Unlike traditional websites, available to every internet user, the darknet requires a specific browser. The TOR browser is one of the most popular browsers people use to access the darknet. Content on the dark web is highly encrypted and mostly not indexed by conventional search engines like Google, Bing, etc. Not every internet user knows what the dark web is or what it is for. Even a few people who have heard a thing or two about it do not know how to access it.
In recent years, most cybercrimes in several parts of the world have taken place through the dark web. This is because the dark web is a ground for exchanging stolen data, an online marketplace for drugs, and other illegal activities. While the dark web is prominent for illicit activities, it also has a good side to it when used legitimately. This article will look at several dark web statistics that will amaze you!
Top Statistics
Overall Deep Darknet Statistics
1. 96% of the internet comprises the deep and dark web.
The deep web is the most significant part of the internet, while the darknet constitutes a small fraction, about 6%. This 6% is the darkest part of the web.
2. As of 2020, 57% of the dark web was illegal.
According to a 2020 report, more than half of the dark web is illegal. This is because of several cybercrime forums, extremist platforms, violent content, illicit marketplaces, and drugs on them. The ability of an individual to access platforms like this is limited. A person uses the darknet illegally if whatever they are sourcing will cause harm to the individual’s immediate environment, self, or other people.
3. Credit card details are available on the dark web.
As of April 2023, cybercriminals could buy the credit card details of an individual worth about $5,000 for just $110. Owners of these credit cards do not need to permit anyone before use, which is why the darknet is an illegal market.
4. Global cyberattacks went up 38% in 2022.
As to its 2021 record, cyberattacks increased by 38% globally in 2022. Fraud and fraudulent activities are rising for a while now, and the unstable economy is one of the reasons why people engage in cyber-criminal activities.
5. The Tor browser has the largest user base in Germany.
For some years, the United States had the highest number of Tor browser users until 2023, when Germany surprisingly took the top spot. Today, the United States is second with the most Tor browser users, followed by Finland, India, and Russia.
Deep web financial facts
6. Sales of drugs on the dark web generated about $600 million in 2017.
Globally, the dark web generated over 600 million in revenue from drug sales alone. The above statistics prove that the dark web’s financial authority through illegal activities and medicine sales contributes significantly to its success.
7. On average, A stolen credit card record is available for sale for $25 on the deep web.
The deep web is a contributing factor to a lot of credit card theft. This is because those involved in such will come on the dark web to sell it to whoever cares to have it. The rates at which these are available vary depending on the amount of funds in the card; on average, stolen credit cards cost at least $25.
8. Many use Bitcoin for money laundering on the deep web.
As of 2020, over $76 billion in bitcoin equivalent was laundered on the deep web. The use of Bitcoin for laundering indicates that people, especially crypto investors, should be more vigilant with their data. Scammers prefer to use crypto to carry out their illegal activities because the transaction process is untraceable.
9. More than half of the vendors on the deep web sell stolen financial information.
The deep web is not a safe place for businesses; criminals can steal one’s information when one tries to make a purchase. Over 60% of the vendors on the dark web are criminals who sell people’s financial credentials, primarily for a token.
Darknet and Deep Web Crime Statistics
10. Firearms and guns account for just 1% of Darknet listings.
Possession of firearms by individuals follows due process in most countries; this is to ensure the safety of unarmed individuals. The deep web, on the other hand, has made the possession of firearms accessible without proper documentation by legal authorities. Reports say about 1% of darknet listings are for guns and firearms. It is also worth noting that 84% of those products are pistols.
11. Social security numbers of 250,000 professionals were shared on the dark web in 2022.
The licensing database department was hacked earlier in 2022. The breach affected about a quarter million commercial license holders and professionals. The incident was unknown, at least until two people who had fallen victim came across their data on the dark web.
12. There are more orders for malware than what is available on the deep web.
The demand for malware comes with the rise in cybercrimes. Criminals look for several ways to get people’s private information, and due to this demand, they develop tools to improve the supply of malware on the web.
13. Many Fortune 500 companies’ credentials are on the dark web.
The amount of private credentials available on the dark web is immense. Companies are also victims of data leaks on the dark web. Reports say over 26 million business credentials on the dark web are those of Fortune 500 companies.
