Surface Web, Deep Web, and Dark Web: The dangers of the dark web
Most people are familiar with the Surface Web. We use it every day when we search for news, browse social media, and do a search. Essentially, it includes everything that search engines index. It is not 100% free of threats such as phishing attacks, but it is generally considered safe for users. However, the Surface Web makes up only a minor fraction of the web, about 10%. So, what about the other 90%?
The Deep Web and the Dark Web make up the other 90% of the Internet. It is the part of the Internet that is unindexed.
Surface Web
Imagine an iceberg. A small part can be seen by everyone, while more than half is submerged. It is a visual way to understand the different layers of the Internet.
As indicated earlier, the Surface Web is the part of the Internet indexed by search engines such as Google, Bing, or Firefox, enabling the public to have free access to the information posted there, unless a login or password is required. By its definition, it would be the antonym of the Deep Web.
There are already more than 130 trillion indexed pages in search services. When accessing this content, the computer or device connects to a server that identifies the user’s IP.
Deep Web
Unlike the Surface Web, Deep Web content is not indexed and does not appear on search engines. The term was coined in 2001 by researcher Michael Bergman to describe any content that does not appear in search engines such as Google or Bing.
In general, the Deep Web guarantees the user’s privacy. It is possible to find, for example, databases of space agencies, map data, court cases, taxes, and documents in government institutions, among other contents that can’t be found in a simple search.
At this level of the web, you will find more dangerous content and activities. Tor sites appear in this distant part of the Deep Web, considered the Dark Web, and can only be accessed via an anonymous browser.
In the Deep Web, the Hidden Wiki is what Google represents for the Surface web, acting as an index to indicate the locations of access to these pages. InfoMine and WWW Virtual Library, on the other hand, are platforms used for those looking for academic content.
The dark side of the Deep Web
Diving even deeper into the Deep Web brings us a little closer to the dangers. For some users, parts of the Deep Web represent a way to bypass restrictions and access TV or movie services not offered in their regions. Others want to download pirated music or movies.
The safety of the Deep Web is more relevant to the typical Internet user than the safety of the Dark Web since you can end up in dangerous areas by accident: many parts of the Deep Web can still be accessed through ordinary browsers. This is how users can find piracy sites, forums with radical political views, or disturbing and violent content.
Dark Web
The Dark Web refers to sites that are not indexed and can only be accessed by specialized browsers. Significantly smaller than the Surface Web, the Dark Web is considered a part of the Deep Web.
Still, in our iceberg analogy, the Dark Web would be the bottom tip of the submerged iceberg. It is a very obscure part of the Deep Web that very few people can access.
The following features of the Dark Web create a paradise for anonymity:
- Web pages unindexed by surface search engines. Google and other popular search engines cannot discover or display results for pages on the Dark Web.
- “Virtual traffic tunnels” through a randomized network infrastructure.
- Inaccessible by traditional browsers due to its unique registry operator. In addition, it is concealed by various network security measures, such as firewalls and encryption.
The Dark Web’s reputation is often associated with criminal purposes or illegal content, in addition to sales sites where users can buy illicit goods or services. Of course, hackers and criminals are not the only people who need secrecy. Activists, dissidents, whistleblowers, and others use the Dark Web to escape persecution and communicate anonymously online. For example, the BBC has launched a Dark Web news site via the Tor browser to escape government censorship in China, Iran, and Vietnam.
In addition, several organizations and individuals use it to protect themselves from online data collection. Secure and affordable tools exist for this purpose, but some prefer a more radical approach.
Ensure security at all levels
It can be beneficial for data to be buried deep, invisible to outsiders. If, for example, corporate correspondence is found in a search index, the consequences can be catastrophic. It is best to protect your sensitive data – accounts and documents that only you have access to.
- Use strong and unique passwords.
- Avoid using the Dark Web.
- Confirm that you are where you want to be before entering your credentials online.
- Give access to confidential documents only to those who need them.
- Use reliable security solutions to avoid problems wherever you are online.
Disclaimer: This article does not promote the Deep or the Dark Web but instead addresses their differences. It also attempts to debunk some myths about them. The blog and its contributors deny responsibility for any damages resulting directly or indirectly from the use of the information contained in this blog.
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