Unveiling the Shadows: Exploring Dark Web Surveillance

In recent times, a significant development in the digital realm introduced the Deep Web by the US Government, marking a substantial portion of the Internet beyond the reach of conventional search engines such as Google. Initially designated for academic and governmental sensitive data storage, this network evolved over time as individuals delved into illicit activities, transforming into what is now known as the Dark Web.

The Dark Web comprises content housed on ‘darknets’ — specialized overlay networks necessitating encrypted software, configurations, or authorization for access. It constitutes a segment of the deep web, the unindexed portion of the Web by standard search engines.

A ‘darknet’ market serves as a commercial platform on the dark web, primarily operating as a black market facilitating transactions involving illegal substances, cyber weapons, weaponry, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card information, forged documents, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, steroids, and pilfered Username/Password credentials for individual or corporate users.

Significant breaches from prominent organizations like AT&T (72.6 million users), Yahoo (3 million users), Uber (57 million users), Equifax Credit (145 million users), AdultFriendFinder (412 million users), and nearly all major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Snapchat have experienced security compromises, serving as sources for stolen credentials (Username/Passwords) that circulate on the Dark Web.