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Dark Web 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Diving In—2025 Edition

Introduction

This is a multi-part dark web series. Our goal is to make dark web investigations more understandable and less daunting—even for complete beginners—so they can get acquainted with the realities of the dark web. All with real-world tips, techniques and stories. In this first part, we’ll tackle some of the most frequently asked questions, break down the biggest myths, and address common concerns. By starting with these foundational knowledge, we aim to build a solid base of knowledge that will help you explore the deeper, more complex topics in the future parts of this series. Let’s dive in!

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What’s the Dark Web?

The dark web (also known as darknet) is a hidden layer of the internet accessible only through specialized software (like the Tor browser). It’s neither completely illegal nor entirely legitimate, but it’s often used for activities that require anonymity, ranging from whistleblowing to organized cybercrime.

Let’s explore some related concepts as well:

Surface Web vs. Deep Web vs. Dark Web

  • Surface Web: Everything you can easily find through search engines like Google (news sites, blogs, e-commerce).
  • Deep Web: Any content not indexed by search engines—think private databases or password-protected areas (your email inbox, cloud-based drives, corporate intranets, etc.).
  • Dark Web: A part of the deep web that requires specialized software or configurations (like Tor) to access. It uses hidden service protocols that help protect identities and server locations.
The Surface, Deep and Dark Web Explained – (Credit: eftsure.com)

Some of the well-known dark web forums/marketplaces:

  • Exploit
  • XSS
  • BreachForums
  • RAMP
  • Zelenka

Not exhaustive, here is a bigger list of marketplaces: https://osint10x.com/darkweb-forums-repository/

What Is the Origin of the Dark Web?

The origin of the dark web can be traced back to the development of onion routing in the mid-1990s by researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, which aimed to create secure and anonymous communication for government purposes. This technology layered encryption to conceal the identity and location of users, laying the foundation for tools like Tor (The Onion Router), which was released to the public in 2002. Early cryptographic advancements also played a crucial role in enabling anonymous transactions and communications, fostering the evolution of the darknet. Initially designed for legitimate uses, such as protecting activists and journalists in oppressive environments, the dark web gradually became a haven for illicit activities, marking a shift in its use and perception.

Is the Dark Web Legit?

The dark web itself is a neutral tool and not inherently illegal. It serves as a part of the internet that requires specialized software, like Tor, to access, offering anonymity and privacy to its users. Legally, the dark web has legitimate uses, such as protecting free speech, enabling communication in countries with strict censorship, and safeguarding whistleblowers or journalists. However, its anonymity also attracts illegal activities, such as the sale of drugs, stolen data, and other illicit goods. The legality of using the dark web depends entirely on how it is used. Exploring it for privacy-focused purposes or to access information in restrictive environments is lawful, while engaging in criminal activities on the platform is not. This dual nature highlights the ethical considerations and legal boundaries that define “dark web legality” and its broader implications for privacy and crime.

What is on the Dark Web?

While accessing dark web has legitimate purposes, such as offering anonymity to journalists, activists, and individuals living under restrictive governments, it is also a hub for illegal activities.

Cybercriminals use it to trade stolen data like credit card numbers, personal details, and hacked databases. It also serves as a marketplace for illicit goods, including drugs, weapons, fake IDs, and hacking tools, as well as more disturbing activities like human trafficking and exploitation.

However, this series is specifically designed for CTI (cyber threat intelligence) analysts and researchers who want to analyse and monitor these criminal activities on the dark web and beyond.

Here are screenshots showcasing a few activities carried out on the dark web, such as the sale of stealer logs, various services, databases, malware, and botnets.

Some of the Major Type of Services/Advertisements Posted on the Darknet Marketplaces

Is the Dark Web Dangerous?

The dark web can be dangerous due to several risk factors that users should be aware of. One of the primary threats is malware, as many sites and files on the dark web are designed to infect your system, steal personal information, or compromise your device. Scams are also common, with fake marketplaces, fraudulent services, and phishing schemes targeting unsuspecting users. Additionally, law enforcement scrutiny poses a risk, especially if you unknowingly access or interact with illegal content, as authorities monitor certain parts of the dark web to combat criminal activities. While the dark web itself is not inherently harmful, its anonymity attracts malicious actors, making caution essential for anyone exploring this hidden part of the internet. For those asking, “Is the dark web dangerous?” the answer is yes, if navigated without awareness of these risks.

Can Using the Dark Web Put You on a Government Watchlist?

