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My contributions can be found at: Dark web, Dissident, https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Даркнет_маркет

The Internet is sometimes compared to an iceberg, where the visible part represents only a smaller fraction of its entirety. In the case of the Internet, the visible part that is comprised of websites, which are indexed by search engines, accounts only for 20 percent, while another 80 percent are hidden in the Deep Web. Despite the fact that the Darknet and the Deep Web are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a distinction between the two.[1] While the Deep Web includes all of the password protected and paywall protected websites, the Darknet comprises of sites that can only be accessed with software that supports layered encryption.[2][3] The term “Darknet” gained its popularity after it was mentioned in the paper ‘The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution’ published by Microsoft researchers, who investigated the future of content sharing under the influence of increasing popularity of peer-to-peer networks. [4]

Search engines cannot locate Darknet websites, so users can only access the sites by entering their exact addresses. Darknet websites are accessible only through networks such as Tor ("The Onion Router”) and I2P (“Invisible Internet Project”).[5] Tor browser and Tor-accessible sites are widely used among the Darknet users and can be identified by the domain “.onion”. [6] While Tor focuses on providing anonymous access to the Internet, I2P specializes on allowing anonymous hosting of websites.[7] Identities and locations of Darknet users stay anonymous and cannot be tracked due to the layered encryption system. The Darknet encryption technology routes users’ data through a large number of intermediate servers, which protects the users’ identity and guarantees anonymity. The transmitted information can be decrypted only by a subsequent node in the scheme, which leads to the exit node. The complicated system makes it almost impossible to reproduce the node path and decrypt the information layer by layer. [8] Due to the high level of encryption, websites are not able to track geolocation and IP of their users as well as the users are not able to get this information about the host. Thus, communication between Darknet users is highly encrypted allowing users to talk, blog, and share files confidentially. [1]

The technology of the Darknet allows its users to keep their privacy, which can be used for different purposes. Political dissidents, people who seek privacy, and domestic violence victims use the Darknet in order to keep their identity anonymous and safety ensured. [9]The Darknet is also widely used for illegal activity such as illegal trade, forums, and media exchange for pedophiles and terrorists. [10] One of the most prominent examples of the illegal trade on the Darknet was Silk Road marketplace, where shoppers were able find fake documents, guns, illegal drugs, and even hitman services. The founder of the Silk Road, Dread Pirate Roberts, mentioned that he was guided by libertarian views and every transaction made on the site is a victory against the system.[11]

At the same time, some of the traditional websites create alternative accessibility for the Tor browser in efforts to connect with their users. Such that ProPublica newspaper launched a new version of its website available for Tor users.[3]

Origins

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In 1981 David Chaum, a mathematician at UC Berkeley proposed to hide address fields of the websites in layers of encrypted envelopes through different computers in order to avoid traffic analysis. Later, his idea was implemented by Tor, the Darknet browser, which encrypts data by adding encryption layers. [12] The Darknet was originally developed by the Naval Research Lab with the purpose of creating a secure network that could be used by government agencies. Most of the Darknet funding is provided by the Department of Defense and the State Department.[10]

In 2013, Tor received $1.8 million in federal support.[13] Other current Tor sponsors include Individuals who use Tor Google Summer of Code (2007-2014 and 2016) Radio Free Asia (2012-2016) National Science Foundation joint with Princeton University (2012-2016) National Science Foundation via University of Minnesota (2013-2017) National Science Foundation joint with Georgetown (2015-2018) Fastly (2016) SRI International (2011-2016) US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (2013-2016) An anonymous North American ISP (2009-present) [14]

Access to the Darknet

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It is fairly simple to access the Darknet. A first time user must install the Tor browser and choose between two options: simple connection or network setting configurations. Users who only wish to join a blocked website should simply select “connect." If a user is looking for anonymity, then they need to configure settings.[15]

While Tor operates similarly to regular browsers, it is generally more complicated; in particular, browsing speed is decreased because of the encryption protocols Tor uses to send data between a user and a website.

Concerns over the Darknet

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Some governments are concerned over the widespread of the Darknet because they are not able to decrypt potentially dangerous information transmitted through the highly encrypted network. The Great Firewall of China, which was implemented in order to block circumvention proxies such as SoftEther and GoAgent, currently blocks Tor as well. [16] In February 2015, Safe Internet League in Russia supported the initiative of the deputy, Leonid Levin, to implement a tool that blocks all of the anonymous networks including the Darknet. According to the executive director of the League, Denis Davydov, anonymous networks are primarily used to commit crimes.[17]

In addition to governments, marketers have concerns over the Darknet. Since Tor users do not leave a data trail such as a record of websites visited and time spent on each webpage, it becomes increasingly challenging for marketers to collect information about their customers. [3]

Anonymity provided by the Darknet opened new opportunities for drug sellers and buyers, which resulted in the emergence of cryptomarkets such as Silk Road. Easy accessibility of drugs raises concerns of public, while some researchers argue that illegal substances found online are indeed safer than actual black markets. [18]

