The Dark Web: A Haven for Illegal Activities

Their locations include world destinations, nightlife activities, a comprehensive concierge, and an industry-leading approach to draw millions of gamblers weekly. In 2015, Family Dollar acquired its biggest competitor, Dollar Tree. Family Dollar is one-half of a consumer’s dream; they offer low-priced goods for families in 8,200 locations nationwide. Line Messenger is a communication app that allows users to communicate for free by sending messages and making voice calls. This statistic may sound lukewarm now, but e-commerce is rapidly becoming the lion’s share of global transactions.

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The dark web, a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers, has gained notoriety for its association with illegal activities. While the deep web, which includes academic databases and other non-indexed sites, is perfectly legal, the dark web is a different story.

What Makes the Dark Web Illegal?

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The fact that the dark web is highly anonymized and encrypted, however, also attracts illicit conduct. One study[1] estimated that 57 percent of dark websites facilitate illicit activity, according to the RAND report. At various points in 2013 and 2016, large drug sales on the dark net approached a quarter of all cryptomarket drug revenue, the report said.

The dark web is illegal due to the types of activities that take place there. These activities include:

Deep Web, Dark Web, Dark Internet

Anything that goes on at Bob’s and Carla’s is unknown and invisible to the outside world. IP addresses are masked in this network and it offers near-perfect anonymity. SA DerYeghiayan served as the lead witness for the government in the Silk Road trial. The result for Ulbricht was a guilty verdict on all counts, including continuing criminal enterprise, hacking, drug smuggling, money laundering and document fraud. This is the main way that search engines become aware of a certain website or web page, and is generally how sites like Google add web pages to their index. In order to properly understand how the deep web works, you first have to understand a few fundamentals of how the regular internet operates, especially as it relates to search engines.

• Drug trafficking: The dark web is often used as a marketplace for illegal drugs, with vendors selling everything from marijuana to heroin.
• Firearms sales: Guns and other weapons are also commonly sold on the dark web, often without any background checks or other safety measures.
• Stolen personal information: Identity theft is a major issue on the dark web, with stolen credit card information, social security numbers, and other sensitive data frequently traded and sold.

On your Android or iOS device, download and install a browser app capable of accessing the Tor network on mobile. For Android we recommend Tor Browser, as it is built by The Tor Project. Despite there being no official iOS app built by Tor Project, they have endorsed Onion Browser—an open source Tor browser. Dark data can be discovered from a variety of sources, one of which is the Dark Web. Enterprises are learning to use this body of untapped data from multiple domains to drive business decisions. Still, according to Geva, they have no way of knowing who is collecting the data, who is using it or what it is being used for.

• Child pornography: The dark web is unfortunately home to a significant amount of child pornography, with many sites dedicated to this horrific crime.

Browse The Tor Network Securely

Is It Legal to Access the Dark Web?

• The most notorious of all Dark Web marketplaces was Silk Road which, at its peak, catered to over 100,000 buyers.
• The dark web is a small portion of the deep web which is not indexed by search engines or accessible by traditional means.
• In countries with authoritarian governments, the Dark Web is an important space for freedom of expression in some parts of the world.

Many news sites use SecureDrop, such as The Washington Post, ProPublica, and The Guardian. It was created by the U.S Navy with the purpose of helping informants in foreign nations to communicate safely over the Internet. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in that spirit, released a .onion site so that people from across the globe can browse their resources securely and anonymously. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer or other company, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All information, including rates and fees, are accurate as of the date of publication and are updated as provided by our partners. Some of the offers on this page may not be available through our website.

Accessing the dark web itself is not illegal, but using it for illegal activities is. However, even accessing the dark web can be risky, as many of the sites that exist there are scams or fraudulent in some way. Additionally, law enforcement agencies often monitor the dark web for illegal activities, so there is always a risk of being caught.

FAQs About the Dark Web and Illegal Activities

Many dark websites are set up by scammers, who constantly move around to avoid the wrath of their victims. Even commerce sites that may have existed for a year or more can suddenly disappear if the owners decide to cash in and flee with the escrow money they’re holding on behalf of customers. It’s difficult to say as nobody really knows how much of the internet accounts for the dark web. However, if we take most estimates into consideration, the dark web makes up around 5% of the whole internet. The Experian Smart Money™ Debit Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International.

1. Can I be arrested for accessing the dark web? While accessing the dark web itself is not illegal, using it for illegal activities can result in arrest and prosecution.
2. Is it safe to buy drugs on the dark web? No, buying drugs on the dark web is extremely risky and can result in serious legal consequences. Additionally, there is no way to know for sure what you are actually buying, as many vendors sell fake or dangerous substances.
3. How can I protect myself from identity theft on the dark web? The best way to protect yourself from identity theft on the dark web is to use strong, unique passwords for all of your online accounts, and to monitor your credit reports regularly for any suspicious activity.
4. Can I report illegal activities on the dark web? Yes, if you come across illegal activities on the dark web, you should report them to law enforcement agencies. This can help to bring criminals to justice and prevent others from becoming victims.

In conclusion, the dark web is a haven for illegal activities, including drug trafficking, firearms sales, stolen personal information, and child pornography. While accessing the dark web itself is not illegal, using it for illegal activities can result in serious legal consequences. If you come across illegal activities on the dark web, it is important to report them to law enforcement agencies to help prevent others from becoming victims.