The dark web is the hidden collective of internet sites only accessible by a specialized web browser. It is used for keeping internet activity anonymous and private, which can be helpful in both legal and illegal applications. While some use it to evade government censorship, it has also been known to be utilized for highly illegal activity.
Advantages:
Ensures privacy and freedom of expression
Allows law enforcement to identify criminal organizations
Disadvantages
Makes it easier to engage in criminal activity
Can be used to violate the privacy of others
Why People use Dark Web?
1. Anonymisation:
Tor is mainly used for people to browse the open web anonymously, a very small percentage of its traffic relates to Hidden Services. People have many reasons for protecting their online identity or reduce their risk of falling victim to crime such as people who have been cyberstalked or who are concerned about the security of online banking.
2. Accessing Hidden Services:
A Hidden Service (also known as an ‘onion service’) is one where not only the user, but also the website itself, have their anonymity protected by Tor. This means that the IP address of the site cannot be identified, meaning that information about its host, location or content is hidden. Hidden Services can be used legitimately, for example for whistleblowing or to allow members of the public to share sensitive information such as knowledge about crimes without the risk of reprisals. However it is generally believed that the majority of Hidden Services contain illicit material.
3. Illegal Activity:
The Dark Web is used by the people who carry illegal activities online such as selling weapons or drugs. These websites and operations are often referred as Hidden Services (as discussed above).
Dark Web Tools and Services
1. Identity Guard
Identity Guard uses your email address to scan the dark web for any compromised data .It not only monitors your data, but it also alerts you when there’s a change in your credit report. It searched through 6 categories of data to access any vulnerabilities.
Identity theft
Account Hijacking
Home Title Theft
Credit Theft
Spam + Robocalls
Data Trading
Advantages:
Dark web scan
Dark web monitoring
Identity dashboard
Risk management score
Family plans
Disadvantages:
Credit protection only on higher plans
White Glove Resolution Concierge only on highest plan
2. Aura
Aura’s all-in-one digital wellness solution includes Dark Web Monitoring, Credit Alerts, Account Monitoring, and more. Aura’s family plan is also a top rated solution for protecting your children and loved ones from identity fraud.
Advantages:
Dark web scan
Dark web monitoring
Monitors all 3 credit bureaus with Experian Credit Lock
Up to 4x faster credit fraud alerts than competitors
Disadvantages:
One-on-one white-glove fraud resolution only on the highest plan
Wi-Fi security features not available on macOS or Chrome
3. Firefox Monitor
The Firefox monitor is Mozilla’s own breach detection service. Using your email, it scans the darkweb for known breaches and notifies you if your info has been compromised.
Advantages:
Breach scanner
Provides security tips
In the event of a breach, identify what info was leaked
Breach search
Disadvantages:
Users need a Firefox account to get alerts
4. MyPwd
MyPwd uses artificial intelligence to scan the deep web and the dark web to determine if any of your personal passwords have been leaked. They’re constantly on the lookout for evidence of the sale of databases, credit cards, illegal services, or cyberattack planning.
Advantages:
Scans surface, deep, and dark web for compromised passwords
Email subscription alerts
Disadvantages:
Barebones—not a ton of features
Limited supporting articles or FAQ available
5. Dehashed
DeHashed is an extensive search engine and monitoring service. It allows users to search emails, usernames, domains, IPs, and more, to find vulnerable info. DeHashed offers both a dark web scanner and monitor. The platform also works with breach analysis companies and different law enforcement agencies.
Advantages:
Robust scanning and monitoring tool
Monitor hacker activity in real time
Cyber intelligence dataset helps identify identity fraud
Affordability—fairly priced with many services provided for free
Disadvantages:
Some support features are locked behind a paywall
6. Hashcast
HashCast specializes in company security. The service allows you to monitor leakage of employee emails, passwords and hashes from all around the web—including the deep or dark web.
