The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines like Google or Bing. It’s so called because it uses some encryption technology to hide its contents from prying eyes, making it difficult for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for them to find. 

This is why you might have heard of the term “darknet” being used in relation to the Internet. The dark net refers to all the information which cannot be found using regular search engines. The dark web is just one element within this broader concept. 

What Does the Dark Web Mean? 

The phrase “dark web” has become so commonplace that you might wonder what exactly it means. There are lots of theories and opinions about what the dark web really is, but here we’ll explain exactly what it is and how many parts there are to it. 

So what is the dark web? 

Well, it may surprise you to know that the dark web was actually first invented almost 20 years ago! In 1998, someone at a Dutch computer security conference named it as a new concept. Since then, there have been several other attempts to describe the dark web, each with their own definition of what it entails.

Hopefully it is clear as exactly what is the dark web. A person must have the detail of the Darknet links so that he can visit the link and get eth detail of the various options. In the long  run also the person will get the detail of the various options that are available.

One of these definitions comes from the US Government’s National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC), which defines the dark web as: 

the portion of the Internet that cannot be accessed through conventional mechanisms such as search engines and directories. This includes websites that use encryption, anonymous browsing software, or virtual private networks. 

In essence, this means that the dark web is any website which doesn’t have an easily accessible index. This could include sites run by governments, corporations or individuals – if they don’t want people searching for them, they can make sure that nobody else will find them either. 

How Many Parts Are There? 

There are two main parts of the dark web – those hosted on servers and those which aren’t. Hosted content is usually associated with illegal activity and tends to be hosted on dedicated servers. This is where most of the criminal activity takes place. 

Non-hosted content is mostly free to access and is hosted by ordinary users rather than companies or organizations. If you’re interested in non-hosted content, your best bet is to visit one of the many Tor exit nodes around the world. These are places you can connect to the dark web without having to worry about getting caught, and they’re often run by volunteers. 

Hosted Content 

When it comes to hosted content on the dark web, there are different categories of illegal activity you need to understand. Some of these activities fall under the umbrella of cybercrime, while others are more specific. 

Cybercrime 

Any crime committed online is technically known as cybercrime. Cybercrimes tend to be the most common type of illegal behavior carried out on the dark web. Examples of cybercrimes include child pornography, drug dealing, weapons trading, stolen credit card data and identity theft. 

The dark web is also popular with hackers who carry out attacks against government systems, corporations and even other criminals. 

Illegal Drugs 

Drugs are another very big business on the dark web. You might have heard about the Silk Road, a well-known marketplace for drugs, firearms and other contraband goods. Most of these items are sold anonymously, which makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track down sellers and buyers. 

While the market size for illicit drugs is enormous, it’s only one aspect of the dark web. Other illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine are also available to buy, although you’ll probably need to pay quite high prices for them. 

Weapons 

You might think that guns are the only thing you can get hold of on the dark web, but you’d be wrong. Weapons are just one of the many types of illegal merchandise that can be bought and sold on the site. 

Other examples include knives and ammunition, which are frequently used for crimes such as murder and robbery. You can also buy fake IDs, which are commonly used to commit fraud and identity theft. 

It should be noted that there are laws in place to prevent people buying these products, so it’s unlikely you’ll encounter anybody selling illegal drugs, weapons or counterfeit documents online. However, it’s easy to imagine how they might be used in the future. 

Phishing 

Phishing scams are one of the most common ways in which hackers try to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims. They typically involve sending malicious emails designed to trick recipients into revealing confidential details, such as usernames and passwords. 

These emails come from fake addresses, so you might think that they’re safe to open. Unfortunately, phishing emails are extremely convincing and are often sent out by people pretending to work for your employer.

If you receive an email purporting to be from your bank or other financial institution, you should never click on links contained within it. Instead, you should report the message to the bank directly, via telephone number or customer service channel which you were given when you set up your account. 

Another phishing scam involves sending out fake messages from popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Phishers often attempt to convince users to provide their logins and passwords in exchange for offers of prizes. If you fall victim to one of these scams, you should immediately change your password and take steps to ensure that no further unauthorized transactions are made using your account. 

Anonymous Browsing 

As mentioned earlier, there are many websites on the dark web that offer a secure alternative to accessing the normal Internet. When you visit these websites, a special tool called a browser is installed onto your computer. This allows you to browse the dark web without leaving any traces behind. 

Because the dark web is hidden from public view, you can remain completely anonymous when you visit certain sites. For example, you could use a VPN to route your traffic through a server in a foreign country, making it untraceable. 

There are plenty of reasons to use such services, including protecting yourself from prying eyes and avoiding surveillance by websites tracking your every move. However, this does mean that you must trust the company operating the server, which is a serious risk. 

If you choose to do this, make sure that you use a reputable provider who offers an adequate level of protection and that they keep all your data securely stored. 

Non-Hosted Content 

Non-hosted content on the dark web is much easier to access. After all, there are thousands of websites available. As long as you know where to look, it shouldn’t be hard to find the information you’re looking for. 

For instance, if you’re curious about purchasing drugs online, you can certainly find somewhere to order them. It might take a bit more digging than you would expect, but it’s perfectly possible to purchase drugs on the dark web. 

If you’re still struggling to figure out what to do after reading this article, it might help to check out our list of top 10 dark web sites. 

What About Bitcoin? 

Many people assume that the dark web is just filled with illicit goods, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true that you can buy anything on the dark web, it’s also possible to spend money on legal services, such as online gambling. 

This is why Bitcoin is so popular on the dark web. Rather than relying on banks or PayPal to facilitate transactions, you can simply transfer funds between users by creating digital wallets on your own computers. This is what makes Bitcoin so exciting. 

It’s possible to send and receive payments over the dark web without ever leaving your home. This is a huge advantage over traditional payment methods, which require you to leave your house and go to a physical location to complete purchases. 

Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, meaning that it’s based on mathematical principles rather than tangible assets. This means that it’s very difficult to trace. Because of this, Bitcoin is ideal for transferring money around the world.

However, while it’s great for money transfers, it’s not suitable for everything. For example, it’s not possible to buy something using Bitcoin on the dark web. Also, because it’s decentralized, it’s not possible to create Bitcoin accounts on third-party websites. 

Conclusion 

The dark web is a fascinating topic, but it’s important to remember that it’s not always a good idea to access it. Just because you see something listed on the dark web, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should buy it.