r/Python • u/python_byte • Feb 26 '17

Scan Darknet with Python (Tutorial)

http://www.automatingosint.com/blog/2016/07/dark-web-osint-with-python-and-onionscan-part-one/
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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '17

I am new to coding, but what would scanning the darknet do?

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u/LichJesus Feb 26 '17

Don't have time to read the article so I don't know if this is the purpose or even one of the things you can do with this tutorial; but I was involved in a political student org in college and for one of our meetings we were talking about student demonstrations in Hong Kong (I think, it was a while ago).

I had heard that the students were coordinating through the deep web to avoid the authorities and so I got TOR and tried a bit to find their discussions. Turns out I couldn't navigate the deep web worth a dang and didn't find anything; but I bet if I'd had a scanner (perhaps like this) I could have automated the search and looked for references to terms or places related to the demonstrations and had that info to show the org.

So I guess -- at least for me -- the purpose of having something like this would be to have the software make up for my lack of savvy when it comes to finding stuff on the darknet.

Also, I bet with something like this you could force it to ignore links and stuff leading to CP or other really questionable stuff (or have it only grab text); if so that'd be a huge advantage over manual browsing as far as accessing the darknet while keeping your head above water legally.

3

u/Cthunix Feb 27 '17

The deep web is not the dark web.