Would you know how to access the dark web?

[NoFriendsNoEnemies]

Just that.

Whenever someone appears to be convicted of child abuse, accessing violent porn etc they always seem to trot out the cliche that they came across the images by mistake or that they were downloaded to them when they were downloading something else.

And for some obscure reason they always have their band of loyal supporters who believe them.

But quite apart from the fact that it’s obviously lies, I was always under the impression that to access that kind of material you had to visit the dark web, and so accessing that kind of thing in error is in fact not possible.

But how many people would actually know how to access the dark web? And if they wouldn’t how could anyone believe that these kinds of things could be stumbled upon in error?

Would you know how to access the dark web? Not for nefarious purposes obviously, but just in general. If you wanted to access it, would you know how?

Nope!

I did once read a fiction detective novel where to gain indecent images you had to go to a normal web page and click on a specific part of an image, the left eye in this case, and there was a link there to dark sites. The normal website owner might not know that this has been done. This was an older book say 90s so tech has definitely moved on since then.

I guess you could accidentally do that but any normal person would report it rather than going further and then claiming innocence.

Yes, in that I know the name of the browser which enables access to it, but I would never go near it.

My understanding is that it's very difficult indeed to accidentally happen across illegal images of children/abuse footage, even on the dark web. Most of the sources require that you prove yourself by sharing some piece of filth yourself before you're admitted to the circle. A lot of it also requires large payments, which again is as much about gatekeeping as profit-making.

So if somebody found to have this stuff on their devices bleats about not knowing how it got there, or says it just popped up randomly while they were browsing knitting patterns - they're probably a liar as well as a nonce.

Yes I know, but I work in IT. I have never accessed it and never will! Just the thought of what you might stumble across is terrifying (I think I’ve watched too many horror films)

I wouldn't have a clue, didn't even realise it was a real thing and not really sure what exactly the "Dark Web" is! I think I've heard the term on the telly or something and just assumed it was dodgy websites where you could buy dodgy stuff or something like that!

I don't know as I've never tried but I'd say it probably very easy

You can randomly come across very dark stuff on social media without even searching for anything so I can't imagine its very difficult

Yes, have accessed it several times.

Yes and it's a piece of piss. Google it.

You don't just "stumble across" scary things. For all intents and purposes, TOR is just a browser - it's a bit like putting your Chrome Browser into "incognito mode" so your cookies aren't stored and linked to your Google account.

What you can then access is just about anything you can get on Chrome. Note that the BBC News and their whole website is available on the Dark Web so Russians who want to see it can use it, despite it being blocked in Russia.

Yes, you can access indecent images of children using it, but you can also do that in 3 clicks on Google search (I don't recommend you look).

The only real difference between using the Dark Web and Firefox / Chrome / Safari etc is about how cookies and your identity can be tracked.

Opening TOR doesn't suddenly give you access to a shopping centre full of firearms, drugs, children or donkeys any more than opening Chrome.

You still have to go looking for it.

The dark web just refers to web content that isn’t listed/indexed - for example not found on Google

Tor has been mentioned, but that’s ‘just’ file sharing, like the original Napster
It’s ‘dark web’ because the contents aren’t listed and you need to have the relevant software (eg tor) to access the files, plus the ability to find the files in the first place (indexes on servers etc)

Tor provides file sharing such as torrents. The legitimate use is that you can share a file and then everyone who downloads it continues to share their copy, which then makes someone else’s download more efficient

If you watch US TV shows by downloading them before they come to the UK then you’re using the dark web

If you stream with an Amazon fire stick from sources that you’ve subscribed to or they are open, then that’s ‘normal’ and you’re using ‘listed’ streaming
But if you get a modified Amazon fire stick and can search/stream unlisted pirated copies of shows then you’re streaming from the dark web

Back in the days of dial up internet there was the general internet from your ISP, plus direct dial in bulletin boards.
The bulletin boards are within the definition of the dark web as they were not indexed on the internet. It could be all above board where you just need to find out the phone number and a password
Or it could be nefarious and you need to find someone who will give you the number and a password

It’s like cheap meat from the guy down the pub - that’s the ‘dark market’
He could be selling wholesale meat on the side with a bit of mystery (Imagine Leroy Brown the stationery salesman in Crocodile Dundee)
He could be a low level shoplifter or from the back of the warehouse
Or he could be able to get you some drugs, guns and a nuclear missile - but probably just a low level thief

I got the instructions from a Reddit thread about 5 or 6 years ago but the thread got pulled.

Tbh, when you're in the dark web you don't just stumble across porn and child images you still have to go looking whatever you're looking for.

*totally omitted about downloading a browser into TOR in my explanation. Sorry!

Yes, DS showed me the dark web once.

Spoiler alert: It’s REALLY boring.

Honestly.

Download TOR.
I'd imagine you'd need a good VPN in place? I remember seeing something on YouTube (Mr Nightmare - does spooky stories etc) where someone accessed the DW for drugs and the dealer he messaged knew his name and location and then threatened to blackmail him.

No, I'll leave that to the criminals and perverts.

I've no idea how to access it, but am I the only one who stupidly imagines that the 'dark web' is like a negative of the ordinary web, ie, all black pages with white or other coloured writing on them haha!

Use TOR browser

No

Another who hasn't a clue ... I never would want to access this but I'm intrigued how others know. I remember in one of the original Dragon Tattoo films Lisbeth (was that her name?!) asks a computer geek to do it for her and he opened a website and did a series of clocks on a picture and voila he was in.

A series of clicks rather

Not a chuffing clue. No idea what TOR is having read this thread. I’d never even heard of it before this thread. I’d be like the op who said she’d have to Google it 😂

This is such an interesting thread!

No. Wouldn’t have a clue.

I know that you’d need Tor but I wouldn’t know how to use it - I didn’t know that you couldn’t search as a PP says.

Not a clue although never tried to find out. My first port of call would be google!

@WhenDovesFly Haha, I always think exactly the same! A computer set up in a basement with all sorts of equipment around and the screen shows an inversion of what I usually see. Maybe with some matrix style codes flying around.