💡Google’s New Campaign Against Dark Web Intrusions!

Shahnaaz
6 min readAug 26, 2023

--

The Dark Web. that enigmatic realm of the internet that most people avoid discussing, and for good reason.

Google’s Strategic Actions in the Realm of the Dark Web

You might be well aware of the motivations behind this avoidance. From browsing on Google Chrome to navigating through Microsoft Edge and various other browsers, our perception of the internet is confined to a mere black and white illusion.

What you and I witness is just a fraction of the extensive web. Beyond this façade lies another obscure dimension known as the Dark Web.

Within this concealed and perilous realm of the internet, a single click opens the gateway to a world of drugs, weaponry, child pornography, and the personal information of countless individuals. However, today, we choose to shed light on this topic because the tech behemoth, Google, has embarked on an initiative to combat this menace. We will delve into the details of this endeavor shortly. But first, let’s unravel the intricacies of the Dark Web.

Understanding the Dark Web

The internet landscape is divided into three distinct sectors:

  • The Surface Web: This segment is accessible to all users and comprises familiar entities such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, and even platforms like Medium. Although it might seem expansive, it constitutes a mere 5 percent of the entire internet.
  • The Deep Web: This realm consists of private domains belonging to individuals and institutions. Think of your email inbox or online banking. Accessing the Deep Web necessitates a username and password. This concealed territory accounts for a staggering 90 percent of the internet.
  • The Dark Web: Now, the calculations of multiplication and division come into play. This enclave makes up a modest 5 percent of the internet, yet it harbors the most intricate and perplexing challenges. The Dark Web serves as a playground for both lawful and illicit activities. Ethical hackers and government agencies tap into this realm for legitimate purposes.

Speaking of unlawful endeavors, the list is extensive. From illicit markets to the trade of narcotics, this is where it all unfolds.

Stolen data from across the globe commands a price here, while cybercriminals and vendors of illegal weaponry find their footing.

Within this realm, conventional laws hold no sway, as users navigate through VPNs and secure servers.

The central figure in our narrative, or perhaps the antagonist, is none other than the Dark Web itself.

illustrative photo

Revealing the Path to the Dark Web

So Where can one find the key to unlock the mysteries of the dark web? Forget about the mainstream browsers like Chrome and Edge; they won’t grant access to this enigmatic realm.

To enter, one requires a specialized browser that remains unnamed here for obvious reasons. This path is not the only route, however.

For your information, the inception of the dark web dates back to the late 1990s, credited to three American Naval Research researchers: David Goldschlag, Mike Reed, and Paul Syverson.

Their goal was to establish an internet realm where users could operate without revealing their identities.

In 2006, a browser was developed for this very purpose, allowing people to navigate the online world incognito.

Yet, where there’s light, there’s also shadow. In this case, hackers and cybercriminals assumed the role of the shadow.

This browser functions akin to Google and other search engines, but its contents are far from ordinary. It’s the true hub of clandestine activities.

Despite its ominous reputation, merely visiting this place is not illegal — at least, as long as you’re just exploring.

This technique is known as ‘onion routing’ because, like the layers of an onion, identity is deeply concealed here.

Each layer might be in a different country, making it nearly impossible to trace the real root. Even the URLs of dark web websites reflect this structure. But…

Hold on tight to your smartphone, because what I’m about to reveal might astonish you.

This very browser is also utilized by entities ranging from the US Department of Defense to major media organizations like the BBC and The New York Times. Even whistleblowers rely on it.

The allure lies in its ability to maintain anonymity and security. Although the dark web was once a hub for transactions involving everything from gold to drugs and weapons, today it’s dominated by Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.

Government agencies, however, keep a watchful eye on the activities here. If they stumble upon something, they’re quick to shut it down.

It was from here that Steven Chase, the orchestrator of a child pornography ring, was apprehended, ultimately receiving a 30-year sentence. Similar cases abound.

Almost impossible to cover in its entirety, the dark web’s complexities have been condensed into this informative piece. One crucial piece of advice: never venture here, not even accidentally.

It’s a one-way path — easy to enter, but nearly impossible to exit. There’s no safety net in this browser. Once you’re in, hackers seize control of your system. The horrors that lie ahead are too unsettling to delve into.

the dark web is one way pathway

You might be wondering how Google fits into this narrative. Google, often referred to as “Google Baba,” plays a role in your personal information.

Any data breach worldwide, encompassing your contact list, photos, videos, and more, finds its way to the dark web for sale.

How would an ordinary person even know if their data had been compromised?

This is where Google steps in. The Dark Web Report Feature is designed to notify you about potential breaches and assist in removing your data from the dark web.

To use this feature, you need to create a profile in your Google One account. You can specify the data you want to be alerted about — birthdate, gender, religion, country, smartphone data, and more. Should a breach occur, you’ll receive a notification, alerting you to the breach.

It’s like a warning arrow shot from a distance. For instance, you can enter your email into the ‘Have I Been Pwned’ website.

This site will inform you if your email and password were compromised in a specific service or website breach. However, these are third-party solutions. This is where Google’s intervention becomes significant.

Final Words

To conclude, when it comes to safeguarding our personal information from being auctioned in a marketplace, spending a few rupees a month is undoubtedly a wise investment.

****************************************************************************

Thank you for reading this. If you have enjoyed what you read, do like and comment. This article is meant to help each other and it won’t work if you don’t like it.

If you’d like to support my writing please follow me here on Medium.

If you liked this, please take a look at other one of my Stories:

--

--

Shahnaaz

Hi there, I'm Shahnaaz Khatun, a passionate writer who creates captivating and informative blogs, covering a wide array of topics with a love for storytelling.