When people think of the darknet, usually the nefarious people doing dastardly things come to their mind. They may not be much wrong if they feel this way because it remains a dark mystery for many people. It looks hard to define and challenge to locate, and it is for those who look to do more than just posting their picture on Facebook.
Darknet is known to be a network of secret websites that one can access on an encrypted network. The darknet is so-called as it has been made to hide the internet portions from everyday users. Instead of connecting directly to the server where a website is located in normal surfing, many servers are involved in creating anonymity.
Darknet vs. deep web
Usually, the terms darknet and dark web are used interchangeably, but darknet is part of a greater deep web, encompassing all unindexed sites that don't happen to pop up when you do an internet search. It is worth noting that not all activities associated with the deep web can be nefarious.
These pages are not searchable because they are password protected and need specific tools to get accessed. Online banking, personal email, and other sites are included under the umbrella of the deep web. Darknet is part of the deep web that is used for nefarious reasons. It facilitates black markets, illegal file sharing, exchanging of any illegal goods or services. In order to hide exchanges in this economy, bitcoin is generally used as a currency.
Encryption and darknet
Encryption is among the most common ways that darknet websites get separated from the surface net. The majority of these sites use the Tor encryption tool to help hide the identity. With Tor, the individuals can hide their location and appearing if they are in a different country.
It may not be difficult for an individual to access the darknet as long as they have the proper encryption tools. It may not be easy to determine who creates certain websites on the darknet, and if someone who has participated in the darknet gets his/her identity revealed, it can be dangerous.
Reasons to use or avoid darknet
Aside from any illegal sales and purchases, there can be several legitimate reasons to use the darknet. People in close societies and face censorship can use the darknet to communicate with others outside of their community. Even people in an open society can use the darknet if they are concerned about their government activity.
Nevertheless, most of the darknet activity is illegal, and it can be explained by the fact that darknet offers an identity security level that the surface net doesn't have. This is why it is appealing to the criminals who want to protect their identities from evading any detection. Darknet has gained notoriety since its start for the data breaches & noble hacks that have been associated with its usage.
Conclusion
A darknet is a dark place with tools and sites used to carry out criminal activities, and therefore, it can be a breeding ground for the traditional and cybercriminals. It is also a place to find malware-as-a-service and other tools of cybercrime. It is also a place to buy and sell stolen data in the modern and hyper-connected world. Darknet is here to stay, and the legacy of its creators lives on, but it can offer insight to give people intelligence in fighting cybercrime.