Dark Web; Anonymity and Privacy

While talking on Dark Web, one is the most confused concepts with Dark Web is Deep Web. But first, I want to touch Surface Web. Surface Web is the indexable part of the internet. This includes all websites that you can find via search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Deep Web means everything else. It is everything on the internet that cannot be indexed. Deep Web is any system requires login credentials. Social media shares, personal data like credit card or medical information, company databases and more, create deep web.

Dark Web, is a part of the internet that cannot be indexable Only can be accessible via private softwares lie Tor (or the Onion Router). Tor is a distributed network where traffic is bounced between various routers (https://www.torproject.org/).

The poster below is showing the concepts of the internet (https://coar.risc.anl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/DarkNet_Poster_R8-622x1024.png)

Privacy

Privacy is the most important concern for people today, with the rise of internet and personal cloud usage. People want to feel safe and not monitored. With the sites visited or applications, these websites can collect some tracking actions of the user. Using the information collected with these tracking actions, simply, the websites can perform targeted advertising, moreover location based advertising to the user. Our internet usage is becoming a way for vendors, collecting information about us. Using Dark Web provide users making their online activities anonymously. Websites or applications cannot collect these type of data while using Dark Web.

Criminals

Since its anonymity and privacy, most people think that using Dark Web is illegal, because criminals use it to protect themselves. Criminals create online markets for selling their illegal materials. But also law enforcement agents such as police also uses Dark Web to capture these criminals.

Last Words

One of the most popular marketplace is Silk Road. Silk Road started for selling magic mushrooms at first, but then, grew to be used for other drugs also. Another popular marketplace is Wallstreet Market. Wallstreet Market offers goods like drugs, jewellery, malware, fraud information, stolen data, etc.  

Dark Web markets are not just buying or selling illegal goods. These markets can provide a better pricing since there is no anyone between the seller and the buyer, there is no taxes and advertisements, for also legal services, electronics, vegetables and etc. However, I think most people like to make shopping without receiving offers, based on the previous purchases, since the market does not collect any information about you.

People, mostly users away from these technologies think that Dark Web is a place where they need too much technical information to use it. However, there is not much difference between Surface Web and Dark Web. Only the softwares to reach there and the anonymity and privacy are the differences. Meanwhile, people have to be familiar with cryptocurrency technology tos hop from Dark Web.