Before we get to personal data and the Dark Web, let’s get the lay of the land.
Simply put, the Dark Web is the hidden part of the internet that is often misunderstood and shrouded in mystery.
Unlike the Surface Web, which includes all the social media platforms, forums and everyday sites that we visit regularly, the Dark Web is actually inaccessible through standard search engines.
Instead, internet users need special software like the Tor browser or I2P to break into this digital abyss.
And before we go any further, it’s important to understand the difference between the Deep Web and the Dark Web.
The Deep Web includes all the databases, private networks and password-protected sites that we all commonly use. By contrast, the Dark Web thrives on anonymity. And it’s this very obscurity that makes it so fascinating to both privacy advocates and those with more illicit intentions.
What Happens to Dark Web Data Down There?
At its core, the Dark Web offers a platform where users can operate with near-complete anonymity - meaning that it is something of a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it provides a haven for whistleblowers, activists, and journalists in oppressive regimes. This is welcome and important, and long may they continue to fight the good fight from there. Max Schrems might also have frequented it in his fight for better user data rights. And if that's the case then without the Dark Web, there would be no Schrems I and no Schrems II ruling.
On the other hand, it’s also a watering hole for many technically-minded scoundrels. Cybercriminals, drug dealers, and other malicious actors trade everything from drugs and weapons to stolen personal data and even whole identities.
It’s also interesting to note that the Dark Web is not a big place. In fact, it makes up less than 1% of the entire internet.
And yet, its influence dwarfs its small size, and means that it poses significant risks to the average internet user.
Within its confines, personal data becomes a prized asset. Names, addresses, credit card details, and passwords are bought and sold, turning unsuspecting individuals into potential victims.
In understanding the Dark Web's essence, we pave the way to better grasp how personal data becomes ensnared in its web and, more importantly, how to prevent it.