Special Considerations
Website owners hide their sites to protect information not meant for public viewing, like email and banking accounts, private social media pages, and electronic health records. Imagine if someone were able to Google your name and have your email account and/or health records pop up instantly. Dark Web marketplaces offer the sale of stolen data and credentials, firearms, drugs, and illegal services.
And it doesn’t use third-party servers — the servers are owned by the organizations that use the service. The link checker lets you test a .onion link to see if it’s active or not. Some dark web links take ages to load or don’t work on the first try, so this tool lets you quickly check if they’re active.
It has excellent tips on how to add a dash of information security to your daily life. I’ll only look at the dark web links in this article, so if you also want to know how to use Tor safely, check out our guide. If you’re looking for dark web links, you probably know about Tor — The Onion Router.
Here, you’ll find academic resources behind paywalls, specialized databases with guarded data, private discussion forums, government portals, and even elements as mundane as personal email inboxes. Silobreaker aggregates data from various sources on the dark web, including forums, marketplaces, chat rooms, and social media platforms. Using natural language processing and machine learning, Silobreaker extracts meaningful insights from dark web data.
Exploring the Deep Dark Web
The deep dark web refers to a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines, making it largely inaccessible to the average user. While much of the deep web consists of benign and legal content, a portion of it is nefarious, often associated with illegal activities and harmful content.
Understanding the Structure of the Internet
- We collect and analyze data from elusive web sources that most other companies cannot penetrate.
- Although we don’t recommend logging in to Facebook if you want to stay anonymous, it’s striking that this social media has such an enormous presence on the dark web.
- And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
- Your first step is to check if your personal information is for sale on the Dark Web.
- Dark web browsers such as Tor are designed to offer anonymity and access to hidden services not listed by standard search engines.
- This method is called Tor over VPN, and it’s a great way to increase your privacy over using Tor alone.
My dedication to continuous learning fuels my passion for delving into the complexities of the cyber world. And if you liked this article, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for more cybersecurity news and topics. Fortunately, in Hidden Wiki, every website is followed by a brief description so that the user knows what to expect. You can also take a look at the blogs & essays section if you want to find some nifty coding resources.
The internet can be categorized into three main layers:
The deep web is approximately 400 to 500 times greater than the surface web. The dark web is only a small fraction of the deep web—constituting only 0.01% of it, and 5% of the total internet. According to the 2021 Dark Web Price Index, these are typical prices, in U.S. dollars, of goods and services sold on the dark web. While the terms dark web and deep web are often used interchangeably, they are two very distinct concepts. Covert chatter-focused feeds alerting on mentions of your people, locations, and brand including communications collected on Discord, Telegram, IRC, and the Dark Web. No one can stop zero-day malware from entering your network, but Xcitium can prevent if from causing any damage.
You access these and many other websites through an Internet browser like Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer, or through a search engine like Google. Cyber hygiene refers to cybersecurity best practices that everyone who actively uses the internet should be implementing to keep themselves and their data protected from common cyber threats. One dark web monitoring tool that works alongside Keeper Password Manager is BreachWatch®. BreachWatch monitors for suspicious activity on the dark web and alerts you as soon as any dark web activity matches the credentials stored in your Keeper Vault.
- Surface Web: This is the part of the internet that is easily accessible and indexed by search engines like Google, comprising about 10-15% of the total internet content.
- Deep Web: This encompasses all parts of the web that are not indexed by search engines. Examples include private databases, medical records, and academic resources.
- Deep Dark Web: A subset of the deep web, this area consists of hidden services typically accessed using specific software like Tor. This is where anonymity is prioritized, and illicit activities may occur.
Onion sites often use scrambled names that make their URLs difficult to remember, minimizing the odds of being reported to authorities. It’s possible to search the dark web using specialized dark web search engines like Grams or link lists like The Hidden Wiki. However, these sources tend to be slow and unreliable, just like the dark web itself. Malicious software, also known as malware, is a critical concern and can affect unsuspecting users. Even simply browsing the dark web out of curiosity can expose you to such threats, like phishing malware or keyloggers.
Accessing the Deep Dark Web
Accessing the deep dark web requires special tools and browsers, the most popular being:
- Tor Browser: A browser that routes internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers, ensuring anonymity.
- VPN Services: Virtual Private Networks help mask your IP address, adding an extra layer of security.
Common Activities on the Deep Dark Web
The deep dark web hosts a variety of activities, both legal and illegal:
- Marketplace Transactions: Many illicit goods such as drugs, weapons, and stolen data are traded here.
- Whistleblowing Platforms: Sites like SecureDrop allow individuals to leak sensitive information while remaining anonymous.
- Forums and Discussions: Communities gather to discuss various topics, including privacy, security, and hacking.
- Cybercrime Services: Services for hire that include hacking and identity theft.
Risks and Considerations
Venturing into the deep dark web comes with several risks:
- Legal Consequences: Engaging in illegal activities can lead to criminal charges.
- Scams and Fraud: Many transactions are unregulated, leading to a high risk of scams.
- Malware and Security Threats: The risk of encountering malware increases, putting personal data and devices in jeopardy.
FAQs about the Deep Dark Web
Q: Is the deep dark web illegal?
A: The deep dark web itself is not inherently illegal; however, many activities conducted within it may violate laws.
Q: How can I protect myself on the deep dark web?
A: Use a reliable VPN, avoid sharing personal information, and be cautious about links and downloads.
Q: What are some legitimate uses of the deep dark web?
A: Some legitimate uses include secure communication for activists, journalists, and whistleblowers.
Understanding the deep dark web provides insight into the complexities of internet freedom, anonymity, and the darker aspects of online behavior. Navigating this hidden realm requires caution and a clear understanding of the potential dangers involved.
