The dark web - statistics & facts
The content on the World Wide Web is divided into three parts: surface web, deep web, and dark web. The surface web is the part of the internet content that is available to everyone via regular browsers. The deep web is hidden behind passwords, such as e-mail accounts, online banking accounts, and a great deal of other content that is not reachable via search engines. The dark web is a small part of the deep web. It represents the content posted on the darknets, which are censorship-resistant networks that enable private communication. The most well-known software for dark web access is the Tor network. Other examples of such networks include Freenet, I2P, and Riffle.
Created in 2008, the Tor browser is widely used around the world. As of September 2023, more than two million people in Germany used Tor daily. As of September 2023, Germany had more than 50 percent of Tor users, while the United States ranked second, with around 13 percent. In the meantime, the highest number of those connecting Tor using bridges or non-public servers was registered in Russia.
In 2022, the total value received by darknet markets and fraud shops worldwide amounted to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, down from 3.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. Furthermore, the share of illegal transactions in total cryptocurrency transactions worldwide in 2022 was 0.24 percent.
Tor – encryption at every stage
The Onion Router (Tor) was created in 2002. It is a free, publicly available software that enables anonymous communication online. It generates online content via an overlay network, a type of network that is layered over another network which makes tracking an individual’s online activity more difficult. Tor’s prominent concept is onion routing. This means routing the internet traffic through at least three relay servers and encrypting it at every stage. It allows each server only to see where the data came from and its next step.Created in 2008, the Tor browser is widely used around the world. As of September 2023, more than two million people in Germany used Tor daily. As of September 2023, Germany had more than 50 percent of Tor users, while the United States ranked second, with around 13 percent. In the meantime, the highest number of those connecting Tor using bridges or non-public servers was registered in Russia.
Illicit activity on the dark web
The initial purpose of darknets, escaping surveillance, has in many ways helped people in countries where government censorship is a big concern. However, the dark web has very quickly become a place with more illegal content. Today, this part of the World Wide Web is mainly associated with the illicit trade of weapons, illegal drugs, various cyberattack services, forged documents, personal data and credentials stolen in cyberattacks, and illegal digital products.In 2022, the total value received by darknet markets and fraud shops worldwide amounted to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, down from 3.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. Furthermore, the share of illegal transactions in total cryptocurrency transactions worldwide in 2022 was 0.24 percent.
