Contrary to the mistaken belief popularized in movies, the dark web is not an illegal tool used by hackers. This is far from the truth. The dark web is actually a collection of sites that are not indexed on most search engines.
From the CIA world factbook to cryptocurrency wallets, you'll find similar types of web content and services you typically find on Google.
After reading this article, you'll have a better understanding of what the dark web looks like.
What Is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a decentralized network of sites on the internet that make users as anonymous as possible. It is content of the World Wide Web that exists on darknets, encryption technology that routes users’ data through a large number of servers.
The dark web is used for its privacy and anonymity, core values of the internet and foundational features which protect the privacy rights of users of the world wide web. The dark web is a subset of the deep web, the part of the web that is not indexed by web search engines.
Unlike the deep web, users of the dark web require special software and configurations to access dark web sites.
What the Dark Web Looks Like
The CIA
The CIA has its own official Onion site, a website that provides anonymity through Tor, open-source software that enables anonymous browsing and communication. The CIA Onion site provides resources on the CIA, as well as information on employment opportunities and the world factbook.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is considered to be a great alternative to internet search engines because it does not track its users.
Users browse the web with an additional layer of anonymity provided by DuckDuckGo. This ensures that they preserve their privacy when visiting dark web sites.
On DuckDuckGo, you find, depending on your search query, links to different websites, images, videos, news, maps, and shopping options.
Hidden Wallet
Hidden Wallet is a digital wallet used to carry out anonymous Bitcoin transactions. Unlike centralized cryptocurrency exchanges which destroy the anonymity of users, Hidden Wallet protects users through a process of mixing Bitcoin for extra security. Once on the site, you are given options to register a profile to store your Bitcoin or to log in, if you have previously registered for the services.
It goes without saying that this kind of tool should not be used for illegal purposes, but rather for the protection of fundamental human rights, such as privacy.
Protecting Your Right to Privacy
As you can see, while there is a fundamental difference in how the dark web works, visually it looks just like the web that you use each day.
It is more important than ever to protect your privacy online while taking advantage of the benefits of an open web. Dark web sites offer the layer of anonymity required to communicate online.
It is necessary to keep in mind that those who use the dark web are required by law to not use it for illegal purposes or purposes that contravene the rights of others.