Sarthak Thakur

Oct 7, 20247 min read

The Dark Web Chronicles: Unravelling Its Origins and Evolution

Exploring the history of the dark web is like peeling an onion while wearing sunglasses—unexpected, a bit challenging, and sure to leave you questioning, “What exactly is the dark web?” or, more crucially, “Who created it?” Originally designed to safeguard government communications, this hidden layer of the internet quickly transformed beyond its initial purpose. The dark web’s veil of anonymity and encryption has turned it into a refuge for both whistleblowers and those resisting censorship, as well as a platform for less reputable activities like identity theft and darknet markets. It’s a realm where the Tor browser acts as the entry point, the influence of ARPANET persists, and the boundaries between privacy and peril become increasingly ambiguous.

Dark Web Timeline

1960s: Establishment of ARPANET

The concept of an anonymous online communication network, central to the dark web, dates back to the 1960s with the development of ARPANET.

ARPANET, or the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, was an experimental computer network developed in the 1960s that laid the groundwork for both the Internet and, later, the dark web.

The concept for ARPANET emerged from the need to share information over long distances without relying on phone connections between each computer. It evolved into a network structure that allowed devices to communicate more efficiently.

Initially designed for academic use, ARPANET quickly caught the attention of the military, particularly during the Cold War.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), part of the U.S. Defense Department, sought a decentralized communications system that could withstand attacks aimed at disrupting entire networks by targeting a central hub.

ARPANET Milestones in the 1970s

To achieve this, ARPA began funding ARPANET, intending to connect computers at Pentagon-funded research institutions through telephone lines.

Over the years, while ARPANET became more privatized, researchers at universities were still given the freedom to conduct innovative experiments, leading to notable events like the first illegal online transaction in the early 1970s.

Stanford students used their ARPANET accounts at the university's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory to conduct a marijuana sale with peers at MIT.

Despite these bold experiments, ARPANET maintained strong government ties, prompting its founders in 1983 to divide it into two parts: MILNET for military and defense use, and a civilian version that eventually became the Internet.

Both the dark web and ARPANET share a fundamental aim of secure communication, making the emergence of the dark web a natural progression just a few decades later.

1980s: Emergence of Data Havens

The Internet was launched to the public around 1983, rapidly gaining traction as global connectivity increased. This surge in Internet usage raised questions about data storage, leading to the development of "data havens."

Data havens operated like tax havens, allowing large volumes of data to be transferred to countries with lenient regulations, effectively shielding it from domestic government oversight. The rise of data havens highlighted growing concerns about online privacy, similar to those later expressed by dark web users.

1990s: Public Internet Launch and Growth of Illegal Music Streaming

The 1990s are often referred to as the era of the Internet boom and the Dot-Com Bubble. In August 1991, the Internet became publicly accessible, a ground breaking development that attracted millions of early users eager to explore its possibilities.

In the 1990s, CDs were the preferred method for consuming music, and the introduction of MP3 compression made it easy for people to illegally copy CDs.

Before long, illegally ripped music began circulating on forums and eventually found its way to a music-sharing platform called Napster. The rapid rise of Napster around the turn of the millennium underscored the growing appetite for online products, which were seen as easy and convenient to access.

As users recognized the Internet as a one-stop shop for virtually anything they desired, it was inevitable that more illegal transactions would emerge online.

Additionally, the 1990s saw the early development of Tor, a private browsing network that would later become a key gateway to the dark web.

2000: Introduction of Freenet

In 2000, Freenet was launched as free software allowing users to share files, browse, and publish "freesites" anonymously. While Freenet didn’t achieve the same level of popularity as Tor, it contributed to the increasing demand for anonymous Internet access.

It remains unclear whether Freenet's creators were influenced by Tor, but together with software called I2P, they laid the groundwork for greater access to anonymous browsing online.

2002: Launch of Tor

When discussing the history of the dark web, Tor is an essential topic, as it played a crucial role in establishing a space for it.

Released to the public in 2002, Tor is a private browsing network that transformed the Internet. By enabling users to browse freely and anonymously, its creators provided access to the darker aspects of the web.

While Tor's founders had positive intentions, they could not have anticipated the significant influence their invention would have on facilitating criminal activities.

