THE DARK WEB

THE
THREE
LAYERS
OF
INTERNET
CONTENT
 THE DARK WEB

• Also called – The Dark Net

• is a network within the Internet which is only
accessible using certain software and protocols.
• The Dark Web has many names, for example Tor
Network or Onion Router.
Understanding the Dark Web:
• Hidden Content
– The dark web refers to encrypted
online content that isn't indexed by
search engines like Google. This
means traditional search methods
won't find it.
Understanding the Dark Web:
• Part of the Deep Web
– It's important to distinguish the dark web
from the deep web.
– The deep web is the vast portion of the
internet not indexed by search engines,
including things like private email
accounts, password-protected pages, and
internal databases. The dark web is a
smaller part of the deep web, specifically
designed for anonymity.
Understanding the Dark Web:
• Accessing the Dark Web
– Accessing the dark web requires specialized
software like Tor (The Onion Router). Tor
encrypts your data and routes it through
multiple relays, making it difficult to trace
your activity back to your original source.
Websites on the dark web often have
unique domain suffixes like ".onion" instead
of ".com".
The TOR Browser
The TOR Browser
The TOR Browser
What You Might Find on the Dark Web?

Anonymity:
The primary purpose of the dark web is to
provide anonymity. This attracts users seeking
privacy for legitimate reasons, such as
journalists operating in oppressive regimes or
activists protecting their identities.
What You Might Find on the Dark Web?
Illegal Activities: Unfortunately, the anonymity also attracts
those involved in illegal activities.
Black Markets: Selling illegal drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
Cybercrime: Platforms for hacking tools, malware, and
cyberattacks.
Fraudulent Activities: Counterfeit goods, money laundering,
and identity theft.
Disturbing Content: Extreme and potentially illegal content,
including violent material and child exploitation.
ACCESSING THE
DARK WEB…
 Accessing The Dark Web
You can access many fun and interesting websites through the
TOR browser, also many which co-exist on the regular Internet.

For example:

Facebook - http://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/
DuckDuckGo Search Engine - http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/
 Accessing The Dark Web…

The American CIA ("Central Intelligence Agency") -

http://ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sx
yjstad.onion

The Hidden Wiki, a collection of links and places to explore -

http://zqktlwiuavvvqqt4ybvgvi7tyo4hjl5xgfuvpdf6otjiycgwqby
m2qad.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
 People access the dark web for a variety of
reasons, some legitimate and some illegal.
• For Anonymity and Privacy:
Journalists and activists: Those operating in
oppressive regimes might use the dark web to
communicate securely and avoid government
censorship.
Whistleblowers: People exposing corruption or
wrongdoing might use the dark web to anonymously
share information.
 …continuation (For Anonymity and Privacy)

People facing online threats: Victims of stalking or

harassment might use the dark web to access resources
or communicate without revealing their identity.
Privacy-conscious individuals: Some users simply value
their privacy and prefer the anonymity the dark web
offers for browsing or communication.
 For Access to Restricted Content:

Citizens in censored countries: People in countries

with restricted internet access might use the dark web to
access banned websites or information.
Finding niche content: The dark web can host forums
or marketplaces for specific interests, though not all of
them are legal or safe.
 For Illegal Activities:

Black markets: The dark web is infamous for

marketplaces selling illegal goods like drugs, weapons,
and stolen data.
Cybercrime: Criminal actors might use the dark web to
buy or sell hacking tools, malware, or launch
cyberattacks.
Fraudulent activities: The dark web can facilitate
scams, money laundering, or identity theft.
Websites found
in the Dark
Web
There are websites on the dark web that claim to offer hitman
services. These are almost always scams.

Law enforcement works to shut down these sites, but new ones
appear.
Why Hitman Sites are Scams:

Unrealistic: Real hitmen wouldn't advertise online, and

the risk of getting caught is high.
Financial Gain: Scammers aim to steal money from
desperate people or exploit them
with threats.
Law Enforcement: Authorities monitor these sites and
can track down those who use them.
ProPublica is a nonprofit organization based
in New York City. They focus on investigative
journalism, which means they produce in-
depth reports on important issues.
Silkroad

Silk Road functioned as a black market, offering a

platform for anonymous buying and selling of illegal
goods and services. Drugs were a major focus, but it also
included things like stolen data and weapons.

In 2013, law enforcement agencies shut down Silk Road

and arrested its founder, Ross Ulbricht.
Important
Safety
Considerations
 Accessing The Dark Web
Security Risks: The dark web is inherently riskier than the clear
web. Malicious actors can exploit vulnerabilities in the
software or lure users into scams and malware attacks.
Anonymity is Not Guaranteed: While anonymity is a goal, it's
not foolproof. Law enforcement agencies and skilled hackers
can potentially track users and uncover their identities.
Beware of Scams: Just like the clear web, scams and phishing
attempts are prevalent. Be cautious of any offers that seem
too good to be true.
Is it illegal to
access the Dark
Web?
-Accessing the dark web is likely not illegal, but what
you do there can be.
END