specialized browser like Tor<\/a> (The Onion Routing) or I2R (Invisible Internet Project). There\u2019s no need to be a hacker or to use a special operating system. Just get a browser that supports dark web protocols.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWebsites on the dark web don\u2019t use traditional links. Dark web links end with a .onion suffix, which explains why the onion was chosen as the official Tor logo. You must figuratively peel off layers of the visible web until you find its truly hidden content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These dark web browsers randomize the user\u2019s IP address with each clicked link and website visit, creating an almost untraceable network. Anonymity is the prime reason for rising popularity of the dark web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anyone looking to conceal their identity online, whether military personnel or journalists reporting from war zones, use the dark web on a daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the dark web used for, then?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dark Web and Illegal Activities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
An anonymous network, inaccessible by traditional methods, unindexed by search engines, populated by untraceable websites and anonymous users – that\u2019s the kind of environment ripe for shady businesses and other not-so-legal activities to really spread their wings. And, to no one’s surprise, they quickly did. Ever since the darkweb came to be, there were reports and rumors of drug markets, human trafficking, and worse doing business on the secret corner of the web. Which of these are true, and which are just urban legends?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silk Road<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Silk Road is the name everyone associates with the dark web. This infamous market, launched in early 2011, was ultimately shut down by the FBI in 2013 due to the amount of drug trafficking it enabled. Silk Road is considered the first darknet market: the very first online store that allowed sales of illegal items in exchange for Bitcoin. At the time of its demise, more than 70% of items available through Silk Road were drugs, followed by fake driver\u2019s licenses and pirated music and movies. Not everything on sale was illegal, and the website had strict rules against harmful materials and items. Still, the doors were wide open to the illegal activity the dark web is now infamous for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assassins on the Dark Web<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
One of the greatest myths about the dark web is that you can hire an assassin. Some say that kind of \u201cservice\u201d costs as little as $5,000. But no dark web search records were ever found of an actual hit attempt or assassin operating there. What was found? A network of dark web websites and individuals who accepted bitcoins in exchange for – absolutely nothing at all. Scammers were relying on the veil of mystery that the dark web inherently provided. In reality, more injuries and murders happened through Craigslist and similar websites that are widely available on the surface web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Myths and Facts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The media loves headline-making stories, so it\u2019s unsurprising that myths and urban legends about the contents of the dark web originated there. Aside from the illegal items that ended up on sale (and are now much less common), this part of the internet actually has limitations. For example, you can\u2019t host a livestream there. So you won\u2019t witness depravities and horrors while searching the dark web, although you might end up getting scammed and losing your money for a service or a product you\u2019ll never get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s a higher chance of seeing a crime a couple of blocks down the street or even on popular social networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is the Dark Web Illegal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Not everything on the dark web is illegal, and using Tor and other browsers doesn\u2019t expose you to any consequences. But as the dark web became more notorious, some countries began imposing restrictions. China, most notably, has made Tor completely illegal due to the level of encryption it provides. Also, visitors of dark web sites are no longer completely anonymous, so a VPN would be required for increased protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All in all, the dark web continues to be a source of fascination for a lot of people. Just as Dorothy had to peek behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz, many of us long to see what all the fuss is about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most will come back disappointed when they find out what the dark web actually is – just another bunch of websites with content not much different from what they experience every day. Once the mysterious curtain is pulled open, all you\u2019ll really be left with is Bitcoin and a community of scammers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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