Deep Web vs Dark Web: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to the internet, most people are familiar with the surface web, which is the part of the internet that can be accessed through search engines like Google. However, there is a much larger and less explored part of the internet known as the deep web and the dark web.

If you choose to pursue exploring any sites on the dark web, you put yourself at risk of being singled out and targeted for hacks and more. Most malware infections can be caught by your endpoint security programs. However, you can still take illegal actions within Tor that could incriminate you regardless of the browser’s legality. You could easily use Tor in an attempt to pirate copyrighted content from the deep web, share illegal pornography, or engage in cyber terrorism. Using a legal browser will not make your actions fall to the right side of the law. The dark web, however, is a very concealed portion of the deep web that few will ever interact with or even see.

Hidden Answers — Ask Your Questions Anonymously

What is the Deep Web?

For example, you might tell your closest friend about a problem in your personal life, but you would not tell the clerk at your grocery store. Silk Road was a pioneering darknet market, established in 2011 by its founder Ross Ulbricht who was known as ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’ in online circles. Managed entirely on Ulbricht’s personal laptop, this online black market facilitated a slew of illicit transactions until it was shut down by the FBI.

The deep web refers to the parts of the internet that are not indexed by search engines. This includes things like academic databases, corporate intranets, and government databases. While some of this content may be sensitive or restricted, much of it is simply not accessible through traditional search engines.

How Do You Safely Access The Deep Web?

Accessing the deep web typically requires specialized software or authorization. For example, a researcher may use a specific database to access academic articles, or an employee may use a virtual private network (VPN) to access their company’s intranet.

What is the Dark Web?

Dark Web Links: The Best onion And Tor Sites In 2024

Later, the U.S. government developed The Onion Router (Tor) to let their intelligence officers communicate anonymously. This later became open source, leading to the Tor that we see today which lets civilians access the Dark Web, for good or bad. This includes corporate or government whistleblowers (such as WikiLeaks) that publish sensitive information on the Dark Web. Here’s a breakdown of the Deep Web vs. Dark Web — how they’re used, how to access them, and the security threats that you should be aware of when using them. If you’re concerned that your personal information could be floating around on the Dark Web or Deep Web, you need to know what that means for your personal and financial safety. Your colleagues will think you can see around corners – and they’ll be right.Don’t’ fight fraud alone.

The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. It is often associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, and hacking.

• In fact, it’s better in the interest of privacy that these pages aren’t readily visible.
• Below the surface of the water, we will find pages or sites that are not indexed (in other words, sites that aren’t visible) using traditional search engines (like Google or Yahoo).
• Learn more about our various degree and certification programs today by requesting more information.
• It is used for keeping internet activity anonymous and private, which can be helpful in both legal and illegal applications.
• Managed service providers also employ IT experts to monitor your network for suspicious activity and fix any problems that arise.

Accessing the dark web typically requires the use of the Tor network, which allows users to browse the internet anonymously. While there are legitimate uses for the Tor network, such as protecting privacy and whistleblowing, it is also frequently used for illegal activities.

Deep Web vs Dark Web: Key Differences

There are many reasons why a search engine would not index a page—perhaps it is an old page with no identifiable keywords, or it is part of an organization’s members-only site. The deep web could also be used to house private information and information that needs to remain secret, such as legal or scientific documents, medical records, or competitor information. The dark web limits online tracking, and there are many legitimate reasons people like journalists and activists use the dark web to remain private. But there are also many illegal activities that happen on the dark web. And just like in real life, using the dark web for criminal purposes is never legal. By monitoring known dark web marketplaces, Avast BreachGuard will alert you immediately if and when your data is made available for sale.

While the deep web and dark web are often conflated, there are key differences between the two.

• Access: The deep web requires specialized software or authorization to access, while the dark web requires the use of the Tor network.
• Content: The deep web includes a wide range of content, from academic databases to corporate intranets, while the dark web is often associated with illegal activities.

With only about 4 percent of all online content freely accessible (making up the surface web), the remainder is tucked away in the deep web. This means there is no easy, direct way for the general public to search this vast amount of unindexed content. In some cases, websites use various methods to block spiders and prevent indexing.

• Visibility: The deep web is not indexed by search engines, but it is not intentionally hidden. The dark web, on the other hand, is intentionally hidden and requires specific configurations to access.

Conclusion

While the deep web and dark web may seem mysterious and even dangerous, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. The deep web is simply the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines, while the dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and often associated with illegal activities.

By understanding these differences, we can better navigate the internet and protect ourselves from potential threats.