Why You Should Never Visit The Dark Web
The dark web is a network of websites that are only accessible through the Tor browser. These sites are often used for illegal activity, such as selling drugs and weapons, and many people use them to buy items from other countries that they cannot get their hands on in their own country.
It’s like the Internet’s evil twin brother! And although identity theft and malware infections can happen on the regular net, your chances of falling victim to something nasty increase when you visit the dark web.
NEED TO KNOW
What is Tor and the Tor browser?
The Tor browser is a modified version of the Firefox browser. All it does is connect your computer to the Tor network and you can surf any website without revealing your identity or location through your IP address. It’s like using Chrome on incognito mode, only it’s much harder to trace.
How is this different from regular browsing?
Regular browsing lets websites know where in the world you are connecting from, whereas when you use the Tor browser, they won’t know anything about you.
Unlike using incognito mode, with Tor there’s no need to worry about apps tracking what websites you visit.
The rest of this blog post will explore some of the reasons why you should stay away from the dark net.
You’re in bad company
Some of the world’s worst people have made the dark web their home. Terrorists, child predators and members of organized crime flock there daily in order to conduct their illicit business.
It’s not hard for them to do so under anonymity because they can’t be tracked by any government agencies or international law enforcement organizations.
Although journalists and whistleblowers often use the space to exchange important information while staying anonymous, that’s not its usual use. By association you’ll be linked to the bad guys.
The dark web is rife with illegal/immoral content
Every illegal piece of content you can imagine is available on the dark web – from snuff movies to material for child abusers.
Even if your reason for being there is innocent, unfortunately, harmless and harmful content is oftentimes available in the same place, thus you’ll have to navigate through disturbing material to find what you’re looking for.
It’s difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor
In some cases, i.e. matters of public interest, the inability of law enforcement agencies to monitor the dark net is a blessing in disguise. Whistleblowers can freely get messages out without fear of being discovered and arrested (or worse) for treason.
However, as mentioned already, some very unpleasant and dangerous people frequently use the dark web. It is thus easy for crimes to go unpunished, or for criminals to walk free. This means that if a crime took place against you by way of the dark net, you’d have little to no recourse.
Malware and viruses
The world’s most skilled hackers can be found using the Tor browser, and they have no conscience when it comes to infecting users’ computers with malware, trojans or ransomware.
In the past, people have been tricked into downloading malware onto their computers before promptly having their data stolen or their computer held hostage for ransom.
What is ransomware?
Ransomware is malware that takes over your computer system and restricts what you can do with it until a ransom payment has been made.
The aim of the hacker who created this type of software is to get money as quickly as they can by taking control of the victim’s computer and then demanding cash (usually in Bitcoin) for its release.
So, you might think you’re downloading some innocent document, but it could be laden with data-stealing software that activates the minute you open it on your computer.
Everyone will assume you’re doing something illicit
The dark web is often referred to as the place where people go to do their illegal deeds under the cover of secrecy. The reality, of course, is that there are morally upstanding individuals who also frequent it daily. You might fit into this box.
Considering its notoriety, however, no one can ever be sure of your motives for visiting it. Before long, people will start wondering why anyone with nothing to hide would go to a place like that.
Concerned about privacy, but afraid to visit the dark web?
Online privacy is important. You should always try to protect and conceal as much of your internet activity as possible, to keep nosy organizations out of your business. But perhaps you’re afraid of stepping foot into the dark recesses of the dark web in order to truly protect yourself. If this is the case, you should consider getting a VPN.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that allows you to browse the internet anonymously and securely by routing all of your activity through an intermediary server. This means that no one will be able to link you to your browsing history.
A regular VPN doesn’t use Tor, it simply masks your IP address. It’s also becoming a must nowadays, due to the rampant data and identity theft and tracking that takes place online.
Conclusion
The dark web is a dangerous place, and it’s not for the faint of heart. You should never visit it unless it’s a matter of life and death (which it likely will never be). If privacy is what you seek, a good VPN will provide that, wont set you back much, and won’t get you into any trouble.
