EXPLAINER: What is the dark web?

The term "dark web" suddenly rang a bell among the public after it was linked to the recent shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

The dark web is often associated with anonymity and illegal activity, according to computer company HP.

"The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by standard search engines and requires specialized software or networks to access. It is designed to provide greater anonymity for users and website operators," the company said.

The Philippines' Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), likewise, explained that the dark web requires not just special software but also access to access it.

"These are the websites na wala sa mga browsers natin. Kailangan natin mag-access nito through some other forms of applications or systems, para ma-access natin ito," CICC executive director and Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

(These are the websites that aren't available on our standard browsers. We need to access this through some other forms of applications or systems to get in.)

"Kung saan naman mga iba't-ibang mga impormasyon, whether nag-uusap 'yung mga nasa hacking community, the illegal sales of illegal firearms, 'yung mga community na ayaw magpakilala or nagtatago, nandito sa forums na ito," he said.

(In these forums, you can find various kinds of information, whether it's people in the hacking community talking, the sale of illegal firearms, or communities that want to remain anonymous or hide.)

In fact, the CICC said that it may take years before you can access the dark web.

"'Yung mga forums inside the dark web, mahirap i-penetrate ng mga ito...The intelligence work that needs to go behind it, because it takes years before you get credentials para pagkatiwalaan ka to be let inside these forum or communities," said Paraiso.

(The forums inside the dark web are difficult to penetrate... The intelligence work that needs to go behind it, because it takes years before you get credentials so that they will trust you enough to let you inside these forums or communities.)

Paraiso also said the term is really just "dark web" as the "deep" in the phrase "deep dark web" is just an adjective.

"Actually adjective lang ang 'deep' diyan pero ang tawag natin diyan is 'dark web,'" he said.

According to HP, the websites that are publicly available are part of the surface web. These includes the social media pages, news websites, among others.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier said that the shooter at Banga National High School was heavily into the deep dark web. Three died, including the shooter, in the incident.

The police, on the other hand, said that the shooter was into online activities "showing violent activities."

The CICC advised parents to look after their children's online activities.

"You better think again na parang anyone is being targeted right now. Kapag naging distant na 'yung mga anak niyo or medyo irritable na dahil may kausap silang iba, ibig sabihin napalitan na kayo bilang magulang," said Paraiso.

(You better think again, as anyone can be targeted right now. When your children become distant or somewhat irritable because they are talking to someone else, it means you have already been replaced as a parent.)

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Saturday advised parents to check on what their children are looking up on social media, and what websites they visit.

"Tingnan ninyo. It is not a privacy issue. Anak n'yo 'yan... Nalulublob sila sa malalalim at madidilim na websites," Remulla said.

(Look at those. It is not a privacy issue. That is your child... They are being drawn to deep and dark websites.) —KG, GMA News