What is the Dark Web? | CNBC Explains

Summary

This video delves into the layers of the internet, distinguishing the Surface Web from the enigmatic Deep Web and the notorious Dark Web. It explains the origins and functionalities of the Dark Web, highlighting its use of encryption for anonymity. The script discusses the creation of Tor by the U.S. Naval Research Lab and its dual use for both illicit activities like the Silk Road and legitimate purposes such as protecting dissidents and whistleblowers. It raises the moral quandary of balancing internet freedom and privacy with the need to combat criminal activities that thrive in the shadows of the Dark Web.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Surface Web is the top layer of the internet accessible through search engines, while the Deep Web includes password-protected sites like online banking and government databases.
• 🔍 The Dark Web is the deepest layer of the internet, accessible only through special software like Tor, where users can remain anonymous.
• 🔒 The Dark Web was initially created in the 1970s for secure and anonymous communication, with Tor being one of the first and most popular darknet software developed by the U.S. Naval Research Lab.
• 🛒 The Silk Road was a notorious online black market on the Dark Web where illegal goods like drugs and firearms were traded; its founder, Ross Ulbricht, was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.
• 🚨 Despite efforts by authorities to shut down illegal marketplaces like Silk Road, new ones continue to emerge, suggesting a resilient underground economy.
• 🛡️ Tor and similar tools are not only used for illegal activities but also serve as a secure communication platform for political dissidents and journalists.
• 🌟 The Dark Web has played a role in empowering activists during events like the Arab Spring and in enabling whistleblowers to release sensitive information.
• 🏥 It also provides a means for vulnerable individuals, such as domestic violence victims, to seek help and protect their privacy online.
• 🔑 The dilemma of the Dark Web lies in balancing the need for internet freedom and privacy with the fight against criminal activities that occur within its anonymous spaces.
• 🤔 The script raises the question of whether the benefits of the Dark Web for legitimate and life-saving purposes outweigh the risks associated with its criminal uses.

Q & A

What is the Surface Web?

The Surface Web refers to the part of the internet that is indexed by search engines and can be easily accessed by the general public.

What is the Deep Web and how is it different from the Surface Web?

The Deep Web consists of layers of the internet that are not indexed by search engines and require specific access, such as online banking or government databases. It is different from the Surface Web in that it is not accessible through regular search engines.

What is the Dark Web and how does it relate to the Deep Web?

The Dark Web is the bottom layer of the Deep Web where users can communicate and conduct transactions anonymously. It is part of the Deep Web but specifically refers to websites that require special software, like Tor, to access.

How does the Tor browser protect user anonymity?

The Tor browser protects user anonymity by routing internet requests through multiple computers around the world, encrypting and decrypting the user's identification at each step, making it difficult to trace the origin of the request.

Who created the Tor software and for what purpose?

The U.S. Naval Research Lab created the Tor software in the early 2000s, primarily to allow U.S. Navy intelligence officers to navigate the internet without being recognized or traced.

What was the Silk Road and why was it infamous?

The Silk Road was one of the first online black markets on the Dark Web where illegal items such as drugs, guns, and child pornography could be bought and sold. It was infamous due to its large scale and the high-profile arrest of its founder, Ross Ulbricht.

What happened to the Silk Road and its successors after law enforcement intervention?

After the arrest of Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road was shut down, followed by the closure of its successors like Silk Road 2.0, Project Black Flag, and Black Market Reloaded. However, this led to the emergence of new marketplaces like Dream, Agora, and Alphabay.

How have authorities attempted to combat the Dark Web?

Authorities have attempted to combat the Dark Web by shutting down illegal marketplaces, arresting key figures, and even reportedly hacking into Tor itself, which led to a significant drop in its usage.

What are some legitimate uses of the Dark Web?

Legitimate uses of the Dark Web include providing a secure network for government agencies and political dissidents, aiding activists during events like the Arab Spring, and enabling whistleblowers to release information securely.

How does the Dark Web help journalists and news organizations?

The Dark Web helps journalists and news organizations by hosting drop sites for anonymously uploading leaked tips and documents, which can be crucial for investigative journalism and uncovering the truth.

What dilemma does the existence of the Dark Web present for authorities and society?

