The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by standard search engines and requires specific software, such as the Tor browser, to access. It is often associated with illegal activities, but there are also some surprising and lesser-known facts about it. Here are some of the most surprising facts about the dark web:

Hidden Marketplaces and Illegal Activities

• Drug and Weapon Sales: The dark web is infamous for hosting marketplaces where users can buy and sell illegal drugs, weapons, and other contraband. "From what I've seen it's mostly websites that sell stuff like drugs and stuff like fake IDs."

• Child Pornography: Unfortunately, the dark web is also a hub for child pornography, which has led to arrests and investigations. "About 6 years ago I went on it with my best friend and we found out a guy in our town was selling CP so we tracked down his IP and had him arrested."

Surprising Uses and Benefits

• Journalism and Activism: The dark web can be used to disseminate information in oppressive regimes, making it a valuable tool for journalists and activists. "One of the reasons why TOR was developed by the US government in the first place was to help get information in and out of oppressive countries."

• Peer Review and Customer Service: Surprisingly, some illegal marketplaces on the dark web have better customer service than legitimate businesses. "I never used it but from what I heard, silk road merchants actually had wildly better customer service than most legit businesses."

Myths and Misconceptions

• Exaggerated Dangers: The dark web is often over-exaggerated by urban legends. While it does have sketchy content, it's not as universally dangerous as often portrayed. "The dark net has been very over exaggerated by urban legends and things like that over the years."

• Fake Red Rooms: The concept of "red rooms" where users can watch live torture or murder is a myth. "The dank Web is just a meme. Yeah it has some sketchy stuff on there, but it's almost all just random bs like fake red rooms (real ones don't exist)."

Navigating the Dark Web

• Difficult Navigation: Unlike the surface web, the dark web is not easily navigable. Users often need to know specific links to access sites. "It’s not the same as surfing the normal web. You have to find links from people then keep them safe."

• No True Search Engines: Due to the nature of its addressing system, the dark web cannot have a true search engine. "Tor can't have a true search engine due to how addressing works."

Personal Safety and Risks

• Data Breaches: The dark web can be a place where personal information is sold, making it important to protect yourself. "I'm not sure how seeing 'TONS OF SSNS FOR SALE - 50 BTC!!!!' on a dark web forum will really help you."

• Risky Exploration: Exploring the dark web can be risky if you are not careful. "Yes. It's pretty damn safe if you don't download anything or look for fucked up shit."

For more discussions and information about the dark web, you might want to check out these subreddits:

• r/TOR

• r/AskReddit

• r/NoStupidQuestions