While the dark web is notorious for being a hotbed of criminal activity, it can also be used for legitimate purposes. This part of the internet isn’t indexed by search engines, and it offers forums, chat rooms, image galleries, and commerce sites. Some examples of this include hiring a hit man or purchasing drugs. However, this can still be illegal if done wrong.
DuckDuckGo
The DuckDuckGo search engine is a privacy-focused alternative to Google. It has several features that make it stand out from the competition. Some of its popular features include Instant Answers, which provide direct answers to queries. These answers can help users with various tasks, including loan calculations, finding the address of a business, and solving anagrams. Other useful functions include a clock, a stopwatch, and a tool to create shortened URLs. The company also offers a mobile app and browser extension to protect users’ privacy. This software blocks ad trackers and ensures that searches are made over an encrypted connection. It also forces websites to use an encrypted connection, which further boosts security.
The search engine does not collect identifying information or personal data, unlike Google, which prioritizes results based on your previous search history and online behavior. However, it may share your data if it is requested by a court order. This privacy-focused feature is a win for users who are concerned about their privacy and want to avoid personalized ads.
Facebook is one of the most surprising sites to find on the Dark Web Sites. While we don’t recommend using Facebook for online protection, this social media site has a number of features that allow users to communicate anonymously. These include forums, chat rooms, and other services that offer privacy. Moreover, there are also email services that let you remain anonymous. These services are ideal for people who want to discuss sensitive topics or share information without worrying about being tracked or spied on.
Other notable dark web sites are secure drop locations like SecureDrop, which allows whistleblowers to communicate with journalists without fear of being tracked or their identities being revealed. It’s a popular site among news outlets and is used by some of them to accept confidential information from their sources. Then there’s Keybase, which is a private, encrypted messaging app that is similar to WhatsApp in functionality. It uses public-key cryptography to protect your data.
Secure Drop
Secure Drop allows sources to securely and anonymously send documents or other information to news organizations, watchdogs, or oversight groups. It uses the Tor network and strong encryption to ensure security and privacy. It is developed and maintained by a community of volunteers and supported by the Freedom of the Press Foundation. The system requires two physical servers and is managed by a systems admin; for larger newsrooms, there are often multiple administrators. A source (represented by the onion symbol in the diagram below) connects to the Admin Server using Tails from their computer or phone. Then, they download GPG-encrypted submissions to a Transfer Device—like a USB drive or DVD—and transport it to the newsroom’s air-gapped Secure Viewing Station.
The newsroom’s Journalist Workstation running Tails then decrypts the submission and imports it into its internal repository to process, review, or prepare for publication. The newsroom does not store or disclose the original, unencrypted submission or metadata, which can be easily collected by government surveillance tools that target users on the Tor network.
Key Base
Keybase is a cloud-based application for secure communication and file storage. It uses end-to-end encryption, so only the sender and the recipient can read your messages and files. It has a number of other features, including support for public keys and a built-in cryptocurrency wallet. The company’s headquarters is in New York, and it has 51 to 200 employees. Its team includes people from a variety of industries, including technology and finance. It also boasts a bug bounty program.
In addition to its encryption services, Keybase offers native applications for many platforms, as well as extensions for Web browsers. This makes it easy for users to stay connected on the go. The platform also has a chat feature that allows users to share files, GIFs, and other types of content with one another. Users can even create teams for communicating with multiple people. This is especially useful in situations involving families, roommates, and other groups of friends.
More Words
The dark web is home to illicit activity from arms trafficking and drug dealing to neo-Nazi rhetoric and exploitation of children. It also hosts some legitimate websites. To navigate this online black market, you need the Tor network browser. Keep it up to date.
