The dark web is a mysterious and often misunderstood part of the internet. Here are some of the most surprising facts about it, based on insights from Redditors:

General Facts About the Dark Web

• AWS and Internet Infrastructure: Amazon not only runs an online shop but also owns a significant portion of the cloud and physical internet infrastructure. "Most people think Amazon is just an online shop operated by minimum wage workers. Amazon also owns a bunch of the Cloud and physical Internet infrastructure, and that's a massive part of its revenue."

• Fragile Physical Backbone: The internet's physical backbone, especially undersea fiber-optic cables, is surprisingly fragile and vulnerable to disruptions. "Undersea fiber-optic cables carry over 95% of international data, linking continents through a few strategic routes."

• Deep Web vs. Dark Web: The deep web includes any content not indexed by search engines, while the dark web requires special software like Tor to access. "The deep web contains all sites that aren't indexed, making up the vast majority of the internets content such as email or online banking."

Exploring the Dark Web

• Safety and Risks: Exploring the dark web can be risky due to potential hacking and surveillance. "You could get hacked at any time, and if you're the average user, you're easily being spied."

• Navigating the Dark Web: Unlike the surface web, navigating the dark web requires specific links and knowledge. "It’s not the same as surfing the normal web. You have to find links from people then keep them safe."

• Hidden Services: The dark web has various hidden services, including marketplaces for illegal goods. "From what I've seen it's mostly websites that sell stuff like drugs and stuff like fake IDs."

Surprising Content

• Unusual and Disturbing Content: The dark web can host some very unusual and disturbing content. "I've seen a video of a man performing brain surgery on a dog without anesthesia."

• People for Sale: There are even instances of people being sold on the dark web. "People for sale."

• Conspiracy Theories: The dark web is also a hub for various conspiracy theories. "His argument is that women have different bone structures than men and that this proves 1000% that these are men because of their money."

Positive Uses of the Dark Web

• Communication in Oppressive Countries: The dark web can be used to communicate freely in oppressive countries. "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."

• Journalism and Activism: Journalists and activists use the dark web to evade surveillance. "It's a means for journalists and others to be able to communicate in nations where internet is heavily locked down."

Misconceptions

• Overestimated Dangers: Some believe the dangers of the dark web are over exaggerated. "The dark net has been very over exaggerated by urban legends and things like that over the years."

• Fake Hitmen and Red Rooms: Many rumors about hitmen and red rooms on the dark web are false. "The hitmen are almost always fake, a Honeypot to set you up by police or just a guy who will take your money."

For more discussions and information about the dark web, consider visiting these subreddits:

• r/TOR

• r/onions

• r/AskReddit