The Dark Web: The Hidden Internet that Defies the Light

The Dark Web is a mysterious concept that arouses both curiosity and apprehension. To demystify this intriguing facet of the Internet, let's start by understanding what it really represents.

The Layered Structure of the Internet The Internet is vast and diverse, but it can be divided into distinct subsets based on accessibility:

1. The Visible Web (or Surface) Internet content: This includes content indexed by well-known search engines such as Google, Qwant and DuckDuckGo. This represents around 10 % of total Internet content and is widely accessible to the public.
2. The Deep Web Deep Web: Also known as the Deep Web, this covers everything that is not intended for the general public. This includes databases, sensitive documents (such as archives and financial data), web pages protected by authentication systems, and even sites that are not intended to be indexed. The Deep Web represents around 90 % of Internet content.
3. The Dark Web Often referred to as the Dark Web, this is a subdivision of the Deep Web. The Dark Web is fed by intentionally hidden content and is only accessible via specific software or protocols. The term "Dark" refers to its obscure and non-public nature. It is important to distinguish it from the "Clear Web", which encompasses all pages accessible via standard browsers and indexed by search engines.

Dark Web vs. Darknet: An Important Distinction To avoid any confusion, it is essential to distinguish between the Dark Web and the Darknet. The Darknet refers specifically to "a set of networks designed to ensure user anonymity by means of a decentralised architecture, specific software and special access authorisations", according to the Journal Officiel's definition. It is based on the principle of Friend-to-Friend (F2F) communication, a variant of Peer-to-Peer (P2P), where users establish relationships based on trust. The Darknet uses a different protocol to the Internet and can only be accessed using a browser that supports this protocol.

What's more, the Darknet is not a single network, but rather a collection of alternative networks that provide different online communication tools to those of the public Internet. The most famous of these networks is Tor, originally developed by a laboratory associated with the US Navy to secure its communications, then taken over by The Tor Project Foundation. Tor also developed the Tor Browser, which provides access to the Dark Web.

The Origin of the Dark Web

Secure, isolated networks have been around since the 1970s, but the terms Dark Web and Darknet are more recent concepts. The origin of these terms can be traced back to the early 2000s, following the publication of an article entitled "The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution". This article highlighted how the Darknets were preventing the enforcement of copyright protection measures for digital works.

Today, the Dark Web is more widely known to the general public, partly because of its association with high-profile criminal cases since the early 2010s. These include Silk Road, described as a "drug supermarket", dismantled by the FBI in 2013, and AlphaBay, a platform closed in 2017 where people could buy drugs, weapons, credit card data and other illegal goods.

What can you find on the Dark Web?

The Dark Web is often portrayed as a den of illicit activity, but there is much more to it than that. Although its image is often dark, it is also used by activists and political dissidents, particularly in countries where freedom of expression is restricted. In the face of sensationalist articles, several studies have sought to show that the Dark Web is not necessarily a malicious place. It can be used to access information, circumvent censorship, communicate securely and evade surveillance.

Ultimately, the Dark Web is a complex space where various activities coexist, some dark, others enlightening. It offers its users a diversity of content, opportunities and risks, while remaining a mysterious part of the modern Internet.