Dark Web: Hidden Side of Internet

Aditya Jha
3 min readSep 10, 2023

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KEY CONCEPTS

The Dark Web is a network of websites that are not indexed by the search engines and require specific software to access. These websites are hosted on an encrypted network and are not accessible on standard browsers.

Encrypted Networks:

An encrypted network is a network that uses encryption techniques to protect the confidentiality, Integrity, and authenticity of data transmitted over the network.

Anonymity:

Anonymity is the key aspect of the dark web. Anonymity is using the internet without revealing your identity. It can be achieved Using tools like VPN and Tor.

Crypto Currency:

  • Cryptocurrencies don’t have a central issuing or regulating authority, instead using a decentralized system to record transactions and issue new units.
  • There are thousands of cryptocurrencies. Some of the best known include
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum

and many more.

Silk Road:

Dark Web Market Place which was shut down by FBI for illegal activities.

Blockchain:

Blockchain is a distributed leisure technology that is used to store verified transactions. It is the underlying technology behind all Cryptocurrencies.

DEFINITION OF DARK WEB

The Dark web is built on the technology called Tor which stands for “The Onion Router”. Tor is mainly developed by the US Navy as a way to protect Government Communications and now an Open Source and Free to Use.

Onion Routing:

Onion routing is a technique for anonymous communication over a computer network. In an onion network, messages are encapsulated in layers of encryption, analogous to layers of an onion.

Onion Routing

The multilayer encryption is applied which gives it a structure like onion.

Multilayer Encryption

Hidden Services:

  • The Website links changes every time you revisit the website.
  • The extension will be .onion always.
  • These websites are not indexed by the search Engines.

HOW IT DIFFERES FROM THE SURFACE WEB

The surface web which also called as clear web is a portion of web which can be accessed through Standard browsers such as Chrome, etc.

The Difference between surface web and dark web is Anonymity:

On Dark Web, you will not reveal your identity, whereas on surface web, you have disclose your true identity.

Content on the Dark Web:

  • Primarily associated with all the illegal activities.
  • You will not see any of those on surface web.

POPULAR DARK WEB WEBSITES AND THEIR USES

There are some websites on Dark Web that prioritize Privacy and Anonymity:

The Hidden Wiki:

  • The Hidden Wiki was a dark web Media Wiki operating as Tor hidden services that could be anonymously edited after registering on the site.
  • The main Page served as a directory of links to other .onion sites.
HIDDEN WIKI

The Silk Road:

The Market place for illegal goods. Was shut down By the FBI in 2013.

SILK ROAD

Child’s Play:

Sadly child pornography site.

STRONGLY, THIS IS FOR EDUCATION PURPOSE ONLY.

CHILDS PLAY

Secure Drop:

SecureDrop is a free software platform for secure communication between journalists and sources (Whistleblowers)

SECURE DROP

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