What Is the DarkNet?

• The “dark net,” also known as the “dark web,” is a network of secret websites built over the internet which is encrypted.
• These are networks that are only available to a select group of people and not to the general internet public, and only accessible via authorization, specific software and configurations.
• They are not searchable by traditional means, such as a search engine, and it’s not visible through traditional web browsers.
• It needs special browsers like TOR (The Onion Router), Freenet or I2P.
• Darknet provides anonymity to the users.

Concerns about DarkNet

• The dark net is most often used for illegal activities such as black markets, illegal file sharing, and the exchanging of illegal goods or services (including stolen financial and private data).
• The anonymity of DarkNet attracted the criminal element to it such as drug-dealers, hackers, arms dealers and child pornography peddlers.
• Here they are free to conduct their business and express themselves without fear of repercussion.
• It is becoming a huge cyber security  nightmare to governments and businesses all over the world.

DarkNet vs. Deep Web

• • The terms “darknet” and “deep web” are occasionally used interchangeably. However, this is not correct.
  • The dark net is part of the greater deep web which are purposefully hidden from the surface net by additional means.
  • The deep web encompasses all unindexed sites, which are unsearchable that don’t pop up when you do an Internet search.
  • Not all activities associated with the deep web are nefarious. 
  • In most cases, these pages are not searchable through traditional channels because they are password-protected and require specific tools or authorization (like a log-in) in order to access them.
  • Personal email, online banking, and other similar sites are included under the umbrella of the “deep web.”

Why in News?

• A fresh instance of Indians’ data being leaked on the dark net has come to light, with a massive data packet — nearly 100 gigabytes in size — being put up for sale in the dark web market.

More in the News

• The data comprises scanned identity documents of over 1 lakh Indians, including passports, PAN cards, Aadhar cards, voter IDs and driver’s licenses.
• The data was found by Cyble, a global cyber intelligence agency which has also found several other such instances in the recent past, including a massive packet of data of Indian job seekers from across the country.

References:

https://www.investopedia.com/insights/what-dark-net/

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/deep-web-dark-web-darknet/

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2395/darknet

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/100-gb-of-indians-data-up-for-sale-on-dark-web/article31742537.ece#:~:text=Data%20comprises%20scanned%20identity%20documents,in%20the%20dark%20web%20market.