• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • Secure360
    • UMSA
    • Get Involved
  • Events
    • Secure360 2021
    • Student360
    • Past Events
      • 2020 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2020 Student360
      • 2019 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2019 Student360
      • 2018 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2018 Secure360 Wisconsin
      • 2018 Student360
      • 2017 Secure360 Twin Cities
      • 2017 Student360
      • 2016 TC Secure360 Conference
      • 2015 Secure360 Conference
      • 2014 Secure360 Conference
      • 2013 Secure360 Conference
        • 2013 Secure360 Conference Speaker Presentations
      • 2012 Secure360 Conference
  • For Sponsors
    • Secure360 Twin Cities
    • Student360 Sponsors
  • For Speakers
    • Secure360 Speaker Details
    • Student360 Speaker Details
  • Blog
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Vimeo

Secure360

Common misconceptions about the Dark Web

December 22, 2015 by Secure360 and UMSA

misconceptions about the dark web

Copyright: 123rf/Efim Kaparulin

The Dark Web is a term that refers specifically to a collection of websites that are publicly visible, but hide the IP addresses of the servers that run them. These sites can be visited by any web user, but it is very difficult to work out who is behind the sites and running them, and you cannot find these sites using search engines.

The Dark Web is ominous and anonymous. Users can remain unknown if they use it correctly, meaning they can exchange sensitive information and make illicit business deals without fear of retaliation from law enforcement. Today we’re tackling a few common misconceptions about the Dark Web to shed a light on this powerful tool.

Misconception #1: The Deep Web and the Dark Web are the same

The Deep Web is a subset of the Internet that has not been indexed by the major search engines. You have to visit these sites directly instead of being able to search for them, but they’re available if you have an address. The Internet is too large for search engines to cover completely, and the Deep Web is what is left out of those searches. The Dark Web is then a subset of the Deep Web that is not only not indexed, but that also requires special access. The Dark Web is often associated with criminal activity of various degrees, including buying and selling drugs, pornography, and gambling.

Misconception #2: All cybercrime takes place on the Dark Web

ISIS uses it. The Ashley Madison hackers used it. However, those who narrowly focus on the Dark Web as the source of all threats are likely to be blind to more relevant threats and information sources existing elsewhere. For example, security researchers have observed nearly 3,000 instances of credit cards being offered for sale on the visible, surface web in the last 6 months. Social media platforms likewise hold important clues and leads to the identity of potential online criminals.

Misconception #3: The Dark Web is a massive part of the web

The World Wide Web is now home to over a billion different sites, but current estimations put the number hidden, Dark Web sites between 7000 and 30,000. That’s only 0.03 percent of the normal web. It is not clear how many people access the dark web on a daily basis, but that number is believed to be very small.

Misconception #4: It’s beyond the reach of law enforcement

While anonymous and mysterious, the Dark Web is not out of the reach of law enforcement. Over 300 dark-web-affiliated people have been arrested since 2011, according to Wired. Police has successfully apprehended drug and gun dealers, people who order illegal narcotics, and the staff and administrators of illegal sites on the Dark Web. Traditional police tactics, such as going undercover, have proven to be incredibly effective against criminals on the dark web.

High-profile data breaches tend to push the Dark Web into the spotlight, spurring security professionals to understand how and if it is going to be relevant to the security threats to their organizations. It is important for organizations to understand the environment and how cyber criminals are leveraging it.

Filed Under: Cybersecurity

About Secure360 and UMSA

The Secure360 and UMSA team is made up of professionals in the security and risk management industries. Topics of expertise range from physical security, IT, risk management, cybersecurity, cloud, information security and records management.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Uncategorized
  • Guest Posts
  • Business Continuity Management
  • News and Events
  • Physical Security
  • Cybersecurity
  • Professional Development
  • Risk and Compliance

latest tweets

  1. Secure360 Conference
    Secure360 Conference: Check out the guest blog post from our Diamond Sponsor @Cisco https://t.co/XpLPJ3gyFl https://t.co/sbh0i0GLB0
    about 17 hours ago

Footer

Contact

For more information about UMSA events, contact: Marie Strawser

Email List Signup

Join our email list for monthly Secure360 news and updates!




Join our tradeshow email list for updates on sponsorship opportunities and upcoming exhibitor deadlines.

Sponsored by:
© 2021 Secure360. All rights reserved.