The period from the 1960s to the 1990s underscored a growing demand for private Internet access free from government oversight, along with easy access to any desired content. Tor emerged as a solution to both of these needs.

Although its development began in the 1990s, Tor didn't contribute to the growth of the dark web until its official release in 2002.

In the 1990s, researchers David Goldschlag, Mike Reed, and Paul Syverson at the U.S. Naval Research Lab (NRL) started working on a method to route Internet traffic as anonymously as possible, driven by concerns over Internet security.

This security issue, partly a result of the Internet's novelty, raised fears about government surveillance and tracking. Goldschlag, Reed, and Syverson aimed to anonymize Internet traffic by routing it through multiple servers and encrypting it, a concept they called "onion routing."

When Tor was launched in 2002, it was intentionally made free and open-source to ensure easy access for users and to leverage a decentralized network for enhanced security.

As Tor gained traction, users began urging its creators to address censorship, enabling individuals in oppressive regimes to share their thoughts and access restricted websites freely.

This push led Tor's creators to develop methods for circumventing government firewalls, allowing users to access restricted content.

Despite their noble intentions—making the platform free and designed to combat censorship—Tor's complexity and technical nature limited its use primarily to tech-savvy individuals.

2009: Introduction of Bitcoin

Prior to the advent of cryptocurrency, completing illegal transactions on the dark web was challenging, as customers might be located far apart and neither party wanted to risk using credit cards or PayPal due to the paper trails they left.

Cryptocurrency, a form of digital currency that enables anonymous transactions, emerged as a solution to this ongoing issue. Although various cryptocurrencies had been in development since the 1990s, it was not until 2009 that one, called Bitcoin, gained traction.

Satoshi Nakamoto "mined" the first Bitcoin, marking the beginning of a revolution in online illegal transactions. Bitcoin addressed a key limitation of earlier cryptocurrencies by incorporating a unique accounting ledger that prevented users from duplicating funds.

2010: Arab Spring

While the dark web experienced a surge in illegal transactions during the 2010s, it also played a positive role in late 2010 during the Arab Spring.

The launch of the Tor browser made it more accessible for users and activists who needed it at that time. Tor not only safeguarded individuals' online identities but also enabled access to essential resources, social media, and restricted websites.

2013: Shutdown of Silk Road

In 2011, a blog affiliated with Gawker published an exposé on Silk Road, a dark web marketplace that made purchasing illegal drugs as simple as buying second-hand electronics. This exposé significantly increased traffic to Silk Road, rapidly boosting its sales.

Before long, the FBI took notice and initiated efforts to shut it down. In 2013, the FBI successfully conducted a sting operation, leading to the closure of Silk Road. This was a landmark operation, as Silk Road had attracted nearly a million users at its peak.

The popularity of Silk Road underscores the significant demand for illegal drugs during this period, as well as the increasing efforts by governments worldwide to combat the dark web.

2013: Snowden Whistleblowing

The need for tools to protect against mass surveillance gained mainstream attention in part due to the revelations by Edward Snowden in 2013. Tor played a crucial role in facilitating Snowden's whistleblowing by ensuring the security of his project, demonstrating the strength of Tor's protective measures.

The Snowden incident illustrated how Tor can serve a positive purpose, enabling important whistleblowing that may not have been possible on the public Internet.

2015: Shutdown of Playpen

Playpen, a prominent dark web site for sharing child pornography, attracted as many as 150,000 users at one point. Fortunately, it was shut down in 2015 through a coordinated sting operation involving the FBI and related agencies from other countries. Although the site is no longer operational, its previous popularity highlights the disturbing demand for illegal content on the dark web, regardless of its nature.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the evolution of the dark web reflects a complex interplay between the quest for privacy and the reality of illicit activities. From its origins with ARPANET in the 1960s to the advent of Tor and Bitcoin, each development has shaped the landscape of online anonymity and security. While the dark web provides a vital space for whistleblowers and those resisting censorship, it has also become a hub for criminal enterprises. Key events like the rise and fall of Silk Road and the impact of Edward Snowden’s revelations underscore the dual nature of this hidden internet layer. As we look ahead, the on going tug-of-war between the need for secure communication and the threat of misuse will continue to define the dark web, prompting further questions about its role in our increasingly digital society.