Dark Web Facts vs. Myths: Debunking 9 Common Dark Web Myths

When people hear “dark web,” what readily comes to mind is the digital criminal underworld where activities like drug dealing, the sale of weapons, and theft of credit card information happen. The reality that the US Navy created the dark web for anonymous communication already makes it an ideal place to do shady things. Nonetheless, not everything that happens on the dark web is dark. We know you’ve probably heard many disturbing stories, so we have highlighted this mystery topic here.

Read this comprehensive guide to the end as we separate the facts from fiction to give you a wholesome view of what the dark web is and is not.

Dark web facts vs. myths: Quick Comparison

The dark web is the mystery part of the internet space with many false narratives. To set the record straight, we have outlined popular myths about the dark web and their corresponding truths below.

Dark web facts vs. myths: Our detailed analysis

Accessing the dark web isn’t as difficult as it seems. You’re good to go if you have a secure browser like Tor, a trusted VPN like NordVPN, and a reliable antivirus for safety reasons. That said, here is a detailed analysis of the facts vs. myths about the dark web.

1. Myth: Using the dark web is illegal

Accessing the dark web is not illegal in itself. You can use it in regions like the US, the UK, and other parts of Europe. However, in countries like Iran, China, and Russia, where the government has imposed censorship restrictions, using the dark web is considered illegal.

Like any other platform with bad and malicious actors, criminal activities happen on the dark web. For example, the FBI closed down the popular dark web marketplace “Silk Road” in 2013. When active, the market sold narcotics, forged social security cards, passports, and other sensitive documentation that aided identity theft.

Silk Road’s activities only accepted bitcoins and strictly happened through the dark web. Between February 2011 and July 2013, an estimated 1.2 million transactions occurred with about 147,000 buyers, generating about $1.2 billion.

Likewise, AlphaBay, the largest illegal dark web market, was taken down in July 2017. It operated the dark web using Tor and sold malware, hacking tools, fake goods, and toxic chemicals. When its operation was busted, there were over 40,000 vendors and 200,000 users.

It’s difficult to determine the exact revenue that AlphaBay generated. But, according to a rough estimate, it had over 350,000 listings of illegal items for sale. To understand the extent of the activities in this marketplace, SilkRoad only had about 14,000 listings when it was taken down.

2. Myth: Only techies and criminals use the dark web

The claims that the dark web is a haven for criminal activity are true. In fact, reports revealed that about 45% of onion sites are linked to illegal activities. Nonetheless, if you follow these basic steps and precautions, the dark web is largely open to practically anyone.

1. Install a reliable VPN like NordVPN for extra security and anonymity.
2. Download the Tor browser.
3. Use a dark web engine like DuckDuckGo or DarkSearch to access sites or links on the dark web.

Despite its sad reality of being used largely for criminal activities, the dark web has many legitimate uses.

For example, people in countries that censor internet use can send information and communicate using the dark web. Journalists can also protect the identity of their sources by communicating with them using the dark web. Companies like Facebook and the BBC leverage the dark web to allow people in repressive countries to view their content.

3. Myth: The dark web is massive

An internet iceberg analogy describes how large the dark web is. According to the claims, the World Wide Web is like the tip of an iceberg, with a large portion of its content still below the surface. However, this allusion doesn’t do justice to the size of the dark web, so below, we elaborate on it a bit before comparing the other dark web facts vs. myths.

In reality, roughly 2 million people use Tor daily, and 3% of the traffic comes from dark sites. This is a small amount compared to billions of people who access the surface web daily.

Some other people say that the surface web is like the solar system, while the dark web is similar to the rest of the universe. But, as we have clearly explained, this is also a false parallel to describe the size of the dark web.

Unlike regular sites, dark site links do not have the names of websites. They are usually a combination of random characters and are difficult to access. You’ll need dark web browsers like Tor because your regular browsers cannot reach them.

For example, this is a dark web link:

• http://jaz45aabn5vkemy4jkg4mi4syheisqn2wn2n4fsuitpccdackjwxplad.onion/

It links to a dark web site called “OnionLinks.” On this site, you’ll find different working dark web links that lead to various categories like commercial services, privacy services, and news sites. Whenever you’re on the dark web, ensure you do not carelessly click on random links to avoid visiting illegal pages or sites.

4. Myth: The dark web is the same as the deep web

The deep web is a part of the internet that search engines can’t reach because it is not indexed. This section is estimated to be about 500 times bigger than the surface web; as such, the iceberg analogy is better suited to explaining the deep web.

It contains information such as password-protected personal accounts, proprietary corporate data, internet enterprise networks, and access-controlled databases.

The dark web is a part of the deep web, so it also cannot be reached using regular search engines. However, it is better described as an anonymous side of the internet layered over the regular internet. Also, unlike the deep web, you don’t need any authentication to visit the dark web. In practice, the way to access a dark web page is to input the link into a dark web browser like Tor.

