Do you know that there are mysterious layers beneath the surface of the internet? Deep Web and Dark Web! Very much like the underwater layers of an iceberg. But what is the story of these unknown layers? Let’s unmask it.
Deep web is that part of the internet that search engines like Google can’t index. One example is the government database or bank data. These databases are not accessible to the general public.
Data on the deep web is often legal but sensitive, which is why it is private to institutions or individuals.
Dark web, on the other hand, is a subset of deep web. You can go anonymous while using this segment of the internet. This makes it ideal for criminals. Why? Because they can engage in illegal activities without the fear of being caught.
People with the wrong intentions enter this layer of web through special browsers like TOR. They carry out illegal activities like firearm dealing, drug trafficking, and various scams.
This layer of web is even used for selling personal data and fake political propaganda.
The tool came into the picture in the year 2000. Ian Clarke was its creator. When he was a student at the University of Edinburgh, he developed ‘Freenet’. His intention was to develop a way for anonymous online communication.
Although dark web can have legitimate use cases, there are many potential dangers to using it.
The most significant risks are the following:
You may have heard people getting calls from fraudsters! Who are claiming themselves to be authorized representatives of reputed organizations? Threatening people that their bank accounts have been suspended. They need KYC to reopen it. Even you may have been a victim of that! They are part of ‘online financial fraud‘ rackets. How do they get your number? The answer is dark web. Personal details, as well as fake SIM cards, are sold on this vicious platform. These personal data and fake SIM cards are then used by the scammers to do debit/credit card fraud, stealing money from bank accounts.
This internet layer is notorious for illicit activities like arms and drug dealing and human trafficking.
Imagine a scenario. You are an honest guy who likes to have an honest discussion on some sensitive topics. There is a risk of having that discussion on public platforms like social media. You can choose dark web in that case. It lets you carry out activities without disclosing your identity.
So by now, you have a clearer picture of what lies in the depths of the ocean of the internet. We must remember that we can always use deep web for intellectual exploration. We must also be cautious about the nefarious uses of dark web.