Dark Websites | Know The Truth About Deep Web | Dark Web

Although dark websites appear to be similar to conventional websites, they have a lot more going on. The names’ hierarchical structure is the first consideration. On the black web, domains end in .onion rather than.com or .co, which are more commonly used. If you’re looking to access an anonymous service via the Tor network, this is the domain suffix you’ll want to use. These websites can only be accessed by browsers that use the appropriate proxy.

Additionally, the URLs of dark web sites are sometimes difficult to remember because of their confusing naming schemes. “eajwlvm3z2lcca76.onion,” for example, is an absurd domain name for a major commerce site called Dream Market.

Scammers have set up a large number of dark websites to avoid their victims’ fury. Businesses that have been in operation for a year or more can go out of business in an instant if the owners decide to cash in on their customers’ escrow monies and run.

Police officers are becoming more adept at identifying and prosecuting online merchants of illegal goods and services. This year, a gang of cyber law enforcement agents from three nations brought down AlphaBay, the largest source of illicit goods on the dark web, causing ripples throughout the network. On the other hand, a large number of retailers just moved. DDoS attacks can take advantage of the Tor network’s anonymity because of its inherent vulnerability, says Patrick Ticket, director of security and architecture at Keeper Security and the company’s resident expert on the subject. To avoid DDoS attacks, he said that sites are continually changing addresses, resulting in “a highly dynamic environment and due to it, search results vary greatly and the majority of the material is out of date.

What is Dark Web?

Search engines do not index the “dark web” areas of the internet. The “black web” is, in fact, a hub for criminal behavior, as you’ve stated. Studying 2,723 live dark websites for five weeks, King’s College London researchers found that 57 percent contained illegal content.

dark websites

Things have gotten much worse when Dr. Michael McGuires of the University of Surrey conducted an examination into the “Web of Profit” in 2019. Since 2016, there has been a 20 percent increase in the listing of the dark web that detriment a company potentially. Businesses could be harmed by more than 60% of all online content (except for those encouraging the sale of illegal narcotics).

This includes stolen bank account and credit card information as well as illegal narcotics and weapons. It’s possible to buy everything from a $50,000 Bank of America account to a “lifetime” Netflix VIP subscription, as well as fake $20 bills and pre-paid debit cards. Hackers might be hired to carry out attacks for you. It is possible to purchase usernames and passwords. On the dark web, you can find both legitimate and illegal activity. Tor’s “Facebook” has been dubbed “the chess club,” among other names.

Dark Web vs. Deep Web

There is a difference between the words “deep web” and “dark web,” even though they are sometimes used interchangeably. Users can’t access the deep web because search engines like Google can’t index it. This type of stuff is called “deep web content,” and it is only accessible with a login and password. Crawlers will not index any content that has been specifically prohibited by the site’s owners.

What may be found on the “deep web” include medical records (subscription-based), membership websites, and hidden corporate web pages? It is estimated that the Internet’s whole size is concealed from public view to a great extent. The “clean web” refers to the portion of the internet that can be seen using a basic web browser.

You’ll need a browser called Tor if you want to access the dark web, which only operates on the deep web. The dark web accounts for an unknown percentage of the global internet, but most estimates place it at roughly 5%. Despite its sinister reputation, the dark web serves a function.

Tools and Services of Dark Web

Tools and services that may provide a risk of network infiltration or data compromise include twelve separate categories, according to the Into the Web of Profit research.

  • An attack, such as a distributed denial of service (DDoS) or botnet infection.
  • By way of the Internet, methods of access include Trojans, RATs, key-loggers, and exploits.
  • Customization, services, and targeted espionage are all sorts of sabotage.
  • One example of support service is a tutorial.
  • Credentials
  • Phishing
  • Refunds
  • The customer’s data
  • Data about the operation of the business
  • Data about the budget
  • Trade secrets and intellectual property
  • Additional threats are emerging.
  • Three risk factors were identified for each category:
  • Devaluing a company’s brand, damaging its reputation, or submitting to a competitor are all examples of this.
  • Disrupting corporate operations with DDoS assaults or other malware that causes havoc with business processes
  • Theft of intellectual property or espionage in the course of a business that harms a company’s capacity to compete or results in a financial loss
  • Since professional criminal gangs like REvil and GandCrab have emerged on the dark web, ransom-ware-as-a-service (RaaS) tools have become far more destructive. These groups create and distribute malware, often in conjunction with other tools, through affiliates.
  • The ransomware kits were distributed via affiliates on the dark web. In case the ransom is not paid, the data of the victims are usually stolen and published on the dark web.

