The internet is a vast and mysterious place, with many hidden corners that most people never see. Two of these corners are the deep web and the dark web. While they may sound similar, they are actually quite different.
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The Deep Web
The dark web is actually considered to be a small part of the deep web. It can only be accessed through special networks like Tor or via static IPs shared privately. However, the dark web is also used by individuals seeking online privacy or to bypass censorship in their home countries. Specialized browsers like Tor enable anonymous access to this part of the web. In general, the rules for accessing the deep web and the dark web safely are very similar to the best practices for accessing the surface web. However, you cannot simply browse to sites on the dark web—you have to take steps to ensure privacy first.
The deep web is the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines like Google. This means that you can’t find it by doing a simple search. The deep web includes things like academic journals, corporate intranets, and personal email accounts. It’s estimated that the deep web is about 500 times larger than the surface web (the part of the internet that you can access through a search engine).
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Who uses the deep web?
Approximately 90% of all websites are on the deep web, and many are used by entities such as corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits. What's known as the dark web exists within the deep web; it's an area of the internet that is only accessible by users who have a Tor browser installed.
Why is the Deep Web Important?
This can be due to them not being officially published online or because they don’t meet the criteria that web crawlers use for their indexing process. The anonymity offered by dark web forums and marketplaces emboldens hackers, fraudsters, and other digital threat actors to openly offer cyber attack services and sell stolen data. Some examples of things on the Deep Web include email, subscription content (like Netflix), online banking, databases, internal company networks, or even non-public social media pages. Generally any webpage or content that requires a login or custom tool to access will be considered part of the Deep Web. The dark web is infamous for criminal activity – illegal goods, stolen data being sold, or hacker services being hired.
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The deep web is important because it contains a lot of valuable information that is not available to the general public. For example, researchers can access academic journals and databases that are not available to the public. Businesses can use the deep web to communicate with employees and clients securely. And individuals can use the deep web to protect their privacy by keeping their personal information out of the public eye.
The Dark Web
Illegal cyber activity cannot necessarily be stumbled upon easily but tends to be much more extreme and threatening if you do seek it out. Before we unpack the dark web’s threats, let’s explore how and why users access these sites. The reputation of the dark web has often been linked to criminal intent or illegal content, and “trading” sites where users can purchase illicit goods or services. The Internet is sizable with millions of web pages, databases, and servers all run 24 hours a day. But the so-called “visible” Internet (aka surface web or open web) — sites that can be found using search engines like Google and Yahoo — is just the tip of the iceberg.
The dark web is a small part of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. The dark web is often associated with illegal activities like drug trafficking, weapons sales, and hacking. However, it’s important to note that not all activity on the dark web is illegal. There are also legitimate uses for the dark web, such as protecting political dissidents and whistleblowers.
- Organizations and institutions, such as government agencies, academic institutions, and corporations, often store sensitive information that is not meant for public consumption.
- Dark web sites are websites and webpages that cannot be accessed via regular browsers and web search engines.
- The bad news is twofold – revoking stolen certificates doesn’t stop malware immediately, and top antivirus products fail to detect malware signed with stolen certificates.
- This involves utilizing trusted software like Tor, employing virtual private networks (VPNs), updating security measures, and avoiding suspicious links and downloads.
How is the Dark Web Different from the Deep Web?
The main difference between the deep web and the dark web is that the deep web is not intentionally hidden, while the dark web is. The deep web is simply the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. The dark web, on the other hand, requires special software to access and is intentionally hidden from view. Additionally, the dark web is often associated with illegal activity, while the deep web is not.
Is the Dark Web Dangerous?
The dark web can be dangerous if you’re not careful. Because it’s intentionally hidden, it can be difficult to know who you’re dealing with or what you’re getting into. Additionally, because the dark web is often associated with illegal activity, there is a higher risk of running into scams, hackers, and other criminal elements. However, as long as you take precautions and use common sense, the dark web can be a valuable tool for protecting your privacy and accessing information that is not available on the surface web.
How much of the internet is the dark and deep web?
Some experts peg the size of the dark web at approximately 5% of all the content on the internet. It is easier to give an accurate estimate of the size of the deep web due to its public nature. More than 200,000 websites exist on the deep web.
How Do You Access the Dark Web?
To access the dark web, you’ll need to use special software like the Tor browser. The Tor browser allows you to access websites on the dark web by routing your internet connection through a series of servers, which helps to protect your privacy. However, it’s important to note that using the Tor browser does not make your activity on the dark web completely anonymous. You should still take precautions to protect your privacy, such as using a VPN and avoiding sensitive personal information.
FAQs
- What is the deep web? The deep web is the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines.
- What is the dark web? The dark web is a small part of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access.
- Is the deep web dangerous? No, the deep web is not dangerous. It simply contains information that is not available through search engines.
- Is the dark web dangerous? Yes, the dark web can be dangerous if you’re not careful. It’s important to take precautions to protect your privacy and avoid illegal activities.
- How do you access the deep web? You don’t need to do anything special to access the deep web. It’s simply the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines.
- How do you access the dark web? To access the dark web, you’ll need to use special software like the Tor browser.
In conclusion, the deep web and the dark web are two different parts of the internet. The deep web is the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines, while the dark web is a small part of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. While the deep web is not dangerous, the dark web can be, so it’s important to take precautions to protect your privacy and avoid illegal activities.
Who are the users of dark web?
- Stolen credit card numbers.
- Stolen personally identifiable information.
- Stolen subscription credentials to streaming sites such as Netflix.
- Illegal content such as child sexual abuse material.
- Counterfeit money.
- Hacked enterprise accounts.
