The Dark Web

“Coding” by Omer van Kloeten is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The dark web is a sect of the internet that can only be accessed using Tor. It can’t be accessed using normal search engines such as chrome.

Tor is an anonymous network browser. It allows you to roam through the dark web without the fear of your actions being tracked or your browser history being exposed.

Since the dark web is anonymous, it’s a hotbed for criminal activity. Even though not everything on the dark web is illegal, if you aren’t careful, you can accidentally put yourself at risk. Research conducted by Daniel Moore and Thomas Rid “classified the contents of 2,723 live dark web sites over a five-week period in 2015 and found that 57% host illicit material.”

You can buy credit card numbers, full profiles (may come with a name, Social Security number, and date of birth) for $8-$30 each, all kinds of drugs, guns, counterfeit money, stolen subscription credentials, software that helps you break into other people’s computers, usernames and passwords, login credentials to a $50,000 Bank of America account for $500, seven prepaid debit cards each with a $2,500 balance for $500, a “lifetime” Netflix premium account for $6. You can even hire hackers to attack computers for you. To keep buyers and sellers anonymous, people pay with cryptocurrencies.

Although not everything illegal on the dark web. You can join clubs and share your political opinion safely there. Privacy to share your views is important, especially in countries where it’s illegal. In today’s age, employers track social media posts, so the privacy to share opinions is crucial. The dark web is also a way undercover cops communicate.

If you decide to go on the dark web, remember to be careful and smart. Some hackers will put malware on your computer. Keep in mind that just because it’s on the dark web, there are no consequences. Law enforcement is getting better at catching criminals on the dark web. Stay safe on the internet.

The Dark Web

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