5. Myth: The dark web is the only way to stay anonymous online

Many people believe the dark web is the only way to hide or stay anonymous online. But this claim is far from the truth. Apart from dark web browsers like Tor, many other services can be used to provide anonymity on the internet. Examples include such networks as Hyphanet (formerly Freenet), I2P, and OpenBazaar.

The Tor users value it because of the Onion Router technology behind its design. Tor protects your personal information by covering your internet traffic under multiple layers of encrypted data while routing your network through numerous random servers worldwide. As such, it is difficult for bad actors and other third parties to figure out who you are or obtain sensitive information about you through your online activity.

Outside of the dark web, you can protect your privacy and stay anonymous in the following ways:

• Use the Tor browser: The purpose of the Tor browser is to conceal all kinds of internet activity. Therefore, it can be used to reach the surface web. However, exercise caution to avoid doing anything that can compromise your security. For example, don’t give up personal information to outside parties. Additionally, to protect your privacy, ensure every website you visit is secure.
• Use a proxy server: A proxy server reroutes your network data to hide your IP address and safeguard your online identity.
• Use a VPN: A VPN connection gives you an IP address different from your location, safeguarding your online privacy. Among the best dark web VPNs for hiding your identity online is NordVPN, thanks to its vast servers, AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and other excellent security features.

6. Myth: All online crimes come from the dark web.

Indeed, all kinds of crime, including selling pornographic materials, drugs, and other illicit things, happen on the dark web. In fact, there was an incident where a sex offender was convicted for engaging in child pornography on the dark web.

Of course, these activities are horrible, but the dark web is not entirely bad. Criminal activities thrive there because it provides anonymity, and its dark web links can’t be traced easily.

One of the greatest risks of accessing the dark web is the exposure to malware. Because the dark web is not as controlled as the surface web, you can experience a malware attack and not realize it until after a long time. It is also possible to stumble on shocking images on the dark web.

Use a good antivirus to avoid malware if you use the dark web. Additionally, do not open random links on the dark web to avoid disturbing content.

Dark web stories: true or false?

Many rumors have gone around about the dark web. One such ridiculous and sensational story is that you can hire a hitman on the dark web to kill someone. This sketchy claim is proven to be a myth by a 2020 study on the matter. It was revealed that those sites claiming to offer the service were scams.

You’ve probably also heard about red rooms on the dark web, where people can watch someone getting killed or tortured in real time. Again, there is no substantial evidence to validate this rumor.

Many online crimes and scams occur on the dark web, but many also happen on the surface web. In fact, cybercriminals operate more on the surface web because there are more potential targets there. Numerous illegal attacks and online scams, such as QR scams, phishing attacks, and WhatsApp fraud, occur on the normal web.

7. Myth: Cryptocurrencies are only used for crime on the dark web

The reason for using the dark web is the anonymity it provides. An additional way to reinforce this anonymity is to make payments using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but it is not limited to the dark web. Surface web users also use cryptocurrencies for anonymous transactions. The claims that cryptocurrencies, the dark web, and criminals form an unholy triangle are untrue.

Besides the dark web, cryptocurrencies have other applications that are not related to the hidden internet at all. People buy things online and remain anonymous by paying for them with cryptocurrencies, while others trade in them. Furthermore, cryptocurrencies can be used as digital currencies because they are anonymous, secure, and transparent.

8. Myth: The only way to get banned books is through the dark web

The government can have various reasons for challenging or banning some books, such as national security threats or even the spread of dangerous religious ideologies. For example, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, has been subjected to such bans due to its racial slurs and offensive use of language.

Contrary to popular belief, banned books are not exclusively available on the dark web. They can also be found on the surface web. For example, Usenet is a platform where banned books are shared. Besides, there are torrent websites where these books are uploaded and special sites where PDF versions of banned books are uploaded for easy downloads.

9. Myth: You can’t be traced when using Tor Browser to access the deep web

Tor is a reliable way to hide your online presence, but it is still possible for the dark web browser to be de-obfuscated.

For example, malicious JavaScript that can reveal your IP address may be introduced into the system. Moreover, Tor uses exit nodes that could compromise your anonymity. Remember that Tor nodes, including entry, middle, and exit nodes, are hosted by volunteer organizations.

An exit node is the last server through which your internet traffic leaves the Tor network before it reaches its destination on the internet. This node or relay cannot tell the IP address it receives from but knows where the traffic is headed.

The risk of exposure happens if your destination website uses the unencrypted HTTP protocol instead of HTTPS. The implication is that the exit node’s owner can see everything you are doing on the site. As such, they may be able to discover your identity by monitoring your online activities. It is best to complement your Tor network with top-rated VPNs to keep your traffic safe and secure through encryption.

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