: They have illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and prescription drugs readily available for sale on these sites.
• Weapons: Undercover consumers purchase guns, ammunition, and even bombs on the dark web.
• Stolen Information: Credit card information, Social Security information, stolen passwords, and full digital identities are purchased and sold on an everyday basis.
• Fake Items: Counterfeit passports, fake driver’s licenses, and counterfeit bills are also being sold in this illicit economy.

One of the best-known of these was Silk Road, a huge virtual black market that operated for years before it was closed down by police.

2. Hacking Services

There are whole communities on the dark web that exist only to specialize in hacking. Individuals can outsource hackers to get into email accounts, steal business information, or to attack websites. These services are not cheap, but the anonymity is what makes them so attractive to individuals who have ill intent.

Worst of all, there are sites selling “ransomware” software—pieces of code that can be employed to take control of someone’s or a business’s files until they pay a ransom. The proliferation of ransomware attacks all over the globe can be partly attributed to such dark web markets.

3. Human Trafficking and Exploitation

One of the worst of the dark web involves human trafficking, including sex trafficking and victimization of vulnerable individuals. While it’s difficult to know how much of this happens online versus in the real world, one cannot be in any doubt that some of the dark web is used for circulating and trading very disturbing content.

Law enforcement agencies across the world have been working to close such sites, but others replace them, so it is an ongoing struggle.

4. Terrorism and Extremism

Dark web is being used by extremist organizations for communication, recruitment of members, and propaganda. Due to the anonymity offered, it is even more difficult for the authorities to track their activities. It can also be used by the groups to fund-raise or coordinate attacks.

5. Scams and Fraud

You still can’t trust everyone on the dark web. You can’t even trust most of them. There are scams on the majority of marketplaces—sellers will steal your money and don’t give you anything, or send you something that is actually something else. Ironically enough, criminals on the dark web scam other criminals.

6. Viruses and Malware

Just surfing the dark web with no protection is enough to expose your device to viruses, spyware, or other malicious software. Some sites are created to infect any device that surfs through them, giving hackers control over computers or phones.

7. Illegal Pornography and Grisly Content

One of the bleakest things about the dark web is illegal and horrific content that’s too depraved to describe in any kind of detail. Such sites on the dark web are some of the darkest places on the web and often have encrypted invitations just to gain entry. Law enforcement around the globe spend tremendous resources chasing and closing down such sites.

Why It’s Not Worth Exploring

Considering all of that up to this point, you may be thinking: Why would anybody ever use the dark web anyway?

For the curious or for a thrill-seeker, perhaps it will be an interesting challenge. But you should know that the dangers you will face is bigger than any thing you want to benefit from there:

• Legal Problems: Even if you are not yourself doing anything illegal, simply visiting certain websites makes you a target for the law.
• Financial Loss: Buying something on the dark web? Chances are you’ll get scammed or worse, have your bank accounts hacked.
• Psychological Harm: Many people who accidentally view disturbing or violent content online suffer from long-term psychological trauma.
• Device Security: If your device isn’t properly protected, hackers could gain access to your personal data or even take control of your computer.

The bottom line is this: unless you have a good, highly specific, legitimate reason for visiting some areas of the dark web—and you absolutely know what you’re doing—it’s best to stay clear of it altogether.

Efforts to Combat Dark Web Crime

In spite of the darkness of the dark web, global law enforcement agencies have been trying to combat the illegal business on it hard. Organizations such as the FBI, Europol, and Interpol regularly initiate global operations to dismantle large illegal platforms.

Among the most successful was Operation Disruptor, an initiative of various nations to apprehend hundreds of individuals who trafficked in dark web crimes and confiscate millions of dollars’ worth of illicit goods. But as fast as one illicit marketplace is shut down, several others seem to take its place.

Technology firms also do their share. A few security firms collaborate with the police to assist in tracking down dark web offenders. Data analysis and artificial intelligence are also being employed to detect concealed threats and put perpetrators behind bars.

Stay Safe on the Web

Though you may never visit the dark web, it is smart to be careful on the internet. Hackers grab details from the dark web and sell them to use in phishing attacks or assaults on the normal web. Making your life online safe starts with some simple steps:

1. Strong Passwords: Strong, unique passwords on each of your online accounts.
2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Secure an additional layer on your accounts.
3. Don’t Click Suspicious Links: Never click on links or open attachments which are sent by unwanted sources.
4. Update Regularly: Update your devices and software so that you won’t have vulnerabilities.
5. Remain Informed: Cyber threats occurring in real-time can prevent you from becoming a victim.

Dark web is the internet underground we go to. Some of it is built to perform good things—like protecting free speech or providing safe refuge to whistleblowers—but much of its awful reputation comes from illegal and malignant behavior. From rented cyber attacks and black markets to human trafficking and terrorist networks, it’s where the worst of humanity come to lurk in darkness.

For the vast majority of us, there is simply no need to go into the dark web. The risks are so much higher than the rewards, and even viewing these sites will most likely have catastrophic consequences. If you value your safety, your anonymity, and your sanity, best that you’re at the surface of the net—and leave the dark alleys to the professionals who’re tearing them down.

It’s a good thing to be aware of the dark web—but not to venture there. Being aware that it is unsafe is sufficient to remind us that not all things on the web are nice, and that, just like in life, some doors need to stay shut.