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The Onion Project was developed by the United States Department of Defense to communicate anonymously over the internet within its security network worldwide in the early 90s. Snowden’s revelation in 2013 specifically talked about using Tor to avoid surveillance. The dark web is a part of the world wide web that is not accessible through standard search engines such as Google, Bing, Baidu, etc. The term dark web is often confused with the deep web, a subset of the hidden part of the internet. It exists on the darknet, an overlay network on top of the regular internet, accessible through specific software, configurations, and setups. Among other things, you can see how many people use the Tor browser and how many .onion websites there are.
The dark web is a term that is often associated with mystery, crime, and anonymity. While it is true that the dark web is a part of the internet that is not easily accessible to the average user, it is important to understand what it is and how it differs from the surface web.
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What is the Dark Web?
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The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. This means that in order to access the dark web, users must use special software such as Tor (The Onion Router) to browse anonymously.
How is the Dark Web Different from the Surface Web?
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- The surface web refers to the part of the internet that is indexed by search engines and can be accessed through standard web browsers like Chrome or Firefox.
- The dark web, on the other hand, is intentionally hidden and requires specific tools to access. It is often used for illegal activities such as selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
We always recommend using a reliable VPN when accessing the deep web or dark web. In theory this should make your deep web browsing (as well as your regular web browsing) entirely private from interlopers. However, since your traffic is routed through nodes that you don’t have any control over, you are at the mercy of whoever operates these nodes. Sites stored in the index are then ranked based on a variety of different factors, which is what decides how far up on the results page the sites appear in a search.
The privacy offered by the Tor browser is important in the current digital age. Corporations and governing bodies alike currently participate in unauthorized surveillance of online activity. Some simply don’t want government agencies or even Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to know what they’re looking at online, while others have little choice. Users in countries with strict access and user laws are often prevented from accessing even public sites unless they use Tor clients and virtual private networks (VPNs). The deep web or deep internet is a term referring to parts of the internet not indexed by popular search engines.
Top 21 .onion websites from the depths of the dark web
Common Myths about the Dark Web
- Myth: The dark web is only used for illegal activities.
- Reality: While there are illegal activities on the dark web, there are also legitimate uses such as anonymous communication and protection of privacy.
- Myth: It is easy to get caught browsing the dark web.
- Reality: While there are risks involved in browsing the dark web, using tools like Tor can help protect your identity and online activity.
Cyber attack services, like access to botnets that can conduct distributed denial-of-service attacks, are also available. So this here is another example of having your computer infected and/or — with ransomware. One of the interesting things to note on this particular one is it’s telling you how to get to the Dark Web to make a payment.
Should You Explore the Dark Web?
- Files can also be held for ransom until a healthcare facility, who cannot serve patients without access to those files, pays up.
- Some people use the terms ‘dark web’ and ‘deep web’ interchangeably; however, significant portions of the deep web are completely legal and safe to use.
- Instead of “.com” or “.org”, dark web addresses can be distinguished by the top-level domain, “.onion“.
- Many websites are owned by scammers and only use them for a short time before pulling the plug and opening up shop elsewhere.
Exploring the dark web can be risky, as it is unregulated and can expose you to illegal content. It is important to exercise caution and use protective measures if you choose to delve into this hidden side of the internet.
