The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by standard search engines and requires specific software, such as Tor Browser, to access. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also has legitimate uses. Here are some surprising facts about the dark web that most people may not know:

General Facts About the Dark Web

• Hidden Marketplaces: The dark web is home to various marketplaces where people can buy and sell illegal items, such as drugs, weapons, and fake IDs. "From what I've seen it's mostly websites that sell stuff like drugs and stuff like fake IDs."

• Not Always Dangerous: While the dark web can be a dangerous place, it is not always as bad as often portrayed. "The dark net has been very over exaggerated by urban legends and things like that over the years."

• Legal Uses: The dark web can be used for legal purposes, such as protecting privacy and freedom of speech in oppressive regimes. "Tor usage is not illegal in the United States."

Surprising Facts

• Hidden Services: The dark web includes hidden services that are not accessible through regular browsers. "Darknets are parts of the internet that require special programs to enter, like TOR or Freenet."

• No True Search Engine: Due to the nature of its addressing system, the dark web cannot have a true search engine. "Tor can't have a true search engine due to how addressing works."

• Physical Vulnerabilities: The physical infrastructure of the internet, including undersea fiber-optic cables, is surprisingly fragile and can be disrupted by natural disasters or sabotage. "Undersea fiber-optic cables carry over 95% of international data."

Risks and Dangers

• Illegal Content: The dark web can host extremely illegal and disturbing content, such as child pornography and torture videos. "The videos I found were horrifying."

• Scams and Identity Theft: Scams and identity theft are common on the dark web. "Scams and identity theft are a big business there."

• Malware Risks: Browsing the dark web can expose you to malware if you are not careful. "If you download any file that contains malware, It's also on the surface."

Safety Tips

• Use Tor Browser: Always use Tor Browser to access the dark web. "Tor Browser is great but a major word of caution if you’re just visiting random, unknown sites."

• Disable JavaScript: Ensure JavaScript is disabled to reduce the risk of security breaches. "Just turn off Javascript and don't do anything dumb like buy drugs with crypto from your Coinbase account."

• Avoid Personal Information: Do not enter any personal information or make purchases unless you are absolutely sure of the source. "Entering your personal information to buy things is even riskier than that."

Subreddits for More Information

• r/TOR

• r/AskReddit

• r/personalfinance

These subreddits can provide more insights and answer specific questions about the dark web from experienced users.