Yes, it’s possible. While merely accessing the Dark Web isn’t illegal in most countries, governments and law enforcement agencies monitor it closely due to its association with criminal activities. Here’s how you could end up on a watchlist:

  1. Traffic Monitoring: Governments may track internet traffic patterns, and using tools like Tor can flag your activity as suspicious, even if you’re not doing anything illegal. In some countries, the use of anonymity networks alone may draw attention.
  2. Interacting with Illegal Content: Accessing or engaging with marketplaces that deal in illicit goods, hacking forums, or extremist content can put you under scrutiny. Even visiting these sites accidentally may raise red flags.
  3. Operational Security Mistakes: Poor OPSEC (e.g., revealing your identity, reusing credentials, or accessing the Dark Web without a VPN) can make it easier for authorities to identify and track you, especially if you engage with monitored forums or services.
  4. Undercover Operations: Law enforcement agencies often infiltrate or control certain Dark Web platforms (BreachForums? – Some actors believe that). Any interaction with these controlled environments could inadvertently expose you to investigation.

Can Law Enforcement Track You on the Dark Web?

The short answer is “Yes.” Even on the dark web, operational security mistakes can leave digital footprints for law enforcement to find. The Law enforcement employs advanced techniques to track illegal activity. Using OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence), investigators analyze publicly available information and patterns of behavior that may lead to identifying users.

According to KrebsOnSecurity, a threat actor using the alias “Kiberphant0m” on dark web forums—allegedly a U.S. Army soldier—was involved in extorting telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon, as well as the data warehouse provider Snowflake. On underground forums, the actor offered hacking services, including a custom DDoS botnet, and bragged about compromising corporate systems. But they reused personal credentials and handles across multiple platforms, creating a digital trail that investigators pieced together. This OPSEC slipup ultimately exposed their identity and led to their arrest, showing how even the most skilled cybercriminals can get caught when they don’t fully separate their illicit activities from personal details.

There are many similar stories of threat actors who end up getting arrested by law enforcement because of their involvement in illegal activities due to OPSEC failures.

How to access the Dark Web? What Tools or Software Are Necessary to Explore the Dark Web?

The most widely used browser for accessing the dark web is the Tor Browser. Tor (The Onion Router) is designed to anonymize users’ internet activity by routing traffic through multiple encrypted nodes, enabling access to .onion sites that are not available on the regular web. It’s the go-to choice for those seeking privacy or accessing hidden services.

In addition to Tor, there are alternative methods for accessing dark web:

  • I2P (Invisible Internet Project)
    • I2P uses its own software suite to connect to a decentralized peer-to-peer network.
    • Focuses on secure messaging, file sharing, and anonymous web hosting rather than general web browsing.
    • Primarily for private communication and hosting hidden services within the I2P network.
  • Freenet
    • Freenet operates as both a platform and a browser for accessing its decentralized network.
    • Allows users to publish and access “freesites,” which are hosted anonymously within the network.
    • More specialized, used for secure communication and anonymous data sharing.
  • Whonix
    • Uses Tor in combination with a hardened virtual machine for enhanced privacy.
    • Provides a more secure and isolated environment for accessing both the dark web and the regular web anonymously.
    • Preferred by security professionals and advanced users for maximum privacy.
  • Subgraph OS
    • Includes Tor and additional built-in security layers like sandboxing and encryption.
    • Designed as a privacy-focused operating system with tools to access dark web services safely.
    • Ideal for users who want a highly secure environment for accessing hidden networks.
  • Tails OS
    • Comes pre-installed with Tor and is run as a live operating system from a USB or DVD.
    • Leaves no trace on the host system, ensuring complete anonymity.
    • Popular among activists and journalists for anonymous browsing and communication.

Each has its own strengths and use cases, depending on the level of anonymity and features required.

How to Safely Monitor the Dark Web as a CTI Analyst

To get started, it’s best to set up a completely new Linux environment dedicated to your investigations. Please disable the camera on the system. Next up, install both Tor (in your terminal) and the Tor Browser on this clean machine, and pair them with a reliable VPN—Mullvad is a popular choice (though we have no affiliation). It routes your traffic through Tor over VPN meaning your traffic first goes through the VPN and then enters the Tor network. This hides your use of Tor from your ISP and prevents your IP address from being visible to the Tor entry node.

Tip: Mullvad supports Tor over VPN, meaning your traffic is first routed through Mullvad’s VPN servers and then into the Tor network.