Dissidents and New Technologies

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People who want to challenge existing regimes and voice their opinion on a political situation oftentimes face tremendous risks. Therefore, these kind of people act as pioneers in establishing and implementing new technologies that help them to protect their privacy. Being able to stay fully anonymous on the Internet is crucial for security and a life of dissidents, so they are always looking for new ways to improve these technologies. One of the latest tools that is being widely used by dissidents today is the Darknet browser Tor. [19][20]

Nima Fatemi was one of the first Darknet adopters among dissidents. Due to the risk of being detected, Fatemi started using Tor to anonymously upload photos and news of the current situation in Iran. Anonymity provided by Tor, enabled Fatemi to share realistic pictures of what was happening in his country with the rest of the world. Moreover, Fatemi provided workshops in order to teach other Iranian dissidents how to both use Tor and spread their network. [10]

Tor was widely used by protestors on Mubarak regime in Egypt in 2011. Darknet allowed dissidents to communicate anonymously and securely, while sharing sensitive information. Also, Syrian rebels widely used Tor in order to share with the world all of the horrors that they witnessed in their country. [8] Moreover, government dissidents in Lebanon, Mauritania, as well as Arab Spring nations widely used the Darknet in order to stay safe while exchanging their ideas and agendas.[21]

Даркнет маркет (Darknet Market - new article in Ukrainian)

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Даркнет маркет - це онлайн магазин, який знаходиться у прихованій мережі даркнет, у яку можна зайти за допомогою даркнет браузерів TOR або I2P. Даркнет маркет відрізняється від звичайних онлан магазинів тим, що його користувачі мають можливість зберігати свою анонімність. Переважна більшість товарів які можна знайти у даркнет маркеті - це нелегальні товари такі як наркотики, зброя, підроблені документи, крадені кредитні картки. Задля забеспечення анонімності, користувачі переважно здійснюють оплату за допомогою електронної валюти біткоін.[10]

Історія

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Перші спроби продажу нелегальних товарів були здоблені на початку 1970х між студентами Стенфордського університету та Массачусетського Технологічного інституту, які за допомогою ARPANET продавали марихуану.[22] У кінці 80х, борці за громадянські права відкрили сайт alt.drugs, де відвідувачі могли ділитися рецептами приготування наркотичних речовин. Хоча користувачі не могли прадбати наркотики безпосередньо на сайті, продажі проходили приватно за сприянням адміністраціі сайту. Після аресту адміністратора сайту, alt.drugs перестав своє існування і на його змину прийшов новий сайт Hive (з англ. “Вулик”), де так само користувачі могли отримати всю інформацію про виготовлення наркотичних речовин у домашніх умовах. З розвитком інтернету, утримувати сайти такого роду стало небезпечно для їх адміністрації і форуми про наркотичні речовини перейшли у даркнет, де відвідувачі і адміністатори можуть утримувати свою анонімність.[23]

Сучасні Даркнет Маркети

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Silk Road (“Шовковий шлях” з англ.) був найпершим онлайн магазином розташованим у даркнеті, який можна було відкрити за допомогою браузера Tor, а оплату можна було проводити за допомогою біткоін. Завдяки браузеру Tor і валюті біткоін користувачі сайту могли зберігати свою анонімність і не боятись бути знайденими правоохоронними органами. Сайт був заснований Россом Ульбріхтом у 2011 році, який ховався під іменем Dread Pirate Roberts. Сайт функціонував до 2013, поки Ульбріхт не був ув’язнений у бібліотеці біля його дому у Сан Франциско.[24] За два роки існування, на сайті було проведено більше мільйона транзакцій вартістю $1.2 мільярди доходів. Переважна більшість користувачів була з США та Великобританії.[25] Silk Road функціонував за схожою схемою як і інші інтернет магазини, де користувачі мали змогу залишити свої відгуки про продавців. Задля забезпечення гарантії що клієнти отримають свій товар, а продавці отримають оплату, сайт користувався системою ескроу утримуючи кошти клієнта до момента доставки.[26]

Незабаром після закриття Silk Road, у листопаді 2013 року відкрилась друга частина сайту під назвою Silk Road 2.0.[27] Сайт функціонував за схожою схемою як і його попередник, приносячи поняд $8 мільйонів прибутку щомісячно. Через рік, у листопаді 2013 року Блейк Бентал, власник оновленої версії “Шовкового Шляху”, був заарештований, а сайт було закрито ФБР.[28]

З 2011 по 2014 рік, потужність і кількість криптомаркетів значно збільшилась, нараховуючи більше 5000 унікальних продавців, які оперували на п”яти найбільших даркнет маркетах. Переважна більшість товарів представлених на криптомаркетах - це різноманітні наркотичні речовини, але траплялися випадки продажу отрути та зброї; [29]переважна більшість продавців знаходяться у США, Великобританії, Австралії та Китаї.[30]

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  10. ^ a b c d "The Dark Net. Rolling Stone, 0035791X, 11/5/2015, Issue 1247". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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