Ongoing criminal activities in cyberspace: From the protection of minors to the Deep Web

Abstract

New technologies have changed our lives signi!cantly. "ey have brought a new way of communication, greater accessibility plus many other bene!ts, but unfortunately, also misuse of the web, inappropriate online behaviour, greater control and supervision, as well as various addictions. Above all, adolescents quickly explore the various possibilities of the use (and abuse) of new technologies, unaware of all the implications brought about by inappropriate behaviour on the Internet and its misuse. In our article, we focus on the means to protect children and adolescents from inappropriate behaviour online, because anyone (and everyone) can easily access unsuitable content and contacts. We explore those o#ences committed via the Internet, which occur most frequently in Slovenia. People are unaware that as soon as they connect to the Internet, they disclose their identity. For those who wish to remain anonymous, there is a much more extensive anonymous Web, the so-called Deep Web. "e main purpose of these (anonymous) web sites is to hold information not intended for the general public, o&en being used for online criminal activity involving drug markets, !nancial fraud, illegal weapons, espionage, sexual abuse of minors, inter alia. We explore the reality of the infamous Deep Web, how it works, which part of the Deep Web presents a Darknet, and why it is so untouchable, as even forensic research in this area has not been successful due to its complexity and endlessness.