| Date | November 2020 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 20N.2.SL.TZ0.9 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Distinguish | Question number | 9 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The World Wide Web can be divided into three categories: the surface web, the dark web and the deep web.
The dark web is only accessible by using specialist software, such as TOR and I2P. Many users of the dark web use it to protect their anonymity.
Many users of the dark web use peer-2-peer (P2P) networks for activities like torrent streaming. This opens up ports on the computer to upload and download data.
Distinguish between the surface web and the deep web.
Explain how a user’s anonymity can be maintained while accessing the dark web.
Explain why users have concerns about opening up ports to upload and download data.
The founders of the World Wide Web intended it to be a decentralized and democratic environment.
To what extent have the aspirations of the founders of the World Wide Web been met?
Markscheme
Award [2 max].
The surface web is the part of the web that can be reached by a search engine whereas the deep web cannot;
The deep web may consist of dynamic content such as the result of database queries or may be protected proprietary content;
Award [3 max].
The dark web uses a layered encryption system;
Data is routed through a large number of intermediate servers;
Which means it is almost impossible to decrypt the information layer by layer;
With the result that the user’s details are practically untraceable, and their anonymity can be maintained;
Award [3 max].
A port is used to facilitate the communication between a computer and an application;
Certain ports such as Port 21 (FTP), 23 (Telnet) and 80 (HTTP) are reserved;
Every time a port is opened on a computer it provides access to that computer;
This means that the security of that computer may be potentially compromised every time a new port is opened;
Or port conflicts may occur when more than one application tries to use a specified port;
Award [6 max].
World Wide Web has enabled citizens to communicate easily and for ‘ordinary’ citizens to express their opinions;
Therefore, the ability to publish is not confined to certain ‘privileged’ groups such as broadcasters and journalists;
The World Wide Web has to a large degree given access to common resources to all citizens globally who have access to the Internet;
However, it can be argued that the evolution of the World Wide Web has led to a greater centralization of power, for example the digital oligarchs (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook);
This centralization has led to a reduction in democracy as the digital oligarchs have an increasing stranglehold over the lives of their ‘digital subjects’ through the aggregation, analysis and monetarization of their data;
There are still issues with a lack of digital democracy, for example, many citizens may not have access to the World Wide Web, either through income, geography or necessary skills;
Examiners report
Dark web and deep web are clearly concepts that engage the interest of our students. Search engines were correctly brought into the answers to part (a) whilst various ruses, some of which were correct, were present in the answers to part (b).
Being an "explain" question the answers required knowledge of "how" or "why". Not that many explained the importance of the translation feature of a browser.
Most students identified the dangers of opening these ports to potential hackers with the consequent dangers.
In a 6-mark discussion question, the examiner will look for six different ideas that are both relevant to the question and reasonably well-explained. Students need to bear this in mind when planning the way in which they are going to answer. Short phrases or bullet points are not appropriate.