Successful businesses use this tactic. It has been estimated that REvil will be used in 29% of all ransomware attacks by 2020, according to IBM Security X-Force research. The criminal organizations behind the malware take a cut of the associates’ profits, often 20 to 30 percent. In the preceding year, REvil made an estimated $81 million in profits, according to IBM.

Dark Web Browser

It’s easy to get carried away with the bustle of the dark web’s marketplace and think it’s easy to find your way around. That’s not true. One can only imagine how bad things got when everyone is anonymous and a large fraction of people are committed to scamming others.

The Tor browser is the only way to visit the dark web anonymously. When you visit websites, this browser hides your IP address using a network of proxy servers that are managed by hundreds of volunteers across the world. It’s as if Tor works by magic, yet the experience is akin to surfing the dark web: unstable, unexpected, and painfully sluggish to respond. With a bit of patience, you can obtain a unique perspective on human nature without having to worry about being mugged in a dark alley.

Buying crypto can be made easier by the DarkWeb

A crypto-currency known as Bitcoin has made the dark web popular in recent years because it allows parties to make a safe transaction without knowing one other’s identities. It was the rise of the dark web and the rise of bitcoin that fueled each other.

However, even if most dark web businesses accept bitcoin or another form of crypto-currency, this does not imply that doing business there is safe. Scammers and thieves are drawn to the area because of its inherent secrecy, but what can you expect when your goal is to purchase weapons or drugs?

Even though dark web commerce sites have many features with traditional e-commerce sites, such as user reviews and purchasing carts, there are substantial variations between the two types of platforms. Quality control is the initial stage. Any rating system’s trustworthiness is called into doubt when both buyers and vendors are anonymous. In some cases, even well-established businesses have been known to disappear with clients’ crypto-currency before reappearing with an alternate name and rating system.

Consumer money is typically held in escrow by the majority of e-commerce suppliers until the goods are delivered. Do not expect to be served with a smile in the event of a dispute, though it is up to the buyer and seller to resolve any difficulties that arise. Since all communications are encrypted, even the simplest transaction necessitates the use of a PGP key.

It is not guaranteed that the products will be delivered even if a transaction is completed. Customs inspectors are becoming more aggressive in their search for suspicious things as more people have to cross international borders. There are numerous stories on the dark web news site of customers who have been arrested or detained for making an effort to acquire anything.

The price you pay for stolen data fluctuates with the market, just like it does in the real world. According to Privacy Affair’s 2021 Dark Web Price Index:

  • Credit card cloned with PIN: $25 to $35
  • Credit card information with a maximum balance of $5,000: $240
  • Stolen online banking logins with a balance of at least $2,000: $120
  • Transfers from hijacked PayPal accounts range from $50 to $340
  • $610 from a hacked Coinbase verified account
  • $1 to $60 per hacked social network account
  • $80 for a hacked Gmail account
  • eBay account with a solid reputation hacked: $1,000 Credit card cloned with PIN: $25 to $35
  • Credit card information with a maximum balance of $5,000: $240
  • Stolen online banking logins with a balance of at least $2,000: $120
  • Transfers from hijacked PayPal accounts range from $50 to $340
  • $610 from a hacked Coinbase verified account
  • $1 to $60 per hacked social network account
  • $80 for a hacked Gmail account
  • $1,000 for a hacked eBay account with a good reputation

Dark web threats

The dark web may seem safe to use if you only need privacy, but you might still wonder, “Is the dark web dangerous? You may find yourself in danger if you use the dark web. Below are the most common threats you will encounter when browsing the dark web:

Threats from malicious software

The dark web is full of malware – or malicious software. The malware is frequently offered in some portals to give attackers the tools to launch cyberattacks. However, the malware can also infect unsuspecting users on the dark web, just as on the rest of the internet.

