Thursday, January 14, 2016

The Dark Web

Listen to our radio show on the topic here on 17 January 2016 at 10 A.M. PACIFIC
On Progress in the World Radio, Call in Number 310-861-2349 
(The Show will also be archived)

The Dark Web



·        Description of what the “Dark Web” is –
o   Marketplace for Child traffickers, child porn, identity thieves, hackers, terrorists, drug dealers, weapon dealers, and anything and everything illegal
o   – Basically the Black Market online - a collection of websites that are publicly visible, yet hide the IP addresses of the servers that run them.
o   That means anyone can visit a Dark Web site, but it can be very difficult to figure out where they’re hosted or by whom.



·        Where is the “Dark Web” – think of it like a hidden doorway – everything is on the internet  - parallel to the World Wide Web (www.) there is The Dark Web –
o   It is like understanding that there is a .com, .gov, .org and .edu – then there is the .darkweb (but doesn’t have that ending – the endings are random and not “indexed” meaning they are unsearchable through a search engine)
o   Most Dark Web sites are also encrypted meaning that you can’t get to them unless you have an encrypted browser as well – like the “Tor network”



·        Where are “doorways” – through portals that are hidden “doorways” in video games, innocuous websites, or physical transports like a DVD or flash drive that lead to underground websites in The Dark Web.

·        The users of the Dark Web are next to impossible to catch because they use each other to access their target – The Dark Web is where “secrets are kept secret”
·        Hackers rule the Dark Web (called the Hacker Nation) 
o   There is no government or other entity that is more powerful at this point in time.
o   The FBI and other national government protective entities do not have any clue how to control those on the Dark Web


·        How do users of the Dark Web get to you –
o   Smartphone or computer
o   Social media account
o   Email account
o   Online bank account
o   Online shopping
o   Credit or debit cards
o   The Stock Market
o   Cars, GPS
o   Most electronic and technical devices
o   Security Cameras
o   Public wifi (Starbucks is a BIG target)
o   Publically exposed computer screen (yes, they record over your shoulder)
o   Posers requesting your information via phone calls or public conversation
o   Photos or videos taken of you or your children without your consent
o   Relationships, Anything connected to the web or online
o   AND FYI – passwords are incredibly easy to hack, all of them. Passwords are basically “snake oil”. Don’t be deceived.


·        What do users of the Dark Web want to get from you –
o   Your information
o   Identity
o   Privacy
o   Money
o   Children
o   Reputation
o   Your secrets, your “nudity” or sex, Your oddities, Your reputation, Your control, Your peace-of-mind, Your life


·        What is your best defense?
o   Educate yourselves and don’t be naïve or trusting of other – especially those who have ANY access to your computer or smart phone or email, etc –
o   Don’t let your children on the internet or put any information about them on the internet or photos – cover your camera lens when you are not using them –
o   Accept and understand that your government is hardly any more prepared to deal with Dark Web issues than you are and may even be part of the problem – making money on the Dark Web



·        Always keep in mind that ANYTHING that uses “power“ like electricity, batteries, etc can be hacked - ANYTHING

1 comment: