The dark web refers to the parts of the web that do not exist on typical browsers and sites, but rather on a network called Tor. Tor, often called the “onion router,” reroutes users’ traffic, ensuring all activities won’t be discovered by the typical internet lurker.
The Justice Department announced last month that Operation DisrupTor, an internationally coordinated effort to dismantle criminal activity on the dark web, had arrested 179 individuals involved in opioid trafficking. This successful operation, following many other high-profile dark web takedowns, is causing turmoil among the online drug trafficking community.
The Tor browser is not impenetrable, nor is it as secure as many presume. It does provide access to hidden service sites, thereby making it a conduit to the dark web.
While the dark web certainly has more than its fair share of malicious users and sites, the community at large is quick to offer tips and tricks on how to stay private and protected.
One of the reasons that people flock to VPNs, or virtual private networks, is to appear "anonymous" to their ISP. However, as we have already discussed with our managed attribution paper, online anonymity is a myth. Instead, users need to manage their digital fingerprint and behavioral footprint to operate online without giving away...