Unlike the rest of the web, the dark web does not follow as many of the social contracts that website providers follow to protect users. Users can as a result find themselves frequently exposed to many types of malware, including:

  • Spyware
  • Botnet malware
  • Ransomware

Spam malware

You are putting yourself at risk of being singled out and targeted for hacking and other bad things if you explore the dark web. Endpoint security can detect some malware infections.

Anonymity is powerful through Tor and the dark web framework, but it can’t provide absolute protection if your computer or network connection is exploited Anonymity is powerful through Tor and dark web framework, but not infallible. Anyone digging deep enough into your online activity can find breadcrumbs that point to your identity.

Governmental monitoring

Police authorities have taken over many Tor-based websites across the world, so visitors to dark websites run the risk of becoming government targets.

Several illegal drug marketplaces such as Silk Road have previously been used for police surveillance. It has been possible for law enforcement officials to discover the user identities of patrons and bystanders by using custom software to infiltrate and analyze activity. The chances are you could be watched even if you never make a purchase, and incriminated for later activities as well.

You may also be monitored for other types of activity after an infiltration. In certain countries, it can be a crime to evade government restrictions to explore new political ideologies. It is precisely for this reason that China’s “Great Firewall” restricts access to popular websites. The visitor to this site runs the risk of being placed on a watchlist or being targeted for incarceration.

Scams

In some cases, allegedly professional “hitmen” are simply scams intended to take advantage of their willing customers. According to reports, the dark web offers many illegal services, including services such as assassination and sex trafficking.

It is important to realize that some of these threats are well-established and well-known. There are, however, people who may be taking advantage of the dark web’s reputation to defraud users of large amounts of money. There may also be people on the dark web who attempt to steal your identity or personal information to extort you.

Is it legal to Use the Dark Web?

If you believe the dark web is exclusively negative or criminal, you are mistaken. Tor was revolutionary when it first appeared as a means of anonymous communication, and it has remained so ever since. It is widely used in nations where surveillance is permitted or internet access is restricted.

If you’re curious about privacy or bitcoin, the dark web has a lot to offer. These include instructions for configuring an anonymous operating system and other advanced privacy advice, as well as a variety of secret and encrypted email alternatives.

The public content on this site contains links to full-text versions of obscure works, political news from famous websites, and a map of the Virginia Tech campus’s steam tunnels. You can anonymously express your thoughts on current events on Intel Exchange. Wikileaks is just one of a plethora of dark web whistleblower platforms. On the other side, authorities have repeatedly shut down the Pirate Bay BitTorrent site. Facebook even has a dark web presence.

There are an increasing number of legitimate online firms establishing themselves there. It implies that they are intelligent, forward-thinking, and self-aware in this context.

Additionally, certain businesses will benefit from a range of practical advantages. When a security breach leads to the theft of data, law enforcement officials conduct an extensive search of the dark web to apprehend the perpetrators. The mainstream media examines whistleblower websites regularly for new information.

Myths and Facts about Dark Web and Deep Web

There is a lot of confusion about the “Dark Web” and “Deep Web,” the latter of which many news organizations have used incorrectly in recent days to describe the former. Here’s what each term means.

The Dark Web is a part of the World Wide Web that requires specific software to access. In many ways, it’s just like any other website, except that its domain names end with “.onion” instead of “.com.”

There are plenty of legitimate reasons why someone might want to visit these sites. For example, they can be used by human rights activists around the world to organize and communicate with one another, due to their increased protection from government surveillance.

However, many illegal activities occur on these websites — hence the name “Dark Web.” This has led some people to erroneously use the term “Dark Web” interchangeably with “Deep Web.”

Conclusion

The Dark Web is not a place where you can find freedom or security. It has become a marketplace of the biggest criminal networks where all and any kind of stuff can be bought and sold. Be careful with your exposure to it. Protect your browsing activities, don’t download files and documents from untrusted pages. To stay away from hackers, always keep your antivirus database up-to-date.