The Dark Side... of the Internet

Dark Wars

During this week´s session we talked about the so called "Deep Web" or "Dark Web". No one really knows how big the internet is, but I can tell you is like huge. We can compare it to an iceberg, because the web pages we normally use; like Facebook and stuff are only the surface of the iceberg.

Episode One: One day the Navy was like: "I have a great idea! We should create a whole in the cyber space" so they did, and after they were all like "It´s alive" they were like: "we should release our baby into the wilderness and see what happens. Just for fun". So the Navy did and just like it happened in Frankenstein; the monster gets out of control and kills their girlfriend. Okay, okay, the deep web did not kill the Navy´s girlfriend, but it does pretty bad stuff. Like the deep web allows ISIS to reach tons of people and reclute them without anyone knowing their location.

In order to access the deep web, you have to download a thing called TOR. No I did not spell wrong Thor (he´s such a cutie though). After you have TOR in the warmth of your desktop, you can not only access the deep web, but you also become a server of the deep web. This is how it works: There are tons of servers around the world and if your real location is Hawaii no one will be able to know is Hawaii because your location will hop over other servers and it could show your location in the Philippines or any other place. It works like a VPN.

It is also a rebel and defies the constitution by creating its own currency, with the fancy name of "bitcoins". People can actually use those bitcoins in real life, someone paid their whole honeymoon with them (youTube it). You can start earning them once you download TOR and your processor starts "mining" the web. The dark web pays you for your processor´s hard work in bitcoins and you can be a billionaire in the cyberspace.

The majority of the content of the deep web is very bad hence the name "dark", like porn, drugs, prostitution, child pornography, human trafficking and everything else you can think of. It also has its good side, it allows people to access content that is prohibited in their country, for example China. They are able to access information that the government regulates and they are able to share with the rest of the world what is happening in front of them. Like a route of scape. Remember that video of the execution of an American journalist, well it traveled throughout the dark web and reached someone that liberated it into the surface. That is how we normal people got to know about it.

If your curiosity is telling you "Come to the dark side" let me tell you that is not ilegal to download TOR and it is not ilegal to surf the deep dark web, so if you are wanting to explore in the deep dimensions of the web go for it. But beware that you may get stuck in the filth and become a stormtrooper of the dark side to provide your location. So, maybe think twice.

May the force be with you my friend,


Linda