In this article, we‘ll take a look at a few fascinating dark web statistics and facts for 2022 and see how fascinating yet grim this place can truly be. So, if that sounds interesting to you, let‘s get started!
The Top 10 Dark Web Statistics and Facts
- The deep web makes up roughly 90% of the world wide web.
- The dark web makes up only a tiny fraction of the total size of the Deep Web.
- Tor counts a whopping two million active users in 2022.
- Some popular dark web services include hacking into Facebook and bank accounts.
- The Hidden Wiki is one of the most popular ways of navigating through the dark web.
- Most Tor users tend to be highly educated.
- The dark web itself isn‘t illegal.
- Demand for malware on the dark web has increased exponentially.
- Weapons and illegal substances dominate the dark web markets.
- Only a small fraction of daily users use Tor for malicious purposes.
Dark Web Stats
People often consider the Deep Web the same as the dark web, but that‘s not the case. The dark web is only a fraction of a much bigger realm called the Deep Web.
Let‘s dive into the most gripping stats and facts about it and discover all the relevant details.
1. Tor is the most popular dark web browser today.
(Source: Tor Project)
This browser, which managed to maintain its popularity for years, provides anonymity to its users, along with multi-layer encryption to ensure the safest possible venture across the Deep Web. However, it‘s important to note that these processes may slow down the browser.
2. Tor counts a whopping two million active users in 2022.
(Source: Tor Project)
According to the publicly available data on Tor‘s website, the number of active Tor users has been more or less steady since the beginning of the year, never dropping under two million.
3. The US was the country with the highest number of Dark Web users in 2020.
(Source: LinkedIn)
According to dark web statistics, the US accounted for 34.81% of the Dark Web daily user count. This translates to 831,911 users. Russia took second place with 11.46%, and Germany ranked third with 7.16% of total active users.
4. According to a survey, most Tor users use onion services for anonymity.
(Source: Arxiv)
As many as 70.79% of 2018 survey respondents claimed to use Tor for anonymity. Furthermore, 62.28% said they used it for additional security, while 27.07% used it out of curiosity about the dark web.
5. Only a small fraction of daily users use Tor for malicious purposes.
(Source: PNAS)
According to dark web stats, only approximately 6.7% of global users use Tor for illicit activities such as sharing malware, distributing child abuse content, or selling illegal substances or weapons.
Furthermore, it appears there are more users potentially engaging in illegal activities on Tor in the so-called “free“ (about 7.8%) and “partially free“ countries than in those with “not free“ regimes (4.8%).
6. According to 2018 research, most Tor users are highly educated.
(Source: Arxiv)
As many as 58.8% of Tor users had a postgraduate degree. Right below were graduates and high school graduates, each comprising 17.7% of interviewed users. Only 5.9% of this dark web browser had no degree.
7. The dark web users are predominantly male.
(Source: Arxiv)
A 2018 online survey showed that around 84.7% of dark web users are male. The female population made up only about 9.4% of the total number of users.
8. According to an online survey, 58.8% (10 out of 17) of dark web users are 26–35 years old.
(Source: Arxiv)
As many as 23.5% (four interview subjects) were 36–45 years old, 11.8% (two subjects) were 18–25 years old, and 5.9% (only one subject) were 46–55 years old.
9. According to a 2018 survey, under 8% of Tor users are somewhat concerned about potential attacks on their own onion services.
(Source: Arxiv)
The attacks in question include deanonymization, denial of service, and phishing.
10. One of the most prominent reasons for the expansion of the dark web marketplace is the fact that funds flow through anonymity-preserving cryptocurrencies.
(Source: Forbes)
The dark web market has grown a lot in the past decade. According to some dark web statistics, the amount of bitcoin transactions on the dark web market has increased by approximately $622 million (from $250 million in 2012 to $872 million) with no signs of stopping the upward trend.
Additionally, though there are many cryptocurrencies out there today that you can use to trade anonymously on the dark web, Bitcoin seems to remain the primary choice for many users.
Deep vs Dark Web Facts
The Deep Web is colossal. There are approximately 7,500 TB of information contained within that realm, as opposed to about 550 TB of data on the surface Web.
The dark web is just another fraction of this vast digital space. Dark web content is often quite well-hidden and encrypted, making websites on this side of the Deep Web more challenging to find and even more to explore.
11. The deep web makes up over 90% of the total internet space.
(Source: Kaspersky)
It‘s a much larger digital entity than the surface web, where all the services like Google, YouTube, Facebook, or news outlets are available. In fact, this area of the internet is so vast that we can‘t really know for sure how many websites there are in total.
12. The dark web is only a small fraction of the Deep Web.
(Source: Britannica)
The dark web percentage in the total space of the Deep Web is approximately 0.01%. Furthermore, many Dark Web pages are believed to be either inactive or a scam even out of that small number.
13. The dark web itself isn‘t illegal.
(Source: Norton)
There are many sites on the dark web that violate no laws. But, there‘s no denying that there are also many pages with illicit content (e.g., child p*rnography, selling illegal drugs and weapons), and engaging with them would be illegal.
14. The Hidden Wiki is one of the most popular search engines for the deep and the dark web in 2022.
(Source: DarknetOne)
The dark web browser of choice for most users is Tor. Still, there are other dark web search engines that recently gained popularity among darknet users, including The Hidden Wiki, Ahmia, DarkSearch, Haystack, and Torch.
15. Bitcoin is the main currency on the deep and dark web is Bitcoin.
(Source: OnlineMBA.com)
Bitcoin‘s primary benefits include decentralization, anonymity, and leaving no traces. These characteristics make it perfect for deep and dark web transactions. But Bitcoin isn‘t the only currency used on the dark web.
According to some sources, up to 12 other cryptocurrencies are also valid for transactions on the dark web.
Dark Web Content
The theories and stories about what you could find on the dark web are very well-known on the surface web. The dark web tends to be portrayed as a place notorious for its gruesome and highly illegal explicit activities. But how much of that is the truth?
16. Some of the most popular dark web services include hacking into Facebook and bank accounts.
(Source: Avast)
Black hat hackers allegedly offer Facebook account hacking for as little as $65 and sell stolen bank logins with a minimum balance of $2,000 for $120.
You can also order a DDoS attack on an unprotected website for a desired amount of time, for the appropriate price, depending on the chosen time frame. The prices for the attack range from $15 for an hour to $1,000 for a month.
17. Demand for malware on the dark web has increased exponentially.
(Source: DIGIT)
The dark web is undoubtedly the most notorious place for both buying and unintentionally acquiring malware. Dark web stats from 2018 showed a drastic increase in interest in custom malware, and malicious hackers are happy to meet the demand.
Malware programs are a standard weapon used in cyber attacks. Many different types of malware can be created, including PC viruses and those that target Android devices specifically.
18. Weapons and illegal substances are some of the most popular categories on the dark web marketplaces.
(Source: RAND / UNODC / Vice)
According to statistics, firearms accounted for a whopping 42% of listings on the dark web at one point.
On the other hand, illegal drugs made up a whopping 62% of active listings on darknet marketplaces in 2017, proving that the illegal drug market was still very much alive despite the “Silk Road“ termination in 2013.
19. Most illegal firearm sellers on the dark web (about 60%) are located in the US.
(Source: RAND)
The sellers from European countries follow with about 25%, while the location of 12% of sellers is unspecified.
20. According to dark web statistics, malware, “phishing,“ and data leaks are the most common ways fraudsters use to get financial data.
(Source: Equifax)
“Phishing“ is a practice of tricking internet users into revealing sensitive data by creating an identical copy of a website of a reputable company or sending a fraudulent email enticing the user to reveal their credit card information.
Data leaks involve hacking into websites or companies with large databases of credit card details.
Professional black hat hackers also use different types of malware (e.g., Trojans, etc.) to get financial data, as they‘re easy to create and deploy.
