How To Stay Safe While Browsing The Dark Web
Dark web sites with the upper-level domain .onion can only be accessed by the Tor Browser or other browsers using a Tor interface, such as the Brave browser. There are other browsers that are able to access these pages, but the Tor Browser is the most common by far. Two of the most readily available examples would be the customer side of your banking website and any portion of your work website that is for employee use only. Neither of those site owners would wish the content of those pages to appear on a Google search, and they have taken steps to conceal the content of those pages from said search engines.
Accessing The Deep Web Or The Dark Web: Is It Illegal?
Understanding the Deep Web and Dark Web
The Tor browser is able to access the special domain names, with the suffix .onion, used in the dark web. No longer restricted to dial-up, many of us now consider access to a stable high-speed internet connection a critical element of our daily lives. We pay our bills online, check our bank statements, communicate via email, find information, and maintain a presence on social media. ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.
The internet is often perceived as a vast ocean, with the surface being the easily accessible information we see every day. However, beneath this surface lies the deep web and the dark web, which are crucial to understanding the entirety of online information.
According to the Journal of Electronic Publishing, the Deep Web contains 400 to 550 times more public information than the Surface Web. Search engines such as Bing and Google account for only 0.4% of the indexed Surface Web. Dark Web is a hidden universe within the Deep Web, a hideaway of the internet from conventional search engines. For example, law enforcement agencies and journalists use the darknet to keep in touch with whistleblowers, while others use it to protect their identities from government and private surveillance. Make sure you know what information you are looking for when you log onto the encrypted website. Greenberg notes that while the deep web is vast and accounts for 90-something percent of the Internet, the dark web likely only accounts for about .01 percent.
Law enforcement routinely shuts down and prosecutes sites and people doing illegal things on the Dark Web. The internet is vast and complex, and not everything is easily accessible through search engines like Google. The surface web is easily accessible and generally safe for everyday use, yet it is critical to exercise caution and be mindful of privacy concerns when using websites like social media.
In a free country with free speech, it’s not a place one needs to be, though. In the three decades, I’ve worked online, I’ve never had a need to visit the Dark Web and most likely never will. Programmers will continue to improve search engine algorithms, making them better at delving into deeper layers of the Web. In doing so, they’ll help researchers and businesses connect and cross-reference information in ways that were never possible before. For citizens living in countries with violent or oppressive leaders, the dark Web offers a more secure way to communicate with like-minded individuals.
What is the Deep Web?
The deep web is a layer of the internet that’s not indexed by search engines and requires further permissions to access, like a paywalled academic resource or an employee-only corporate website. The dark web is another layer of the internet where users are anonymous and illegal activities, such as drugs or weapons trading, may occur. Indexes of website links allow Google and other search engines to return relevant results whenever a user types a keyword into the search bar.
The deep web refers to all parts of the internet not indexed by standard search engines like Google or Bing. This vast area includes:
There are also great resources on cryptocurrency and encryption on the dark web. If you’re looking to install an encrypted email system, you can find tips and resources there. Law enforcement even uses the dark web when they’re looking for stolen data. Of course, it also helps to find perpetrators that may be dealing on the black market.
This attractsthose who engage in criminal activities in order to sell goods withoutbeing detected. A website dubbed the Silk Road, which existed on thedarknet as TOR, was used to sell drugs and was taken down by theFBI. This collection of websites sits on networks called “darknets” that require specialized software to access. Darknets use complex, layered encryption systems to keep their users’ identities and locations anonymous.
- Databases (academic, government, and corporate)
- Password-protected websites
- Intranets
- Private social media pages
- Medical records
- Subscription websites
In essence, the deep web is necessary and often legitimate content that is simply not meant for public consumption, making it a secure repository for sensitive information.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web, on the other hand, is a smaller part of the deep web that has been intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It requires specific software, such as Tor, to access it. The dark web is notorious for hosting illegal activities and content that can range from:
- Illicit drug sales
- Weapons trafficking
- Counterfeit currencies
- Human trafficking
- Fraud and hacking services
Despite its negative reputation, the dark web also serves as a platform for privacy advocates and those living under oppressive regimes where freedom of speech is restricted.
Key Differences Between Deep Web and Dark Web
While both the deep web and dark web provide content that isn’t indexed by traditional search engines, they differ significantly in terms of accessibility, purpose, and legality:
- Accessibility: The deep web can be accessed using standard web browsers, while the dark web requires specific tools.
- Content: The deep web hosts legitimate data, while the dark web is often associated with illegal activities.
- Public Awareness: The deep web is largely unknown to the average internet user, while the dark web often captures media attention due to its notorious nature.
FAQs About the Deep Web and Dark Web
1. Is everything on the dark web illegal?
- Internet providers and websites can detect when Tor is being used because Tor node IPs are public.
- Therefore, it is important to select Dark Web monitoring technology capable to successfully distinguish authentic data.
- Called “dark” because it is accessible with anonymity and only through certain networks and software such as Tor, this part of the Internet represents a small fraction of the overall Web.
- Only about 6.7% of global users use the dark web for malicious purposes, but it’s smart to be selective about the websites you access.
- Most malware infections can be caught by your endpoint security programs.
No, while a significant portion of the dark web hosts illegal activities, there are also legitimate uses, such as privacy-focused forums, whistleblower platforms, and secure communication channels.
2. Can I access the deep web easily?
Yes, accessing the deep web is straightforward as it includes a majority of websites that require logins or subscriptions. However, navigating more obscure parts might be challenging.
3. Do I need special software to access the deep web?
No special software is needed for the deep web; a regular browser will suffice. However, to access the dark web, software such as Tor is necessary.
Conclusion
Understanding the distinctions between the deep web and the dark web is essential for navigating the internet safely and responsibly. While the deep web provides a wealth of valuable information, the dark web remains a realm of caution, where legality and ethics can often blur. Awareness and education about these facets of the internet can help users make informed decisions while online.
