Created to allow the exchange of information in countries under dictatorship, the dark web has turned into the place where viruses and malware are created
It is the place chosen by hackers to exchange viruses and information on upcoming cyber attacks. But it’s also the place where hackers gather to develop new malware capable of knocking out entire infrastructures and companies (WannaCry and Petya are examples). This place has a specific name: dark web.
Most likely you have already heard of it and now you understand why it is called dark. We could define the dark web as the sick part of the Net, but we would make a mistake. The dark web doesn’t only host hackers and ill-intentioned people ready to take advantage of a virus in order to gain economical advantage. Inside it is also possible to find white hackers (good hackers, to be clear) who guard the dark web looking for new viruses in order to develop suitable countermeasures.
What is the dark web
To explain in simple words the dark web we must say that it is a part of the World Wide Web that can be accessed through browsers like Tor (it is a simplification, but at least it gives the idea). Thanks to its “obscure” nature the dark web protects the identity of those who become part of it. Initially it was not a place frequented by hackers and hackers. In fact far from it. The dark web was used by activists of countries under dictatorship to communicate with the outside world and to let out information about the nation where they lived. It was even used by the U.S. army to make undercover agents communicate with their superiors. It was only later that hackers started to frequent it and understand how they could use it for their trafficking.
The secret chats that infest the dark web
All the hacker attacks that have knocked out the defenses of companies and multinationals were born inside the dark web. More precisely in secret chats where hackers exchange information and help each other to develop new viruses. Ransomware, the ransomware virus that has been a nightmare for SMEs and users for a couple of years now, was born in these chats. But these are not the only dangers hidden on the dark web. It is also used by drug traffickers, people traffickers, those who steal personal information and bank account data. In short, the dark web has become the favorite place of criminals.
Organize to defend yourself
At this point the question arises: is it possible to keep under control those who use the dark web for illegal purposes? The answer is yes. Some programmers have developed a program that is able to read what hackers write inside chats in the dark web. The Structured Threat Information Expression (STIX) is one such program that allows computer security experts to have advance information about the release of new malware. This enables them to predict hackers’ moves and update companies’ security systems and antivirus software.