Dark Web: If you use the internet then you must have heard the name dark web. This is the part of the Internet where users can access unindexed web content. For this a special web browser is required. This is especially a place of work for those people who are involved in illegal activities. It is generally used for those transactions and conversations which have to be kept private. Apart from illegal activities, phishing links, financial scams and malware etc. are hosted on the dark web. In today’s Tech Explainer, we will know what dark web is and how using it can put you in trouble.
Dark web is a layer of the internet
To understand the dark web, it is first important to understand the different layers of the internet. The first layer of the Internet is the surface web. This internet is mostly used. You are also reading this article on the surface web. Surface web contains those websites which can be accessed through search engines like Google etc. Your activity on the Surface Web can be tracked and recorded.
Deep Web- Deep web is the second layer of the internet after surface web. It contains online data, which is not available to common users nor is it indexed on search engines. It contains academic research papers, court documents and medical records etc. For example, when you log in to their portal to view the results of your health checkup or the medicines prescribed by your doctor, you are accessing the deep web.
dark web- The next layer of the Internet is the dark web. There are decentralized and non-indexed web pages on it. The website built on it does not have a standard URL. Other illegal activities take place here including financial scams, obscene content, sale of stolen data and sale of drugs and weapons. However, some activists, journalists and whistleblowers also use the dark web to communicate. Conversations and transactions on the dark web cannot be tracked. However, to use it, it is necessary to have some skills. Also, there is no guarantee of safety on this.
Use of dark web can put you in trouble
Accessing the dark web is not banned in many places, but it can increase the difficulties of carrying out illegal activities. Two such people were arrested in America, who were running a market place for buying and selling illegal items on the dark web. This is a completely unregulated place, where no cyber security rules apply. Thousands of volunteers operate this network through proxy servers. In such a situation, things like making rules or following rules do not apply to it. Due to this operating model, the dark web has become the favorite spot of cyber criminals.
How did the dark web start?
According to reports, the dark web was started by researchers and scientists of the US Naval Research Laboratory in 2002. They found that digital and communication activities taking place on the Internet can be easily monitored and intercepted. In such a situation, he felt the need for a secure communication channel for the intelligence community and from here the dark web is considered to be the beginning. Even though it is now considered a den of cyber criminals, it was started for a completely different purpose.
How to access the dark web?
To access the dark web, a special browser is required. This browser works just like a normal browser. However, it may be difficult for users to find what they need on the dark web. Here the URLs of the websites are made up of numbers and letters, due to which it becomes difficult to remember them. Apart from this, website addresses also keep changing rapidly. Also, the entire traffic here goes through many proxy servers, due to which the search process also remains very slow. Still, if for some reason you have to go to the dark web, it is very important to keep in mind several security tips. First of all, use an Internet connection different from your home network and do not forget to use identity theft protection services for the safety of personal data. Change your passwords regularly and enable two-factor authentication on all important accounts. Beware of phishing attacks and malware. If you are seeing your data on the dark web, then try to get it blocked by complaining to the concerned investigating agency.
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