21. There was a record-breaking number of ransomware attacks in 2021.
(Source: MSSP Alert)
One of the well-known dark web facts is that that place abounds with hackers unhesitant to create and release ransomware and orchestrate various attacks, jeopardizing the jeopardizing the cybersecurity of many. Ransomware had a massive spike in popularity in 2021 and not in a good way.
Just in Q3 of that year, there were over 190.4 million attempted ransomware attacks — nearly equaling the total number of ransomware attacks in the first three quarters of 2020 combined.
Conclusion
The darknet is vast, consisting of thousands of terabytes of data, with more content being uploaded every second. So, it‘s essential to have some prior knowledge about it before starting to wander its mazes. That way, you‘ll be able to do so safely.
We hope you enjoyed reading our dark web statistics and that you learned something new. Happy browsing, and stay safe online!
As someone deeply immersed in the realm of cybersecurity and digital landscapes, I find the topic of the dark web particularly intriguing. My expertise extends to various facets of the digital underworld, ranging from the technologies that power it to the behavioral patterns of its denizens. Allow me to provide an in-depth analysis of the concepts and statistics covered in the article you've shared.
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Tor Browser and Anonymity:
- Tor, as the preferred browser for the dark web, employs multi-layer encryption to ensure user anonymity. However, it's crucial to note that these security measures may lead to a slowdown in browser performance.
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Tor Userbase:
- The Tor network boasts a substantial user base, with over two million active users in 2022. This consistency indicates the enduring popularity of Tor for those seeking anonymity.
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Global Dark Web Users:
- The United States holds the lead in terms of the number of dark web users, accounting for 34.81% of daily users. Russia and Germany follow, with 11.46% and 7.16%, respectively.
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Motivations for Using Tor:
- A majority of Tor users, approximately 70.79%, employ the network for anonymity. Others use it for additional security (62.28%) and out of curiosity about the dark web (27.07%).
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Legal Status of Dark Web:
- Contrary to common belief, the dark web itself is not illegal. While many legal sites exist, engaging with illicit content, such as child p*rnography or illegal trade, is against the law.
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Education Levels of Tor Users:
- Notably, 58.8% of Tor users possess a postgraduate degree, highlighting a higher level of education among dark web users.
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Demographics:
- The dark web userbase is predominantly male, comprising 84.7%. The age group of 26–35 years constitutes the majority, with 58.8% of users falling within this range.
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Concerns about Security:
- A 2018 survey reveals that less than 8% of Tor users express concerns about potential attacks on their onion services, including deanonymization, denial of service, and phishing.
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Dark Web Marketplace Expansion:
- Anonymity-preserving cryptocurrencies, primarily Bitcoin, fuel the growth of dark web markets. Bitcoin transactions on the dark web have seen a substantial increase, reaching approximately $872 million.
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Deep vs. Dark Web:
- The deep web encompasses about 90% of the total internet space, with approximately 7,500 TB of information. In contrast, the dark web represents a minute fraction, constituting around 0.01% of the deep web.
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Dark Web Content and Services:
- Services offered on the dark web include hacking into Facebook and bank accounts, with prices for such activities ranging from $65 for Facebook hacking to $1,000 for a month-long DDoS attack.
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Malware Demand:
- Demand for malware on the dark web has surged, with cybercriminals catering to the need for custom malware. Malicious software, including PC viruses and those targeting specific devices, is prevalent.
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Illegal Trade on the Dark Web:
- Firearms and illegal substances dominate dark web marketplaces, accounting for 42% and 62% of listings, respectively. The United States is a significant location for illegal firearm sellers on the dark web.
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Cyber Attacks:
- Ransomware attacks on the dark web have reached unprecedented levels, with over 190.4 million attempted attacks in Q3 of 2021 alone.
In conclusion, the dark web is a complex ecosystem with a diverse user base and a myriad of activities, legal and illegal. Understanding its dynamics is crucial for navigating the digital landscape safely. The provided statistics shed light on the scale, demographics, and prevalent activities within the dark web, emphasizing the need for cybersecurity awareness in today's digital age.