The dilemma is that shutting down the Dark Web to combat criminal activity could also negatively impact those who use it for social benefits, such as internet freedom, privacy, and protection from oppressive regimes.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introduction to the Deep and Dark Web

This paragraph introduces the concept of the Surface Web and the Deep Web, explaining that while the Surface Web is accessible through search engines, the Deep Web contains password-protected sites like online banking and government databases. It then delves into the Dark Web, which is the bottom layer of the Deep Web, where users can engage in anonymous communication and transactions, often associated with criminal activities. The paragraph also touches on the origins of the Dark Web, mentioning its creation alongside the internet in the 1970s and the development of darknet software like Tor in the early 2000s by the U.S. Naval Research Lab for intelligence officers to use the internet without being traced.

Keywords

💡Surface Web

The Surface Web refers to the part of the internet that is easily accessible through search engines like Google or Bing. It is the top layer of the internet where most users spend their time browsing. In the video, it is contrasted with the Deep Web and the Dark Web, which are not indexed by search engines and require specific software to access.

💡Deep Web

The Deep Web encompasses all the parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines. It includes content that is password-protected, dynamically generated, or otherwise not linked publicly. The video mentions the Deep Web as a layer beneath the Surface Web, containing websites like online banking and government databases that require special access.

💡Dark Web

The Dark Web is a subset of the Deep Web where users can access content while remaining anonymous. It is characterized by the use of encryption and special software to hide one's identity and location. The video describes it as a 'wild west' of the internet, where illegal activities like buying and selling drugs and weapons occur, but also where privacy is sought for legitimate reasons.

💡Darknet Software

Darknet software, such as Tor, is necessary to access the Dark Web. It allows users to browse the internet anonymously by routing their requests through multiple servers worldwide, thereby obscuring their IP address and location. The video explains that without such software, one cannot access the hidden parts of the internet.

💡Tor

Tor, short for The Onion Router, is a free software that enables anonymous communication by directing internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer overlay network. It was initially developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for intelligence officers to navigate the internet without being traced. The video uses Tor as an example of how one can access the Dark Web and mentions its role in both facilitating criminal activities and providing privacy for legitimate users.

💡Silk Road

Silk Road was an infamous online black market that operated on the Dark Web, known for selling illegal goods such as drugs and firearms. The video cites Silk Road as an example of the criminal activities that can be found on the Dark Web and discusses its shutdown along with its successors, illustrating the ongoing battle between authorities and illicit marketplaces.

💡Anonymity

Anonymity on the internet refers to the ability to operate without revealing one's identity. The video discusses how the Dark Web provides anonymity through encryption and the use of darknet software like Tor, which is crucial for both criminal activities and for protecting the privacy of individuals who might be at risk, such as political dissidents or journalists.

💡Whistleblowers

Whistleblowers are individuals who reveal information about illegal or unethical activities, often at personal risk. The video mentions that the Dark Web has been instrumental for whistleblowers to release sensitive information without being traced, highlighting its role in promoting transparency and accountability.

💡Criminal Underworld

The term 'criminal underworld' refers to the hidden and illegal activities and organizations that operate outside the law. The video discusses the presence of the criminal underworld on the Dark Web, where activities like drug trafficking and money laundering occur, raising questions about the balance between privacy and law enforcement.

💡Internet Freedom

Internet freedom is the ability of individuals to access and share information on the internet without censorship or surveillance. The video presents a dilemma regarding internet freedom, questioning whether the protection of privacy and anonymity for legitimate purposes justifies the existence of a platform that also harbors criminal activities.

💡Wikileaks

Wikileaks is an organization that publishes classified and sensitive information provided by anonymous sources. The video notes that Wikileaks popularized the use of the Dark Web as a tool for journalists to uncover the truth and for whistleblowers to share information securely, emphasizing the platform's role in promoting transparency.

Highlights

The internet has layers, with the Surface Web being the top layer accessible through search engines.

Beneath the Surface Web is the Deep Web, which includes password-protected sites like online banking and government databases.

The Dark Web is the bottom layer of the Deep Web, where users can communicate and transact anonymously.

The Dark Web is not a place but a term for parts of the internet that hide your identity and location.

The infrastructure for the Dark Web was created in the 1970s, alongside the internet itself.

The U.S. Naval Research Lab developed Tor, one of the first and most popular darknet software, in the early 2000s.

Tor was created to allow intelligence officers to navigate the internet without being recognized or traced.

The Tor browser encrypts user identification by bouncing requests through multiple computers worldwide.

The Silk Road was an infamous online black market on the Dark Web for illegal goods like drugs and firearms.

Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road, was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison.

The FBI has reportedly hacked into Tor, leading to a significant drop in its usage.

Alternatives to Tor include I2P and Freenet, and successors to Silk Road include Dream, Agora, and Alphabay.

The Dark Web is also used by radical extremists for communication and propaganda.

Tor receives funding from the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense for secure networking.

The Dark Web has been instrumental in empowering activists and whistleblowers, like during the Arab Spring.

News organizations host Dark Web drop sites for anonymously leaking tips and documents.

The Dark Web helps individuals hide from online stalkers and protects privacy from advertisers and government surveillance.

Shutting down the Dark Web could also negatively impact those using it for social benefits, raising questions about internet freedom and privacy.

Transcripts

You’re watching a video on YouTube.

Then you head to Amazon to buy your Grandma’s birthday present

This internet browsing is taking place on a layer of the internet called the Surface Web.

But beneath it are many more layers of the internet, in what’s known as the Deep Web.

At the top of these layers are websites that can be accessed, but can’t be found by doing

a search on Google or Bing.

Think online banking and government databases, pages that are password encrypted.

But what if you keep going down, all the way to the bottom of the Deep Web?

Well, here you’ll find the Dark Web.

Here, users communicate through encrypted messages and can buy or sell anything with total anonymity.

It’s been called the ‘wild west’ of the internet because operating here in the

shadows are extremists, criminals and trolls.

So, where did the Dark Web come from and how does it work?

Well firstly the Dark Web is not a place but a term that describes parts of the internet

that hide your identity and location.

The Dark Web’s infrastructure was created in the 1970s at the same time as the internet

itself - but to utilize it, you needed darknet software.

Enter the U.S. Naval Research Lab who created, back in the early 2000s, one of the first

and still the most popular darknet software - Tor.

It was created for a number of reasons, which included providing the U.S. Navy’s intelligence

officers with the means to maneuver through the internet without being recognized or traced.

But, to really give you an understanding of what the Dark Web is like we need to explore it first hand…

So I’ve downloaded Tor, which looks like a normal web browser and seems to behave like one too.

I can visit any site I like, but unlike normal web browsers which would register my IP address

straight away, the Tor browser bounces my request to enter the site via several computers

around the world encrypting and decrypting my identification as it goes so that no one

knows where the request has come from.

Now that I’m browsing the internet anonymously, certain websites have become accessible.

Sites that are much like the infamous Silk Road.

The Silk Road was the one of the first online black markets

where you could buy drugs, guns and child pornography.

Two years after starting the site the founder, Ross Ulbricht, was arrested in 2013 and sentenced

to life in prison for money laundering, drug trafficking, hacking and fraud.

This was quickly followed by a shutdown of its successor Silk Road 2.0 along with similar

sites such as ‘Project Black Flag’ and ‘Black Market Reloaded’.

There are even reports that the FBI has hacked into Tor itself, which subsequently saw the

browser’s usage drop by nearly 50%.

This all gives the impression that the authorities are fighting back, but closing down one or

two online markets has simply cleared the way for its competitors.

If you didn’t want to use the Tor browser, there’s I2P or Freenet.

Instead of Silk Road 2.0, there’s now Dream, Agora or Alphabay and they all provide the same services.

The Dark Web however is not just an eBay for illegal purchases.

It’s also used by radical extremists to communicate and spread propaganda.

But not all activity going on down in the Dark Web is illegal.

Tor, for instance, receives 60% of its backing from the U.S. State Department and the Department

of Defense to act as a secure network for both government agencies and political dissidents

fighting oppressive regimes.

Over the past decade, the Dark Web has empowered activists to spread news during the Arab Spring

and encourage whistleblowers to release information.

The Dark Web as a tool to help journalists uncover the truth was made popular by Wikileaks.

Now news organizations such as The New York Times and The Guardian all host Dark Web drop

sites for uploading anonymously leaked tips and documents.

It’s also helped domestic-violence victims hide from online stalkers and allowed ordinary

citizens to surf the web without being tracked by advertisers or even the government.

Which leaves us with a great dilemma…

If the authorities try (and succeed) in shutting down the Dark Web and the criminal activity

that it supports, they’ll also be adversely affecting all the people that use it for social benefit.

The question remains whether internet freedom and privacy, for legitimate and sometimes

life-saving reasons, are worth protecting while this vast criminal underworld operates

alongside it, inside the dark web.