Once your system is secure, create separate personas for different dark web marketplaces. This separation ensures that if one persona is compromised, the others remain protected.

Sometimes you may want to install certain extensions while browsing these marketplaces. In that case, consider installing a Chromium-based browser that supports Chrome extensions. However, as highlighted by Cyberhaven in a story featured on Dark Reading, even extensions that appear legitimate can quickly become major security threats.

Attackers in that incident gained control of the extension’s update channel, allowing them to silently push malicious code to end users. This put sensitive data—ranging from login credentials to corporate records—at risk. It demonstrates how software supply chain vulnerabilities can transform everyday tools into Trojan horses. Always check the source and permissions of each extension, remove anything suspicious or unused, and regularly watch for unusual browser activity.

Anyway, the advantage of using a Chromium browser is that it can open onion links and, by default, translate languages without the need for any extra extensions.

While not an exhaustive list, some extensions you can use with Chromium browser are:

  • Instant Data Scraper – For scraping content from the sites
  • Onion Browser Button – It let’s you connect your Chromium browser to the Tor network (make sure to install Tor before using this extension).
  • GoFullPage – For taking full page screenshots

Can You Get Hacked on the Dark Web?

Absolutely. The dark web is full of hidden threats, and careless browsing can leave you exposed. Here are some common risks:

  1. Malware and Exploits: Many dark web sites are designed to infect your system with malware—ransomware, keyloggers, or Trojans—when you click on a link or download a file.
  2. Phishing Attacks: Fake login pages and malicious messages are common. Entering your credentials on the wrong site could compromise your accounts, or worse, your identity.
  3. Script-Based Exploits: If you enable JavaScript in your Tor browser (which is disabled by default for safety), malicious scripts can exploit browser vulnerabilities to track or infect your device.
  4. Careless OPSEC: Failing to maintain operational security (e.g., not using a VPN, reusing personal credentials, or accessing sites outside a secure environment) can expose your identity or device.

Be sure to check the piece about how to avoid malware on the forums/marketplaces.

How to Avoid Malware and Getting Hacked on Dark Web

Why Monitoring the Dark Web Matters?

Well, the dark web is like the internet’s hidden underworld. Cybercriminals flock there to sell stolen credit card details, personal information, hacked databases, and even specialized tools for breaking into systems. If your data shows up there, it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to use it against you. For businesses, the stakes are even higher—imagine your insurance company operates in South Korea, and you come across a dark web post matching details such as access type (SSH), country (South Korea), industry (insurance), and revenue in the given range. You must immediately analyze internal systems for unauthorized SSH activity, and secure configurations with strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and restricted access. This action can help you secure in a timely manner.

Insurance Company’s Network Access via SSH on Sale

Therefore, by monitoring the dark web, you can spot these threats early.

Who Provides Funding for the Dark Web?

Funding for the dark web comes from a mix of sources, primarily driven by administrators, criminal organizations, and users. Platform admins often cover the initial costs for servers, encryption tools, and maintenance, earning revenue through commissions, membership fees, or ads for illicit services. Criminal profits from selling drugs, stolen data, ransomware attacks, and weapons often flow back into maintaining and expanding dark web platforms. Organized crime groups and cybercriminal networks play a big role in financing and running these operations, ensuring they stay secure and functional. Administrators manage the platforms, but they’re not the only contributors—users who buy goods or services also help sustain the ecosystem. It’s a web of contributions, with funding coming from both those who operate it and those who use it.

Infamous Dark Web Marketplaces that no longer exists

There are numerous infamous marketplaces that facilitated illegal activities, with platforms like Silk Road, AlphaBay, Hansa, and Dream Market among the most notorious. Silk Road, launched in 2011, was the pioneer in using Bitcoin for anonymous transactions, offering drugs, weapons, and more before being shut down by the FBI in 2013, leading to the arrest of its founder, Ross Ulbricht. AlphaBay, which emerged as a successor, became the largest marketplace before being taken down in 2017 through a global law enforcement operation. Hansa followed, rising to prominence but was secretly taken over by Dutch authorities in the same year to collect user data before its shutdown. Dream Market operated from 2013 until 2019 when it announced its closure under mysterious circumstances, likely due to increased pressure from law enforcement. These platforms and their subsequent “dark web raids” underscore the constant efforts by authorities to dismantle illegal networks operating in the hidden corners of the internet.

What Is the Role of Cryptocurrency in Dark Web Transactions?