User statistics for Deep Darknet
14. India has the highest number of dark web users.
As one of the countries with a good knowledge of the internet, India accounts for a significant fraction of dark web users worldwide. This may not be a permanent feat because understanding the dark web continually spreads across other parts of the world with little to no knowledge.
15. Over 70% of dark web users are male.
Historically, men are more involved in criminal activities in the world, with women making up a smaller fraction.
16. South America and Australia have fewer dark web users.
Globally, deep or dark web knowledge is available to the few. A lot of internet users do not know how the dark web operates. As a result, some countries would have people who make little to no use of the dark web.
17. A fraction of dark web users are between 18 and 25.
According to reports, 35.9% of dark web users are between the ages of 18 and 25 years. The reason for this is the lack of control either by parents or guardians. The regulation of the internet is also a contributing factor.
18. The United States has the highest record of data breaches.
Globally, the United States outranks other countries in terms of data breaches, with each breach costing an average of $9.44 million.
DarkWeb Records Statistics
19. Darkweb recorded over 2.5 million visitors in 2023.
According to a 2023 report, the average number of visitors to the dark web was around 2.5 million. Later, in April 2023, the figures increased to 2.7 million daily visitors. The more people got to know about the dark web in the coming years, the more traffic was generated around it.
20. There were more records of cyberattacks during the pandemic.
During the global pandemic, many internet users resorted to the internet for activities they would have carried out onsite. The increase in internet traffic also gave rise to cybercriminals cloning widely visited sites and stealing the data of unsuspecting users. As a result, about 60% of internet users were more at risk of losing their data to cybercriminals.
21. As of 2018, the dark web recorded over 1,000 illegal marketplaces.
Illegal marketplaces always prevail on the dark web, which is a good ground for criminal activities. As such, the number of illicit marketplaces on the dark web will continually increase.
22. Hackers are available for hiring on the deep web.
The deep web is a marketplace for many illegal businesses. An individual can hire a hacker from the deep web to hack into a person’s social media account. Hackers on the deep web often charge around $65 to hack into a person’s Facebook account.
More Statistics
23. Almost all deep web browsers are accessible without a fee.
Internet users have access to over 95% of the deep web content without subscribing to a service or paying a dime.
24. Dark web scanning is less effective in preventing data leaks.
Dark web scanning is a service offered by eligible companies that helps people scan dark web content. They do this by scanning the dark web’s large databases, which contain people’s passwords, stolen usernames, social security numbers, and credit card numbers for sale on the web. If you suspect your data might have entered the dark web, experts recommend changing passwords and turning on multifactor solid authentication methods.
25. There are over 50,000 extremist groups on the deep web.
Crimes and terrorism are both against the law. Just as crimes are on the rise, terrorism as well has found its space in the dark world. In the late 1990s, terrorists began to use online platforms, but then it was the traditional web known as the surface web. After the Paris attack of 2015, terrorists saw the need for anonymity so they could remain untraceable. To achieve a high level of anonymity, they turned to the Dark web to hide themselves and protect their activities and contents from the government.
Conclusion
These darknet statistics give a sneak peek at how vast the dark web is, the damage caused by its activities, and the money it generates. The deep web is not particularly legal, but it can also be used for a good purpose. The importance of internet users being fully aware of what they do online cannot be overemphasized. Every internet user should be able to protect themselves from common cyber-attacks, which might come in various forms.
FAQs
The first form of the dark net was created in 2000 when an Irish student named Ian Clarke invented and launched Freenet. The Freenet platform allowed users to communicate anonymously through a decentralized network.
The dark web has no regulations or regulatory agency. Rather, it is run by a wide network of people all over the world. These people are primarily volunteers who operate proxy servers to direct dark web requests. There are thousands of volunteers running the dark web.
It is recorded that 90% of the internet comprises the deep web. That is not so for the dark net, which accounts for less than 0.1% of the deep web.
The amount of data on the dark web is estimated to be over 75,000 terabytes.
The most common crime on the dark web is the sale of illegal drugs. Other crimes often committed on the dark web include counterfeit currency and financial fraud.
