It’s that time of year again – spooky season! And if you’re someone who frequents the news, you’ve probably heard mention of something far spookier than ghosts and skeletons… the dark web.
Whenever a news outlet reports on the dark web, it’s always shrouded in mystery – with something evil lurking in every corner. It’s important we address these issues through proper channels rather than sensationalising the threat. In regards to an immediate threat to your business operations, this is a lot more hype than reality.
Great! Now, if you’re satisfied with that explanation, feel free to click off and read something else. But if you’re keen to nerd out a bit more – don those tin foil hats and lets talk networking protocols.
So, what really is the dark web?
Think of the dark web as Google’s emo younger brother. It’s basically just a bunch of websites that aren’t indexed by traditional search engines, meaning it’s hidden from the public eye. None of the websites on the dark web will show up when you search for them on Google or Bing, which is why it often carries that air of mystery. But despite what you may have heard, it’s not inherently evil – it’s just a part of the web that requires specific tools to access.
Enter the Tor protocol. Tor stands for “The Onion Router,” and much like an onion, it uses multiple layers of encryption to protect the identities of its users. When you use Tor to access the dark web, your traffic is routed through several ‘nodes’ or servers, each adding a layer of encryption. By jumping between at least three nodes, it becomes impossible for any single node to know both of two crucial pieces of information: who you are and where you’re trying to go.
The result? Anonymity.
But what if a node gets hijacked? How does TLS encryption work over three nodes? Can’t we just use a VPN? Well, if you’re nerdy enough to be asking these questions, you should probably apply for a job with us. If that doesn’t interest you – have a read through Robert Heaton’s write up on TOR. It’s a great write up! (And singlehandedly helped my pass my networking university course).
So yeah, it all sounds pretty high tech – but at the end of the day its just a tool. And like any tool, it can be used for good or bad purposes.
Now, what does this have to do with our web development services?
Great question! Here at Simple Pixels, we understand how important it is to have a secure, well-maintained website. The dark web might sound spooky, but the real threats come from vulnerabilities in your own site – outdated plugins, poor encryption, or just plain old negligence. That’s why we offer top-tier hosting and maintenance services to keep your site running smoothly and securely.
So, happy October! Stay safe out there, and if you want to keep your website secure, let us handle the tech so you can focus on what you do best – running your business.
