Since I was focused on marketing technology, I didn’t want the domain with my name to get in the way, so I moved the site to its new domain in 2008 where it’s grown ever since. My first site was a site called Helping Hand that curated the best sites from around the web to help people with their computers and with navigating resources on the Internet. Years later I sold the domain to a company that helped folks quit smoking, one of my firstbigcontracts. The majority of criminal data that is bought and sold on the dark web are breached databases, drugs, weapons, and counterfeit items. Users utilize crytpocurrency to make every currency transaction decentralized and anonymized as well.
The risk of being a visitor to this content could lead to being placed on a watchlist or immediate targeting for a jail sentence. Malicious software — i.e. malware — is fully alive all across the dark web. It is often offered in some portals to give threat actors the tools for cyberattacks.
Legit Darknet Sites
Researchers Daniel Moore and Thomas Rid of King’s College in London classified the contents of 2,723 live dark web sites over a five-week period in 2015 and found that 57% host illicit material. In 2015 it was announced that Interpol now offers a dedicated dark web training program featuring technical information on Tor, cybersecurity and simulated darknet market takedowns. In October 2013 the UK’s National Crime Agency and GCHQ announced the formation of a “Joint Operations Cell” to focus on cybercrime. In November 2015 this team would be tasked with tackling child exploitation on the dark web as well as other cybercrime.
Not only does Tor’s encryption system keep your activity anonymous, it keeps host websites hidden too. You can see why this ecosystem would be so attractive to those involved in criminal activity. All the dark web websites we’ve listed in this article will not be of much use to you unless you know how to access and use the dark web. So, before accessing the dark web, be sure you know how to do so safely and anonymously. Some sites are perfectly legit—such as domain services and email providers. Some—like whistleblowing—may face government censorship in your country.
The ‘members only’ parts of public platforms are also a part of the deep web. The risks of the dark web come when you aren’t careful with what you access. Worse, you can stumble on illegal activity or disturbing content. Accessing the deep web doesn’t require a special browser or unique protocols. The dark web, however, can only be accessed through the Tor browser. The encrypted nature of the browser means everyone trying to access the dark web remains anonymous by default.
The Dark Web Website
About 80% of its web traffic is related to accessing child pornography despite it being difficult to find even on the dark web. A website called Lolita City, that has since been taken down, contained over 100 GB of child pornographic media and had about 15,000 members. Scott Dueweke the president and founder of Zebryx Consulting states that Russian electronic currency such as WebMoney and Perfect Money are behind the majority of the illegal actions. In April 2015, Flashpoint received a 5 million dollar investment to help their clients gather intelligence from the deep and dark web. There are numerous carding forums, PayPal and Bitcoin trading websites as well as fraud and counterfeiting services. Phishing via cloned websites and other scam sites are numerous, with darknet markets often advertised with fraudulent URLs.
Many internet service providers and governments may be suspicious of Tor use, and a VPN will hide your internet activity and prevent anyone from knowing that you’re using Tor. There isn’t any one way to access the deep web — it just depends on what you’re looking for. You need passwords to access your work email, or you’ll need to follow an internal link to find the right shirt to buy for an event. It takes more effort to access, but it doesn’t require the same level of legwork that accessing the dark web needs.
Deep Web
For this reason, major whistleblower platforms and news outlets like Pro Publica attempt to counteract these oppressive regimes through the dark web. Similarly, social media giants like Facebook have created corresponding sites on the dark web that have a significant number of users. Additionally, the dark web has a unique registry operator and uses security tools like encryption and firewalls, further making it inaccessible via traditional web browsers.
- Because Tor servers keep users and publishers completely anonymous, there’s no way to regulate or control the content, products, and services being offered inside the dark web.
- They are separated into several categories to make browsing easier.
- The dark web can only be accessed using a special browser called Tor.
- Yes, the police can still track you on the dark web if they need to, although it’s extremely hard to do so.
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Dark Web Search Engine Onion
In May 2021, German police said that they had dismantled one of the world’s biggest child pornography networks on the dark web known as Boystown, the website had over 400,000 registered users. Four people had been detained in raids, including a man from Paraguay, on suspicion of running the network. Europol said several pedophile chat sites were also taken down in the German-led intelligence operation. The dark web is known for its anonymity, but it is important to remember that nothing you do on the internet is truly anonymous. Illegal activity and content are rampant on the dark web, and accessing the wrong site inadvertently could not only compromise your device and personal data but also violate the laws of your country.
A huge drug bust raises questions about dark web anonymity
Lack of regulation by authorities or other users makes it easy for cybercriminals to carry out scams. In 2002, the dark web grew significantly when researchers supported by the US Naval Research Laboratory built and released the Tor network. At the time, the internet was still young, and tracking people was easy while staying anonymous was not.
The public cannot access Intranets, or private networks, that are used by businesses and educational organizations. By monitoring the dark web, security teams can gain information that will enable them to stay ahead of the threats. For instance, knowing if an organization’s data has been leaked can help security analysts change the relevant credentials and secure their systems before an attack occurs. This illegally-obtained data can allow malicious actors to gain access to confidential data, use stolen credit card numbers, and even bring down the entire remote infrastructure of an enterprise.
