UNVEILING THE MYSTERIES OF THE DARK WEB

The dark web may evoke images of drug and gun dealers advertising and selling their wares, or hackers and cybercriminals pilfering and trading sensitive data.

Although the dark web is a powerful facilitator of these kinds of illicit online activity, it has other applications as well. Indeed, one could argue that its primary purpose when it was created was for beneficial and lawful online activities such as anonymity and private communication. However, just as they always have and will, criminals will find a way to use well-meaning technology as a means of advancing their illegal pursuits.

An in-depth dive into the Dark Web

A small portion of the internet, known as the “dark web,” is made up of hidden and obscure websites that are inaccessible to both normal internet traffic and traditional web browsers. Some unsubstantiated accounts suggest that it was developed by the US government in the year 2000 to enable anonymous communication among spies.

You may need to use other methods to get to the dark web, such as a Tor browser and search engines made specifically to find these hidden websites. An anonymous internet browsing experience can be had with a Tor browser, which is short for the Onion Router and aims to safeguard privacy and prevent spying. Further information on the Tor browser.

Cybercriminals prefer dark sites because they utilize encryption software to hide the identities of their users and owners and to anonymize their online activity. However, this does not imply that they are in charge of everything. On the dark web, there is a lot of everyday traffic that is entirely legal.

So how exactly does it work?

The Tor Browser, which is highly regarded for its security and privacy, is often used to visit the black web. To access the black web, one must first download the Tor browser from the official Tor project website.

However, this does not imply that dark?web site?pages will be discovered by the Tor browser on its own. To find them, a user must actively use a dark web search engine and go through the browser. These search engines include, among others, Torch, ahmia.fi and DuckDuckGo.

In contrast to a standard browser, a Tor browser uses a random selection of encrypted servers to encrypt websites and users as it navigates an arduous route from a device to the internet.

Additionally, dark web sites lack standard, memorable URLs. Websites accessed with the Tor browser end with .onion, but those accessed through standard browsers like Chrome end with domain names like .com, .ke, .org, and so on.

A Facebook dark web URL might look like facebookwkhpilnemxj7asaniu7vnjjbiltxjqhye3mhbshg7kx5tfyd.onion, whereas a Facebook surface web URL may look similar to Facebook.com. The short lifespan of dark websites is another distinctive feature of the dark web. A number of these?sites are closed down due to illegal activities or after they have served their purpose, while others are modified and relocated to avoid detection.

Are there any benefits to using the Dark Web?

The dark web’s primary goal is anonymous, secure, and private communication; as such, it can be useful in a range of situations.

Privacy and Security: Patients can maintain their privacy and anonymity when requesting medical treatments or advice. Because the activity on the dark web is convoluted and encrypted, making it difficult to detect and monitor, it can also be used for sensitive information and financial transactions that require privacy and secure channels.

Dissidents and protestors afraid of being prosecuted by their respective?governments can communicate with each other, journalists, and other people without disclosing their names in nations with repressive and authoritarian regimes. Additionally, they can access news, social media, and material that may be restricted or monitored through official means by using the dark web.

For journalists and informants who seek to bring attention to illicitactivities,s including drug trafficking and corruption. For the sake of their survival, their names must be kept secret due to the sensitivity and dangers of such exposes. Journalists who interview sources who want to remain anonymous can also benefit from it.

Most people use the Tor browser for security and anonymity, but other people use the dark web just for fun. The fact that it is nearly impossible to follow users and their online activities makes the dark web attractive.

What are the risks associated with the Dark Web?

Before diving into the depths of the dark web, it’s crucial to be aware of the possible safety and security hazards involved, since a small but significant portion of users use it for illegal purposes.

• The dark web is home to a wide range of illicit activity and criminals. There’s a considerable chance you’ll come across websites that market and sell illicit items and services like narcotics, firearms, surveillance, and hired gun services. These thieves may try to blackmail or exploit you in addition to stealing from you.
• The Dark Web is a hub for hackers and hacking activity. While it’s easy to locate hackers for yourself if you’re searching, they can also simply breach your systems and devices?if they manage to persuade you to unintentionally leave open a small channel for them. Then, they can cause mayhem. They have the ability to monitor you in real time and install malware, viruses, and RATs (remote administration tools) like webcam hijackers.

Legality

• Activities carried out on the dark web may occasionally come into legal ambiguity. It should come as no surprise that law enforcement uses the dark web to try to eavesdrop on or look into possible or actual criminal activities. If discovered, dealing with sensitive data or getting in touch with “wanted” individuals could put one in danger of legal repercussions.
• On the dark web, everything can be sold, including forged degrees and passports, credit card details, and social security numbers that have been stolen. Certain seemingly harmless activities, such purchasing pornography, designer knockoffs, and hacked Netflix accounts, can be considered criminal conduct and result in legal repercussions in some contexts – or countries.
• While it is not illegal to access the dark web, engaging in actions such as purchasing stolen merchandise or data might put one at risk of being targeted by law enforcement.

Security is crucial, as it is with anything related to the internet. There may be even more risks associated with using the dark web than with using the surface web. Using a VPN can give you privacy and prevent hackers from listening in on your network and stealing any data that is sent back and forth, giving you more security.

It’s crucial to exercise extreme caution and refrain from careless actions like clicking on dubious links, disclosing personal information, and generally doing anything you wouldn’t do in real life, even when accessing the dark web for lawful purposes. Sly thieves wait for a na?ve target to present them with a little opening that allows them to infect unwary users with malware and remote administration tools.

Guest resources on VPN

Boney Maundu

Tech Contractor & Writer

Slim Bz TechSystems: Nairobi