Advantages:
Scans for company-wide business breaches
Get alerted about data breaches via email for free
Easily verify your business domain
Different plan options cater to different types of companies
Disadvantages:
Limited features available on the free version—premium plans offer more options and better services
7. Intelligence X
Intelligence X is an independent European tech company founded in 2018. Based in the Czech Republic, its mission is to develop and maintain a massive search engine and data archive. Intelligence X is unique because it works with “selectors”—specific search terms such as email addresses, domains, URLs, IPs, CIDRs, BTC addresses, IPFS hashes, and more. These selectors allow Intelligence X to gather open-source intelligence from places like the darknet, document sharing data, whois data, public data leaks, and more.
Advantages:
Custom plans
Huge variety of custom selectors
Ability to search the dark web, deep web, document sharing sites, public leaks, BTC addresses, and more
Disadvantages:
Free users won’t get alerts, and lack access to most types of selectors
Mainly enterprise and government-focused—not easily accessible for regular individuals worried about personal cybersecurity
8. Dashlane
Dashlane is a subscription-based password manager and digital wallet application that offers security tools for both businesses and individuals. Dashlane saves password and secure information for autofill and even generates secure passwords for users.
Advantages:
Plans for various types of clients
Stores passwords and creates complex passwords
Dark web monitoring and scanning
VPN and WiFi protection
Automatic password changer
Disadvantages:
All dark web and online security features require a paid subscription
9. IDStrong
IDStrong helps you protect your personal and credit information online. Their team monitors black market websites, chat rooms, social media feeds, public records, the dark web, and millions of other data points across the Internet—all in order to determine if your personal information has been compromised. IDStrong alerts you immediately if any part of your identity has been compromised.
Advantages:
Free online scanning using your personal info, email, phone number, usernames, passwords, and more
IDStrong offers many features including monitoring, reporting, and live support
Up to 1M identity theft insurance
ID restoration support
Disadvantages:
Scanning is the only service that IDStrong offers for free
10. ImmuniWeb -Bonus One!
The company’s suite of products offer easy, affordable penetration testing that anyone can use.
By simulating attacks on sensitive information, ImmuniWeb helps clients determine (and fix) key points of vulnerability. Some of their clients include PwC – PricewaterhouseCoopers, eBay, and the Global Cyber Alliance.
Advantages:
Numerous free tests for scanning and monitoring online security
Ability to check many platforms
Robust AI on the cutting edge of penetration testing
Disadvantages:
Paid service is not priced for individuals
Company/organization AI dark web monitoring is locked behind the second most expensive paid option
Difference Between Deep Web and Dark Web
DEEP WEB DARK WEB
Deep web is the portion of the internet that is hidden and not shown from conventional search engine | The Dark web is a subset of the deep web which is intentionally hidden. |
To access, you require password, encryption or specific software | To access, you require Tor Project or similar browser. |
It is larger than surface web | It is subset of Deep web, but its size is unmeasurable. |
It includes all unindexed webpages | It includes a subset of unindexed webpages inside the deep web. |
You can access it with VPN | Need lots of precautions to access this data. |
Applications-
| Applications-
|
Is it legal?
No it is not illegal to access the dark web. In fact, some uses are perfectly legal and support the value of the “dark web.” On the dark web, users can seek out three clear benefits from its use:
User anonymity.
Virtually untraceable services and sites
Ability to take illegal actions for both users and providers
Risks in Dark Web
Below are some of the threats who may face during your browsing experience:
1. Malicious Software
It offers tools for cyberattacks. However, it lingers all across the dark web to infect unsuspecting users just like it does on the rest of the web.
The dark web doesn’t carry as many of the social contracts that website providers follow to protect users on the rest of the web. As such, users can find themselves regularly exposed to some types of malware like:
Keyloggers
Botnet malware
Ransomware
Phishing malware
2. Government Monitoring:
With many Tor-based sites being overtaken by police authorities across the globe, there is a clear danger of becoming government target for simply visiting a dark website.
Infiltrations can put you at risk of monitoring for other types of activity as well. Evading government restrictions to explore new political ideologies can be an imprisonable offense in some countries.
3. Scams
Some alleged services like the professional “hitmen” may just be scams designed to profit from willing customers. Reports have suggested the dark web offers many illegal services, from paid assassinations to trafficking for weapons and more.
The Tech Platform