Cryptocurrency plays a central role in enabling transactions on the dark web, providing a degree of anonymity and decentralization that traditional payment methods cannot offer. Bitcoin was the original and most widely used cryptocurrency for dark web transactions due to its global availability and ease of use. However, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous nature, where all transactions are recorded on a public ledger, has led to a shift toward privacy coins like Monero, which offer enhanced anonymity by concealing transaction details such as sender, recipient, and amount. Monero’s untraceable features have made it increasingly popular for illicit transactions.

In addition to privacy-focused coins, crypto mixers (or tumblers) play a crucial role in enhancing transaction anonymity. These services mix cryptocurrency from various sources, making it harder to trace the origin of funds. For example, users can send Bitcoin to a mixer, which combines it with others’ coins and redistributes the amounts, effectively breaking the transaction trail. While these tools are used for legitimate privacy concerns, they are also exploited for illicit purposes, such as laundering funds from ransomware or dark web marketplaces.

How Do Threat Actors Accept Payments for Services, Databases, and Tools Advertised on Dark Web Forums?

Threat actors on dark web forums have established sophisticated payment mechanisms to ensure security, anonymity, and trust between buyers and sellers. Payments are primarily made in cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) being the most common. Bitcoin is widely accepted due to its accessibility, but its public ledger makes it traceable, leading many to prefer Monero for its robust privacy features, such as hiding transaction amounts and sender/receiver identities.

To facilitate transactions and build trust, many forums and marketplaces use intermediaries like escrow services or guarantors. An escrow system holds the buyer’s payment until the seller delivers the promised goods or services, such as stolen databases, hacking tools, or malware. Once the buyer confirms receipt, the funds are released to the seller. Similarly, a guarantor acts as a trusted middleman, ensuring both parties fulfill their commitments before completing the transaction.

Some platforms require a deposit from buyers to access certain high-value services or products, ensuring they are serious about the purchase. This deposit can be refundable or applied to the final payment. These mechanisms, combined with secure cryptocurrency transactions, allow threat actors to minimize risks and maintain a functioning underground economy while protecting their anonymity. Below are two examples of how threat actors quote prices and accept payments in cryptocurrency, including escrow options for secure transactions.

Threat Actors Seeking Payments in Monaro (XMR)
Threat Actors Engage in Escrow Service for Safe Transactions

If You Use a Tor Browser, Could You Technically Access Anything Not Indexed?

Using the Tor browser allows you to access hidden services and .onion sites on the dark web, but it doesn’t automatically reveal everything unindexed. Unlike regular browsers, Tor doesn’t have a central search engine for the dark web, so accessing content requires knowing the exact .onion address or finding directories that list such sites. Many unindexed sites remain hidden unless you have specific links or connections to those networks. For queries like “does Tor search everything?” the answer is no—Tor provides the tools to reach hidden services but doesn’t give you access to unknown or unlisted content unless you already know where to look.

  • Ahmia: Indexes publicly accessible .onion sites that comply with specific rules and avoid hosting illegal content.
  • DuckDuckGo: A privacy-focused search engine that operates on Tor but offers only limited results for .onion sites.
  • Hydra: Focused on illicit marketplaces and forums, often catering to illegal activities.

Many dark web sites remain hidden, accessible only to specific communities or through prior knowledge and trusted directories.

Ahmia – A Dark Web Search Engine

What Are .onion Sites, and How Do They Differ from Regular URLs?

.onion sites are special web addresses used on the Tor network that provide anonymity for both the user and the server hosting the site. Unlike standard domains like .com or .org, .onion addresses are not part of the regular internet and cannot be accessed through traditional browsers. These addresses use onion routing, a technology that encrypts and routes traffic through multiple nodes to mask the server’s identity and the user’s location. This ensures a high level of privacy for all interactions.

Another key difference is that .onion URLs are often long strings of random alphanumeric characters, making them difficult to remember and inherently more secure. For example, a .onion address might look like 81hi34s44fwh74suidhbya3lntdienpajbjdzskq2psfhhr6qezyllyd.onion, compared to a clear and recognizable domain like example.com. Accessing .onion sites requires using a specialized browser like Tor, which is designed to handle the onion routing process. These features make .onion sites a cornerstone of the dark web, offering privacy-focused communication and hosting options while remaining inaccessible to standard search engines and browsers.


That’s was for the part one of the series. Next up, we will dive deep into other aspects of dark web, so stay tuned.

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