April 2, 2025
The Dark Web Explained: How It Works and Why It Is So Dangerous
While most people access the Internet through common web browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, and Edge, there are deeper levels of the Internet that are not accessible to the average user: The Dark Web, or Dark Net.
It is a collection of websites, forums, and marketplaces that can only be accessed with the Tor browser. This special browser offers users a high degree of anonymity, which is especially attractive to cybercriminals, hackers, and government officials who want to hide their identity. The Tor browser is currently only available for Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux. Once you are connected, you have access to Dark Net websites known as "Tor hidden services." Instead of ending with ".com" or ".org," the addresses on the Dark Web end with ".onion." Many insiders speak about the Dark Web in cryptic terms to instill fear. However, it is not just a space for criminals. But to understand the Dark Net, we must first deal with the different layers of the Internet.
The Layers of the Internet – What is the Surface Web?
The Internet consists of several layers: visible (surface), deep (deep), and dark (dark). Most people interact only with the visible or Surface Web. Through search engines, you can access nearly two billion public websites - from Wikipedia to public sector websites to news sites. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg: because the Surface Web makes up only 10% of the entire Internet - the majority of websites remain hidden from the average user.
Why is this the case? Because not all information you can access online belongs to the public domain. So if we only see 10% of what is actually on the Internet, where is the rest?
Dark Web Vs. Deep Web: What Is the Difference?
The vast majority of digital content in the world is not accessible through search engines. This colossal amount of information is located in the Deep Web (or Hidden Web), where almost all online activities take place. Even if you don't use the term Deep Web every day - or at all - it is more a part of your life than you realize:
You use the Deep Web as part of your daily routine every time you log into your email account, check your online banking details, or use social media.
The Deep Web contains information that typically requires a username and password to access, mainly for security and privacy reasons. Entities in the Deep Web include:
Databases
Social media apps
Online banking
Email
Intranets
Forums
Content protected by a paywall
Many activities in the Deep Web involve personal data, such as medical and legal documents, financial records, academic research, intellectual property, confidential business data, and much more.
Nevertheless, the Deep Web is not the same as the Dark Web, a term you have probably heard before. The Dark Web is another part of the Internet that is not comparable to the Deep Web. Let's look at the reasons for its negative reputation. To do this, we first need to address the digital footprint.
What is a digital footprint?
"A digital footprint is a term that describes the recorded – thus traceable – Internet or device activities of a particular person." – This is how the Malwarebytes glossary defined it succinctly. Let’s break down this definition further: Simply put, a digital footprint is your data trail on the Internet. Almost every action you take on the Internet, whether visiting a website, subscribing to a newsletter, or searching for a product, leaves a trail of data. Anyone with access to a search engine or advanced software like a skip tracing tool can see your activities, behavior, preferences, opinions, and much more based on your data trail.
The critical thing about this: A digital footprint never completely disappears, even if a website, host, or social media platform deletes part of your digital footprint at your request. There is always the risk that someone has documented this information. Therefore, you should be very careful about the content you publish on the Internet.
Negative Effects in Real Life Possible
Your digital footprint can have significant implications for your public image, even if the data is decades old – the Internet forgets nothing. For instance, a controversial opinion expressed many years ago in a public forum can have repercussions in the present, even if your views have evolved in the meantime. Old photo or video footage also poses a great risk in this regard. You can quickly lose track of your digital footprint if you maximize your passive and active digital footprints. The Internet is growing rapidly, and there is plenty of storage space for your data.
And this data is extensively used: According to Monster, 77% of employers Google applicants. But not only employers check your digital footprint. Governments, security companies, police departments, and others can examine it before issuing, for example, testimonials, visas, or citizenships. No special skills or tools are required for this. Anyone with access to a device and a search program can look up a digital footprint. In the digital age, it is thus an easily accessible source of information.
Abuse of Your Digital Footprint
The information you leave on the web can be exploited by malicious actors in various ways for criminal purposes. For example, they can use your data to learn more about you and launch a spear-phishing attack. This is a highly personalized phishing attack that deceives you into believing it is legitimate due to the use of detailed personal information.
Another type of attack is called doxing, where hackers deliberately gather and publicly release personal information. Whether it’s a private address, personal phone numbers, account or credit card information – doxing causes significant harm. The background is usually a personal conflict or a culture war aimed at harming the victim both in the online world and in real life.
A particularly insidious form of personal data abuse is called swatting. In this case, personal data of the victim is used to trigger a response from police and emergency services at their private address, for example, under the guise of an alleged hostage situation. This type of bullying has already led to fatalities when people were shot by law enforcement as alleged hostage-takers, burglars, etc.
The list of abuse possibilities could go on indefinitely. It is important to know that not only individuals but also companies, marketers, platforms, and websites can exploit your data, for example, to serve targeted advertising. Therefore, the consequences of data misuse might not always be immediately apparent or as severe as described in the examples above.
How to Check Your Digital Footprint
There are numerous ways to check your digital footprint:
Search Engines: Check the search results for your name in a search engine. Use your first and last names, variations of your first and last names, online handles (usernames/pseudonyms), and nicknames. In some cases, your unique, long-standing online pseudonym may be more revealing than your actual name.
Image Search: Use a search engine to look for search results for your name and online handles, as described above. However, search for images and videos rather than text.
Check Your Social Media Posts: Type your social media handle (pseudonym) followed by the name of a social media platform in a search engine. You should now see a list of your popular social media posts. Alternatively, you can visit your social media page and scroll through your list of posts. To find specific posts on social media, search using your social media handle, the name of the social media platform, and any keywords you may have used in the post.
