Misconceptions about the Dark Web Debunked

If you haven’t heard about the dark web yet, in this article, we will explain what it is, why people use it, and some misconceptions about it. 

As most people know, the surface web is easily accessible through search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. However, to access the dark web, multiple software tools such as Tor (The Onion Router) specialize in anonymously accessing the internet by bouncing their internet connection through various nodes, which makes the traces of the user almost impossible to trace. To put it into perspective, we can summarize the dark web as the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is not easily accessible through regular web browsers.
Even though some illegal activities occur on the dark web, it is a big misconception that it’s a haven for illicit activities, such as child pornography, drug trafficking, and weapon sales.

The dark web is a complex network that serves various purposes. Some users on the dark web use it to protect their privacy. In contrast, others use it to access information censored on regular web browsers or communicate anonymously to protect their data from being scraped by big tech companies. As shown by ExpressVPN, only a small percentage of dark websites are dedicated to illegal activities.

Another commonly misunderstood example of the dark web is that it’s impossible to access it without specialized knowledge or software. As mentioned earlier, software tools are designed to provide anonymity and privacy. Most of these tools are easy to download, and using them will grant easy access to the dark web. However, it’s important to note that these software tools can be a double-edged sword. Cybercriminals can use them to steal data and valuable information without being detected.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the dark web is that it is only used by criminals and for illegal activities. Many journalists, activists, and whistleblowers have used the dark web to share information without being detected. The dark web is commonly used in countries where the government censors the internet. People from these countries use the dark web as their only way to access information, communicate with the outside world, and post information online about upcoming protests or any sort of happenings the government might ban.

It’s vital to notice that the dark web is used for committing illegal activities. However, it’s also essential to see that the dark web can be valuable for those who need to communicate or access information anonymously. To stop the stereotypes about the dark web, we need to start embracing its benefits. For example, there are many platforms where people can get medical information regarding research and studies about a certain topic. The papers are available for free and, most of the time, are published by the authors themselves.

We can conclude that the dark web is a complex and multifaceted space that can be used for good and bad purposes. The internet is becoming vaster by the day and is constantly changing and evolving, and so is the dark web. As internet users, we need to educate ourselves on how to use the dark web to benefit us in the best way possible.