The VPN is a second layer of extra protection, on top of the protection that the Tor network already offers. The majority of the users on the dark web use the Tor (The Onion Router) browser. A vast number of URLs have domain endings such as “.onion”, which means that the URLs are only accessible by Tor users.
Still, if you hear the call of the dark side and have neither the drive nor the expertise to hack your way into a computer, you can hire a professional hacker from this little website. Hack-Rent-A-Hacker boasts affordable prices, discretion, professionalism, and everything you may want to hear when doing business with an individual. There’s a reason why this onion website is called the Imperial Library; with over downloadable 500,000 books and articles, this may be one of the largest digital libraries, period. From Flickr to Facebook posthaste – that would be an accurate description of Dark Lair, an image hosting platform turned social media. Dark Lair allows you to post comments, share music, upload photos, message your dark web ‘friends’, and everything in between. Try ZeroBin, a covert, dark web-based, communication platform that allows you to send media and text messages to your confederate.
Exposure To Malware And Scams

We’ve heard a lot about the Dark Web in recent years — but how much do we really know about this mysterious part of the internet? In this overview of recent Dark Web statistics, we’ll start by examining the darknet in the context of the World Wide Web. The Moneyzine.com stats team will then look at the usage data for Tor, the go-to browser for accessing the Dark Web. Finally, we’ll focus on the notorious Dark Web marketplaces, explore their history, and review the latest prices of various illicit items.
Yes, the Dark Web exists as a small subset of the Deep Web — part of the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines and thus isn’t publicly available. Experts estimate that the Dark Web accounts for no more than 5% of the entire internet. A recent study found that only a tiny portion of Tor’s daily users connect to the Dark Web with the intent to engage in illicit activities.
The DIY trend is still satiated, but boutique kits now grant a level of simplicity harkening back to an era of script kiddie easiness, requiring nothing more than a working knowledge of Bitcoin and TOR. Turnkey web scanner and exploitation kits, botnet time-sharing, and malware generators are nothing new; the ability to sell your warez easily because no one has to run gcc is obvious. From there, we learn how digital black markets began pretty much with the beginnings of the Internet itself. Starting with, and for the longest time still existing on decades-old Internet technology, we explore the slow, progressive evolution on this platform. Systems like Bulletin Board Systems, Usenet, and later websites on the budding World Wide Web provided a home to these activities.
Silk Road – From Han Dynasty To Internet Underground
Although they are sometimes used interchangeably, they refer to distinct parts of the internet with their own characteristics and purposes. Here are some things to keep in mind while browsing your favorite dark web websites. The anonymous group behind Tunnels alleged that the materials were produced while exploring the forbidden tunnels, built underneath some of the most prestigious American Universities. No info is available on the explored institutions or how these sections can be accessed.
Award Winning Cybersecurity

I love cracking (52pojie) is dedicated to software security, with a particular emphasis on hacking-related topics such as software encryption and decryption. The forum stands out for its high user activity and the quality of its posts. It has managed to thrive for over a decade in the often controversial field of software cracking, due to the proactively of its admin team.
Dangerous Fake Or Malicious Vendors

The dark web, on the other hand, is a small portion of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and can only be accessed using special software or configurations, such as the Tor network. The dark web includes various illicit activities, such as black markets, drug sales, illegal pornography, and hacking forums. It is known for its anonymity and lack of regulation, making it a haven for criminal activity. Examples include the sale of high-quality products with low risk for contamination (including lacing and cutting), vendor-tested products, sharing of trip reports, and online discussion of harm reduction practices. Dark web marketplaces aren’t just peddling the same old stolen credit card numbers and drugs anymore.
Here’s an overview of some of the most well-known dark web forums and deep web forums that have emerged over the years. The internet we use daily is only a small fraction of the vast digital world hidden beneath the surface web. While most of us are familiar with search engines like Google, which index the public web, there are other parts of the internet that are not as easily accessible. Their website is accessible on the clear web, but it also has a .onion site, allowing visitors to browse it anonymously, especially those living under oppressive regimes.
While the dark web makes up a small part of the deep web, it has gained notoriety due to its association with illegal activities. With the constant rise in cyber threats, it is essential to monitor every illicit platform that could pose a threat to your business or customers. The top 5 Chinese platforms on the deep and dark web have emerged as significant hubs of illicit activities. Monitoring these kinds of platforms is key as they often serve as breeding grounds for new malware, vulnerabilities, and cyber-attack strategies.
Most Internet Users Rely On The Tor Browser To Access The Dark Web
- When examining what is dark web used for, we find both legitimate privacy protection and unfortunately, a range of illicit activities.
- You never see drug dealers on Breaking Bad use credit cards to buy illicit substances, because the transaction is traceable.
- These illicit items can sell for anywhere from a few bucks to thousands of dollars.
- Mega Market, established in 2016, experienced a surge in popularity following the takedown of the Hydra market.
It blocks trackers, prevents user fingerprinting, encrypts data, and reroutes your browsing so no one can see where in the world you are. Use this guide to learn how to easily automate supply chain risk reports with Chat GPT and news data. Most e-commerce providers offer some kind of escrow service that keeps customer funds on hold until the product has been delivered. Every communication is encrypted, so even the simplest transaction requires a PGP key.
Dark Web Markets: Unveiling The Hidden Underworld !

RAMP has been making an effort to translate key components into Mandarin to attract Chinese threat actors but their presence remains limited so far. The forum sees less activity than XSS and Exploit, largely due to the cost of obtaining an account. For instance, if you want to buy a laptop or a smartphone, you can try your luck in one of these shops. Although content on the dark web is not as ‘indexed’ compared to the one on the clear web, you can still use search engines to find stuff. Instead, download Tor, the most secure and user-friendly option for accessing .onion sites.
Stick to cryptocurrency, avoid downloading anything, and don’t share any personal info. There’s also a privacy angle—some users live in countries with censorship or surveillance, and the dark web gives them a space to communicate or access information more freely. The second category consists of data stores, which specialize in stolen information. Two terms often mentioned when discussing these hidden areas are the deep web and dark web.
- Silk Road became one of the most famous online black markets on the dark web for illegally selling drugs.
- Furthermore, 31 new ransomware groups were discovered in 2024 (a 30% year-over-year rise in active ransomware groups).
- From Flickr to Facebook posthaste – that would be an accurate description of Dark Lair, an image hosting platform turned social media.
- Since its creation in 2014, it has become known for providing an extensive database of hacking tools and resources.
- Though there are other browsers with similar functionality, Deep Web statistics point to Tor as the most popular — with 5.92 million new downloads worldwide in 2023’s third quarter.
What Is WPA2 (Wireless Protected Access ?
Instead, visitors must access sites on the Tor Network using a special browser developed by the Tor Project. Wherever you go online, but especially if you’re on dark web websites, using a VPN helps you secure your communication data and protect personal information you send or receive. Avast SecureLine VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic to help block hackers and keep snoops out.

Keeper is the first and only password management application to be preloaded with mobile operators and device manufacturers including, AT&T, Orange, America Movil and HTC. Keeper has millions of consumer customers and the business solution protects thousands of organizations worldwide. We don’t want to leave you with the impression that everything on the dark web is nefarious or illegal.
Microsoft Warns About New Variant Of XCSSET Malware On MacOS
Most of what you see in search results is just a small slice of the internet. In fact, only about 4% of the web is indexed, meaning it shows up in standard search engines. The key difference between the deep web and the dark web lies in how you can access them. While deep web content is reachable through a standard browser, the dark web requires specialized software tools.