“What Is the Dark Web?”

The Dark Web. You may have heard or read about it in some articles. Some people refer to it as the darknet or the deep web. But the truth is, most people don’t know anything about it, and even fewer have ever explored it.

While that may be a good thing (you find out why), there’s no reason to be fully in the dark about the dark web. Here are simple facts to get you started: .

1. You can’t go to the Dark Web using Google or any other typical browser. In other words, content that’s found on the Dark Web can’t be reached without extra effort.
2. The content on the Dark Web is deliberately and intentionally hidden from standard public view.
3. The Dark Web is considered a subset or an obscured level of the Deep Web.
4. Most activity that takes place on the Dark Web cannot be traced, not even by authorities.
5. Yes, there is a significant amount of criminal activity on the Dark Web that some people would rather not bring to light.

The vast ocean that is the internet.

If the entire online world were an ocean, then the internet, the part we all know, is floating on top. It’s on the surface, and you can search, find, and visit any website on it. The websites are like ships floating on the water, inviting you onboard. (Remember that years ago, they used to call going online “surfing the web”?)

This surface web is what you explore and use daily. You interact with websites, open accounts, and establish relationships, typically because they provide something you need or value.

To visit any website, all one needs is an internet connection (which an Internet provider delivers) and an internet browser, such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Sometimes you need a subscription, too, but that’s only to use more features or services that the website offers.

The Dark Web is another story altogether.

So, if the internet is vast and accessible to all, then the Dark Web is the online activity that takes place in murky waters below the surface, under the radar.

And it isn’t for the innocent or faint-hearted. Fortunately, it’s not easy to get to either.

The Dark Web. A few more facts you want to know.

• The Dark Web is a tiny subset of the online world. According to researchers at Recorded Future, only .005% of the internet is the dark Web.
• You can’t explore it without specialized tools, software, and know-how. Think of it like having all the proper scuba gear that’s needed to go diving into the depths of the unknown.
• Also, it is primarily an English-language-based network, although it has an international reach.

Tor: It’s the door to the Dark Web. 

“The Onion Router” is what Tor stands for, and is a network solution that enables you to explore the Dark Web network and its associated websites. It’s what allows you to use the Dark Web anonymously.

Just as a real onion has multiple layers, the Tor network has layers of encryption to hide traffic from prying eyes and protect the activities and identities of its users.  There is also a Tor browser that allows you to find content on the network. Here are a few facts to know:

• The Tor Browser routes traffic through multiple servers worldwide to conceal your IP address.
• Tor also hides your IP address, but that’s very different from using a VPN to mask your actual IP address.
• Using Tor also provides “private browsing,” but that is far different from simply using the private browsing feature on your regular browser.
• None of the websites on the Tor network end in “.com.” Instead, they all end in “.onion.”

You can use a VPN and Tor simultaneously.

You can activate your VPN and use the Tor browser for double anonymity. Visit WhatIsMyIPAddress.com after enabling your browser to verify that your IP address has been updated. Then hop on Tor.

In fact, there are multiple ways to hide your IP address. You learn about them here in an easy-to-read article on our website.

Putting the “dark” in the Dark Web.

Why do some people like and seek this deep secrecy and anonymity available with Tor? It’s simple—to hide a wide range of illegal and illicit activities and keep them out of the sight and reach of law enforcement, regulators, and the public eye.

The Dark Web is synonymous with a range of crimes, including money laundering, identity theft, selling stolen public data, sex trafficking, extortion, blackmail, drug dealing, and so much more.

If all this seems complicated, complex, overwhelming, and even a bit frightening, then maybe you’re not ready for the Dark Web.

And that could be a good thing.

Nonetheless, the Dark Web does allow communication online that isn’t tracked by advertisers, law enforcement, or government censors and regulators. And in some instances, that’s not necessarily an evil thing.

Learn more about the internet.

To learn more about staying safe online, visit the Learning Center at WhatIsMyIPAddress.com. You’ll find many informative, easy-to-read articles to help you protect what’s important to you.