The Hidden Wiki
Understanding the Deep Web and Dark Web
A lot of the time, this content isn’t indexed because it includes pages that are meant to be hidden to protect consumer privacy, such as those that require login credentials. The internet is home to billions of websites — an estimated 1.7 billion to be exact, although that number changes every day as new sites are made and others are deleted. Your daily internet activity likely falls within the publicly available and readily accessible portion of the internet (otherwise known as the surface web). However, there are additional “levels” of the internet beyond that top level. Get Norton 360 Deluxe to encrypt your internet connection and help protect the personal data you send and receive online. The rise of cryptocurrencies increased the popularity of the dark web, especially for cybercriminals.
Otherwise, I’d be in trouble since the Google Docs page on which I’m writing this article is part of the deep web. If it was illegal to access the deep web, it would be illegal to see or do anything online that requires you to sign into your account. It turns out that a majority of cybercriminals, selling everything from compromised personal and financial data to drugs and hacking tools, constitute over half of Dark Web contents. If you think that search engines like Google (there are more!) know about everything on the internet, you’d be wrong. Some stats from from Worldwidewebsize.com show at the start of November 2017, search engines have indexed at around 4.57 billion pages . First, a Tor host “advertises” a hidden service by creating and publishing a service descriptor to a distributed directory service.
Not only is the Deep Web useful for honest activity, but it also could be500 times bigger than the surface web. So, even if there were a legitimate reason to, shutting down the Deep Web would be impossible. Remember, the Dark Web can also be a space for people to share information and ideas without fear of censorship or retaliation. In countries with authoritarian governments, the Dark Web is an important space for freedom of expression in some parts of the world. Dark Web monitoring can be expensive and complicated, but it is becoming increasingly critical as more private data is bought and sold in the Internet’s underbelly. Researchers estimate that there are hundreds of thousands of websites on the Dark Web.
The terms deep web and dark web are often used interchangeably, but they refer to distinctly different parts of the internet. While both are not accessible through standard search engines, their purposes and contents vary significantly.
- You can’t just Google “Silk Road” and hope to land on the dark website.
- Grasping the divergences and common traits between these two deepens our understanding of the web-space’s comprehensive potential and bounds.
- Everyone is capable of accessing the deepest parts of the web, but to do so you have to use alternative search engines.
- You also keep scammers and cyber-criminals from setting up new accounts using your personal data and using them for fraud.
What is the Deep Web?
The darknet and dark web comprise the most internal layer of the onion. The dark web is technically a subset of the deep web because it too, isn’t publicly accessible. According to Wired, only about 0.01% of the deep web is the dark web.
The anonymity of onion sites is the main draw of the dark web, and most dark web links are hosted on “.onion” domains due to the sensitive nature of the businesses or services they host. Onion sites may offer secure access to cryptocurrency wallets or anonymous email clients. Because they have strong encryption, onion sites are safe in terms of privacy protection.
Others may act in ways that are illegal for the protection and safety of others. Let’s unpack both of these concepts in terms of the “dark web browser” and the websites themselves. As such, the dark web has attracted many parties who would otherwise be endangered by revealing their identities online. Abuse and persecution victims, whistleblowers, and political dissidents have been frequent users of these hidden sites. But of course, these benefits can be easily extended to those that want to act outside of the constraints of laws in other explicitly illegal ways.
Without visible links, these pages are more hidden for various reasons. The dark web is the hidden collective of internet sites only accessible by a specialized web browser. It is used for keeping internet activity anonymous and private, which can be helpful in both legal and illegal applications.
The deep web comprises all parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. This includes:
- Databases
- Private corporate websites
- Medical records
- Legal documents
- Academic research
Approximately 90% of the internet is considered deep web. Unlike the surface web, which is accessible to anyone, much of the deep web is protected and requires permissions or subscriptions to access.
The Nature of the Dark Web
The dark web is a subset of the deep web. It refers specifically to websites that have been intentionally hidden and are inaccessible through standard web browsers. To access the dark web, users typically utilize specialized software, such as Tor, which anonymizes user activity.
Contents found on the dark web can include:
- Illegal marketplaces (drugs, weapons, counterfeit documents)
- Forums for illicit activities
- Whistleblower platforms
- Hacking services
- Private communication channels
Key Differences Between Deep Web and Dark Web
Both the deep web and dark web are essential components of the internet, yet they serve different purposes:
| Feature | Deep Web | Dark Web |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Presents restricted content, often requiring login credentials or subscriptions. | Requires specific software (e.g., Tor) to access hidden sites. |
| Content | Includes academic papers, private databases, and medical records. | Hosts illegal activities, anonymous forums, and black-market trading. |
| Legitimacy | Primarily contains legal and safe content. | Contains numerous illegal activities and risky content. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the deep web illegal?
No, the deep web contains many legal and safe sites, such as online banking and subscription services.
How dangerous is the dark web?
The dark web can be very dangerous. It hosts illegal activities, and users may encounter scams or malware. Caution is advised when exploring.
Can I access the dark web using regular browsers?
No, accessing the dark web requires special browsers like Tor, which provide the anonymity needed to navigate its sites.
In summary, while the deep web encompasses a vast amount of legal and useful content, the dark web serves as a hiding place for various illegal activities. Understanding the distinction between the two is essential for navigating the internet safely and responsibly.