Use Aggregator Websites: An aggregator website compiles data from across the Internet and makes it easily accessible. If you want to check your digital footprint, such a website can provide useful services.
Google Alerts: Setting up Google Alerts is a great way to track your name on the Internet.
What Types of Products Do Cybercriminals Sell on the Dark Web?
Cybercriminals and other malicious actors use the opportunities of the Dark Web in various ways for illegal purposes. The hotspots for illegal activities on the Dark Web are marketplaces and forums where participants trade illegal products and services.
Illegal products offered by criminals on these black markets include stolen and counterfeit data of various kinds, such as:
Personal Data: This includes full names, private addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, hacked email addresses, and many other details that can identify you as a person.
Financial Data: Stolen credit card data, online banking usernames and passwords, cryptocurrency account credentials, bank and insurance information, and much more.
Login Credentials for Online Accounts: These typically consist of username-password combinations that grant access to accounts ranging from social media to ride-sharing and video streaming services to premium professional services. Even logins for DNA testing providers are in demand.
Medical Data: This includes your medical history, prescriptions, biometric data (including fingerprints and images of your face), test results, billing information, and other sensitive details. In the wrong hands, this can lead to (medical) identity theft.
Confidential Business Data: This includes classified items such as intellectual property, patents, competitive information, and other operational details.
Fake Documents: Especially fake passports, stolen driver's licenses and ID cards, cashier's checks, and more.
Other Illegal Marketplaces on the Dark Web
In addition to personal information stemming from data breaches and various other types of cyberattacks and online fraud, these black markets also offer illegal drugs, access to new cyber threats and viruses, and even hitmen.
The most notorious of all Dark Web marketplaces was Silk Road, which had over 100,000 buyers at its peak. The website founded by Ross Ulbricht in 2011 became the most popular black market, particularly for drug dealers. The FBI shut down Silk Road in 2013, but version 2.0 briefly came back online before law enforcement took it down for good. Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison twice, along with three other convictions. The U.S. government seized Bitcoin worth over $1 billion during the operation and in the following ten years.
Apart from the opportunity to make a lot of money on these Dark Web marketplaces, people also turn to the Dark Web for other reasons. This part of the Internet also hosts large amounts of child pornography, with some websites reaching tens or hundreds of thousands of users. As a hub for criminal activities, the Dark Web offers more than just "products" for anyone looking to buy and consume them. It also offers services that allow cybercriminals to launch attacks with little technical knowledge or experience.
What Types of Services Does the Dark Web Offer for Cybercriminals?
Even if personal data may seem priceless to you, cybercriminals trade personal data on the Dark Web black markets for a few dollars. Data for credit cards with a balance of up to $1,000 costs an average of $150, while stolen online banking credentials (for an account with a balance of at least $100) are available for just $40. Harder-to-obtain goods, such as a French passport, can cost up to $4,000.
Dark Web marketplaces even feature rating and review systems to help potential buyers identify "trustworthy" sellers. With all these features and the allure of cybercrime wealth, it’s no wonder these black markets see a significant increase in supply, according to the Dark Web Price Index.
Cybercriminals do not just buy and sell personal data and compromised accounts but also other goods such as:
Off-the-shelf software exploits (Exploit kits): Tools used by cybercriminals to attack vulnerabilities in systems to then spread malware.
Ready-to-use malicious software (Malware): Ransomware, information stealers, keyloggers (that record every keystroke on a device), spyware, adware, rootkits (which are notoriously difficult to detect and stop), Trojans, and worms (with self-replicating capabilities).
Malware-as-a-Service: A subscription-based model where the software and hardware needed by cybercriminals to carry out attacks are rented out. This includes the malicious software, a distribution network, a set of targets, and even technical support, as well as personal dashboards to manage the project.
Software vulnerabilities: Without the knowledge of the software manufacturer (so-called zero-days), cybercriminals can use these to infiltrate companies incognito.
Access to networks of compromised devices (Botnets): The computer resources that malicious hackers need to carry out their attacks.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): Offers that use extensive botnets to flood victims' systems with so much traffic that they go offline along with the services they offer.
Training for Cybercriminals: Tutorials, guides, and other types of content that assist in the education of cybercriminals in various roles.
Money Laundering (Money Muling): Allows fraudsters to disseminate the money they steal, extort or otherwise acquire from their victims and turn it into clean, untraceable cash.
That's Why You Shouldn't Navigate the Dark Web
If you navigate within the Dark Net, you take a significant risk, not only if you engage in illegal activities there. Because in this part of the Internet, there are no safety measures as you are accustomed to from the World Wide Web, such as an integrated protection against malicious websites in your web browser. Both Chrome and Firefox, for example, warn about dangerous websites that steal data through phishing attacks. This does not happen with the Tor browser.
Therefore, there is always the risk of infecting your devices with malware, ransomware, or Trojan viruses in the Dark Web if you are not protected by a special cybersecurity system. Additionally, there is a risk of becoming involved in illegal activities or inadvertently becoming an accomplice in a crime and thus a target for law enforcement.
Concluding Remarks
It is important to understand the footprint of your business, but also of yourself personally, in the Dark Net for several reasons. First, it helps identify potential security vulnerabilities and threats and enables proactive measures to mitigate risks. Second, it provides insights into leaked sensitive information such as customer data or protected assets, allowing for damage control and compliance with regulations.
Moreover, monitoring your footprint helps track illegal activities related to your brand, thereby protecting your reputation and integrity. In summary, knowing your Dark Net presence allows businesses to reinforce their defenses, protect valuable assets, and maintain integrity in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape, ultimately ensuring sustainable resilience and success in the face of evolving cyber threats.
