It is Friday and I would like to end the week with some FYI.

Disclaimer:  I am by no means pushing the Dark Web on my readers this post is purely intended to be FYI.

I am sure that most anyone that uses a computer has heard of the Dark Web….but how many really know what it is unless you are a massive computer nerd?

The dark web isn’t something you can just stumble upon, and that’s a good thing. Although it’s often used for transactions and conversations that need to remain anonymous, sites on the dark web can host illegal activity, phishing links, financial scams, and malware. There’s also little to no recourse to be had if you encounter any trouble there, because the dark web is a decentralized collection of websites hidden from search engines. In short, it’s not for the faint of heart, and it’s definitely not a viable alternative to the clear web.

Even in an era of increased online surveillance, the average person on the internet likely has too much to lose to bet on their safety for curiosity’s sake. Heck, I’m one of PCMag’s resident security experts, and I’m not playing around on the dark web just because I know how to. That’s why I’m not going to provide links or detailed instructions for accessing the internet’s shadier side. That said, what you choose to do with your time and devices is solely your business (for now). I will help you understand the risks you face when exploring the dark web and offer you some suggestions for safer browsing.

To understand what the dark web is, let’s examine the onion-like layers of the internet:

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Within the deep web is the dark web. As I mentioned above, the dark web is a decentralized, non-indexed network of web pages, and the sites don’t use standard URLs. The dark web is home to some horrible stuff; think illegal porn and snuff films, along with illicit activity in the form of financial scams, personal data sales, and other anonymous and illegal transactions. There are marketplaces where people can sell stolen credit card numbers, conduct illegal drug transactions, and scam people out of their cash and crypto.

There’s legitimate activity on the dark web, too, as activists, journalists, and whistleblowers use dark web forums for anonymous communication. These forums look similar to those on the clear web, but the content discussed and shared by the anonymous chatters can evade censorship and surveillance on public sites. The problem is that getting to those forums may expose you to safety concerns like those listed above.

https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/i-went-into-dark-web-so-you-dont-have-to-heres-whats-down-there

A very informative article.

To reiterate I do not condone nor encourage the Dark Web at all….this is purely for FYI…..

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”