What is the Dark Web? Exploring the Hidden Cyber Threat

19 February 2025

Be it transactions, data storage, or customer engagement, current businesses depend on the Internet for everything. But there’s also a mysterious part of the internet. A secret world exists, beneath the search engines and websites people use, commonly known as the “dark web.”

Many associate the dark web with hidden identities and confidential interactions. This is also said to be the home of cybercriminals who exchange private data, sell hacking tools, and do other illegal activities.

For businesses, the dark web is a growing threat, making organisations vulnerable to fraud, ransomware, and data breaches. Let’s understand what the dark web is and how it poses cyber threats for modern organisations.

What is the Dark Web

The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that can’t be found on regular search engines. To access this, you need special browsers. However, it is much smaller than the surface web, the part of the internet we use every day. But it’s still a part of the deep web.

The Internet is divided into several parts/ layers, similar to an iceberg. The surface web is just the small part you see above water, while the dark web is the very bottom tip, buried deep beneath the surface. With standard browsers like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, you won’t be able to reach the dark web.

These sites are intentionally hidden, not listed on search engines, and can only be accessed with a specialised browser. In countries where internet controls are quite strict, the dark web is one of the few spaces where people can share information freely. However, this freedom comes with risks.

The dark web is also where most of criminal activities occur, with hackers and cyber attackers operating secretly. Although it is not illegal to use, it could be riskier to open unknown pages, causing the leak of your sensitive data and breaching the system as well. In addition, you may seek other resources, like security services, to deal with such breaches effectively.

What Can I Find in the Dark Web

Unlike other platforms, where they have specific things, the dark web has a mix of legal and illegal content. You can find anonymous forums, whistleblower platforms, and privacy-focused services.

However, it’s also used as a black market, selling stolen data, private documents, drugs, and hacking tools. Cybercriminals here trade ransomware, phishing kits, and financial credentials, making it a major hub for fraud and cyberattacks.

Dark Web: An Emerging Cybersecurity Threat

For cyber threats, the dark web serves as a hub. If we are to put it bluntly, the dark web has caused the rise of new cybersecurity risks. Whether individual users or small businesses, it may be wrong to assume that you are safe here. To trade secret data, sell malware, and launch cyberattacks, attackers use this hidden network specifically as it provides a safe environment to them.

Especially for these, cybercriminals exploit dark web marketplaces to distribute ransomware and phishing tools. Personal information, financial credentials, and other private details are often shared.

However, one solution for dealing with such potential risks is considering industry experts. If you're worried about online security, the IT support team or other industry professionals can also provide suitable guidance to protect your systems.

What is the Dark Web and How Does it Work Actually

The dark web works like a hidden network. It’s accessible only through special software such as the Tor browser. Unlike others, the Tor browser bounces your traffic through a set of random servers, protecting your IP address and keeping your identity hidden from others. However, websites here have “.onion” domains and are often unlisted, meaning you need direct links to find them.

Deep Web Vs Dark Web: Are Both the Same

Similar to the dark web, the deep web is a part of the internet too. Most of the internet, over 95%, comes under the deep web, while only about 5% is made up of websites you can find through search engines. People often mix up these two terms, but they’re not the same thing.

What Does the Dark Web Look Like

Instead of the usual .com, .org, or any other top-level domains we usually see on the surface web, however, websites in the dark web have a “.onion” extension. As this is managed mostly through anonymous users, this provides benefits to the cybercriminals.

A few blogs or forums here appear more like outdated message boards, helping preserve the user’s identity. Overall platform is quite mysterious, with hidden services, encrypted messaging, and restricted-access communities.

How to Use the Dark Web

A secure connection is necessary if you wish to use the dark web. Above all, it requires a specialised browser like Tor, which anonymises your connection. In addition to having a special browser, you must find “.onion” links through directories or forums. This is because the sites here are not indexed that we use on regular search engines, such as Google. Plus, you need to avoid clicking unknown links or sharing personal data. You should use a VPN to maintain protection as well as never download files that are not verified.

How Do You Find the Dark Web

As mentioned before, the dark web can never be found through regular browsers, including Chrome. Thus, first, you must get specialised tools, such as I2P or Tor. Once you install it, you need direct links to the websites you want to visit. Needless to say, seeking information is not easy here, unless you have trusted sources.

Conclusion

The dark web isn’t just a concern for individuals. It’s a hotspot for stolen corporate data, phishing scams, and ransomware attacks. A single breach can cost millions, not to mention the damage to reputation. That’s why cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue. For a number of reasons, it is now a business priority in the current digital world.