You’ve probably noticed the proliferation of services offering dark web scans, which invariably simplify the process and use scare tactics to drive sales. While most people have heard of the dark web, many remain unclear about what it is, its relevance, and how to access it.
What is the dark web?
The internet consists of the open web (also referred to as the surface web or the clear web) and the deep web. The dark web represents a small subset of content on the deep web.
The open web refers to the public web content that we use on a daily basis. Search engines index this information to make it easily accessible. Take our company website, for example. Typing “Integras Intelligence” into a search engine will quickly point you to our website. The open web represents about 5% of internet content.
The deep web, which is sometimes confused with the dark web, makes up the other 95% of internet content. This content is not indexed and cannot be found with a search engine. Located behind a paywall or login screen, deep web content includes email accounts, online newspapers, bank account information, and, for Integras customers, the background checks and other reports you order from us.
The dark web, which is part of the deep web, accounts for roughly 5-6% of total online content. The dark web differs from the deep web due to encryption and routing techniques that make dark web activity anonymous. In fact, the dark web requires a specialized browser, such as The Onion Router (Tor), for access. Also, those who host marketplaces or post content on the dark web use other tactics to avoid being found, such as frequently changing sites. While it is possible to track activity on the dark web, doing so is very difficult and requires significant technology resources.
Who uses the dark web?
The anonymity of the dark web makes it useful for individuals and groups who want to avoid public identification. Such people include military/intelligence operatives, political dissidents, journalists, whistleblowers, and, of course, criminals. The dark web is not inherently good or bad. This online space provides a tool that protects good actors and creates a haven where criminals can conduct illegal activity.
What can you find on the dark web?
While some dark web activity is legitimate, an estimated 57% includes criminal activity, such as illegal weapons sales, child pornography, drugs, human trafficking, and illicit services. What makes this hidden marketplace relevant for most people, however, is the sale of information from data breaches and leaks. Online breaches can expose a large amount of personal and company information, including usernames, passwords, account numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and names of family members. Even seemingly secure entities, such as credit bureaus and the U.S. Department of Defense, have suffered breaches, exposing the personal information of millions of individuals. All this information is likely for sale and can be found on the dark web.
Can I search the dark web myself?
Anyone can search the dark web by downloading and using a special browser to access it, as mentioned above. However, the dark web is neither easy to search nor is it a good idea to do so.
To start, dark websites are not indexed like the open web. Some search engines specialize in dark web indexing, but they are not comprehensive. Effectively searching the dark web requires special know-how. Dark website addresses usually consist of random numbers and letters, which further complicates searches and makes these addresses very difficult to search for and remember. For example, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s dark web address is:
ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sxyjstad.onion
Beyond the inherent search challenges, visiting the dark web is akin to walking through an unsafe neighborhood. While you can take precautions, you may run into danger, such as malware and scams, putting yourself—and your company’s entire computer network—at risk.
One last point: You may not want to search the dark web simply due to the risk of encountering information or images that are illegal and/or disturbing in nature.
How can Integras Intelligence help?
While it is not advisable for individuals to poke around the dark web, some organizations and services collect and catalog dark web content. These specialized services make some of this hidden content accessible without the usual risks of searching the dark web. This includes creating accounts and getting behind login and other authentication barriers. By employing these techniques, we have been able to find our clients’ exposed login credentials (usernames and passwords), as well as personally identifiable information (PII).
If you are concerned about the risk posed by your personal data or company data being on the dark web, please contact us.
