You are currently surfing the Internet when you read this article. But there is another one: Darknet. This practical tip will tell you exactly what this is.
Darkweb - the dark Internet
Darknet refers to all anonymous networks. Sometimes the synonyms "Hidden Services" or "Deepweb" are also used. Darknet is different from the "normal" Internet in several ways:
In Darknet, unlike the Internet, there are no central servers from which data is retrieved. Instead, several private PC's join together to form a Darknet.
Each of the networked computers can provide, retrieve, or forward data in Darknet. The data exchange between them is always encrypted. This increases security but also makes the network slower.
If one understands the structure of a Darknet, the next difference to the Internet results from it: the access possibilities. You can access the ordinary Internet with any browser. To join Darknet, you first need to install a particular software package, the Tor Browser Package. The Tor Browser Package then hooks into the Firefox browser and encrypts the data stream.
Pages of the Darknet are not so easy to find. Search engines like Google do not display these pages. They are only accessible via link collections. Examples are Newzbin Search or HiddenWiki.
Since the data is not stored on central servers, the accessibility depends on the networked PCs. If a member switches off his computer, the information is no longer accessible.
What is the Darkweb for?
Darknet is used by people who do not want to leave any traces on the Internet. On the one hand, these can be users who are very concerned about data protection. Unfortunately, Darknet is also often used by criminals.
The Darknet is teeming with offers of illegal film and music downloads. Those who engage in piracy not only run the risk of downloading a lot of malware onto their PC. There is also the threat of hefty fines in the event of downloading.
Even without Darknet, you can surf the Internet without leaving too many traces. How you surf anonymously and incognito in Firefox, Chrome, or IE is explained in the next practical tip.
Do you want to read more about the deep web? Then you may like these links to read more.
Ross Ulbricht