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When you access a Dark Web site through software like the Tor network, your traffic is re-routed through several layers across a network of other computers to make it harder to trace it back to you. Although you can’t use just any browser, all that’s needed is downloading and installing a special browser like Tor. Users of the Dark Web will often use a VPN to hide their identity and location further, but accessing the Dark Web is not required. We’re all familiar with what’s called the surface Web, which are all the sites that you find when Googling for information. But then you hear terms like ‘Dark Web,’ ‘Deep Web,’ and even ‘Gray Web’. It’s important to know how each of these terms differs, so you know where to look for threats and protect your organization.
Who created the dark web?
The dark web is known to have begun in 2000 with the release of Freenet, the thesis project of University of Edinburgh student Ian Clarke, who set out to create a "Distributed Decentralised Information Storage and Retrieval System." Clarke aimed to create a new way to anonymously communicate and share files online.
The internet is a vast and mysterious place, full of secrets and hidden corners. Two of the most commonly misunderstood parts of the internet are the deep web and the dark web. While they may sound similar, they are actually quite different from one another.
What Are The Risks Of Using The Dark Web?
This ensures they don’t stumble on things that may be harmful or dangerous. As the internet becomes more intertwined with our lives, it can also become more dangerous. Protections like GoGuardian monitoring and web filtering software are the solution. It’s also a great tool in hostile countries where freedom of speech isn’t possible. Citizens in these countries will use it to speak freely, without fear of their government. There are also great resources on cryptocurrency and encryption on the dark web.
The Hidden Web, also known as the Obscure Web, skirts the regular detection of mainstream search engines like Bing or Google. Internal pages of protected sites, encrypted networks, and secret databases stay unseen within this web’s vastness. In summary, both the Hidden Web and the Dark Web denotes parts of the internet indiscernible to search engines.
What is the Deep Web?
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 simply searching for it. Instead, you need to know the specific URL or have access to a database in order to access it. The deep web is estimated to be around 500 times larger than the surface web (the part of the internet that we are all familiar with).
Most of the deep web is made up of harmless content, such as academic databases, corporate intranets, and government archives. However, there are also some parts of the deep web that are used for illegal activities, such as selling drugs or trading child pornography.
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What is the Dark Web?
While anonymity is provided in the dark web, it is essential to understand the risks and take proactive measures to ensure online security. By following these precautions, users can navigate the dark web more securely and protect their personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Due to its nature, it attracts cybercriminals, scammers, and hackers looking to exploit unsuspecting visitors.
The dark web is a small part of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. The most common way to access the dark web is through the Tor network, which allows users to browse the internet anonymously. The dark web is often associated with illegal activities, such as buying and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
The Deep Web: How It’s Used, Risks, And How To Access It
So, we can decipher the dark web as the World Wide Web of the darknets like Tor, Freenet, etc. That is, the services and websites running on the darknet is the dark web. In this case, two familiar people communicate with each other directly over the internet. Such networks, not accessible by other people, can be encrypted or password protected. It is an encrypted network built on top of the existing internet, and specific software or tools are required to access the darknet. It is possible, conventional protocols used on the internet might not work on the darknet.
While the dark web is often used for illegal activities, it is also used by people who want to maintain their privacy and anonymity online. For example, journalists and whistleblowers may use the dark web to communicate with sources or share sensitive information without fear of being traced.
Deep Web vs Dark Web: Key Differences
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.
- Indexing: The deep web is not indexed by search engines, while the dark web is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access.
- Content: The deep web contains a mix of harmless and illegal content, while the dark web is often associated with illegal activities.
- Anonymity: The dark web is often used for anonymous browsing, dark web sites name list while the deep web does not necessarily provide anonymity.
FAQs
Is the deep web illegal?
No, the deep web itself is not illegal. However, there are some parts of the deep web that are used for illegal activities.
Can I access the deep web?
Yes, you can access the deep web by using a specific URL or accessing a database. However, you will not be able to find it through a search engine like Google.
Is the dark web illegal?
No, the dark web itself is not illegal. However, many of the how to get into the dark web 2024 activities that take place on the dark web are illegal.
Can I access the dark web?
Yes, you can access the dark web by using the Tor network. However, you should be aware that many of the activities that take place on the dark web are illegal.
- For some users, portions of the deep web offer the opportunity to bypass local restrictions and access TV or movie services that may not be available in their local areas.
- The Tor encryption tool is what enables this, making it nearly impossible to track those operating or visiting these websites.
- Executing the code narrates that while the accessible web boasts popular platforms, the hidden web is an undisclosed expanse containing confidential, protected data.
- You can find legitimate products such as basketball shoes, apparel, research papers, and other items on the dark web.
- Where the deep web accounts for approximately 7,500 TB of data, the clear web is only responsible for a mere 19 TB which is equivalent to 980,000,000 websites.
Is the deep web and the dark web the same thing?
No, the deep web and the dark web are not the same thing. 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.
What is the meaning of surface web?
The Surface Web (also called the Visible Web, Indexed Web, Indexable Web or Lightnet) is the portion of the World Wide Web that is readily available to the general public and searchable with standard web search engines. It is the opposite of the deep web, the part of the web not indexed by a web search engine.
