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Understanding the Deep Web and Dark Web
People living in countries with oppressive regimes often lack ready access to news and critically important information pertaining to their society’s social and economic well-being. People in these countries can use the deep web to gather crucial information and export it out of the country. For this reason, major whistleblower platforms and news outlets like Pro Publica attempt to counteract these oppressive regimes through the dark web. Similarly, social media giants like Facebook have created corresponding sites on the dark web that have a significant number of users. Some examples of things on the Deep Web include email, subscription content (like Netflix), online banking, databases, internal company networks, or even non-public social media pages.
The terms deep web and dark web are often used interchangeably, but they represent different aspects of the internet. Understanding what these terms mean can illuminate the complexities of online anonymity and data accessibility.
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 Dark Web And Cybercrime After COVID
What is the Deep Web?
Many of these challenges can be navigated with specialised dark web OSINT tools. These enable safe, anonymous access to the dark web, allowing researchers to interrogate and analyse information in a careful, granular way, converting the dark web into a safe resource for investigations. It would be a site that’s possibly reasonably designed, but they didn’t bother to register it with any of the search engines. Yes, you can access the dark web on a smartphone, but you’ll need an appropriate browser, like Tor browser for Android or Onion browser for iPhone. Remember that phones can get viruses just as easily as computers, and the chances of getting a virus likely increase when you’re browsing dark web mobile sites, no matter your platform.
Dark.fail is a convenient platform that allows you to monitor the uptime of various .onion websites. In other words, it lets you check which popular dark sites are online at any given moment. Much like the Hidden Wiki, OnionLinks is a catalog of working dark web websites. All links are grouped into different categories, including financial services, commercial services, news sites, email providers, and privacy services. Remember to read the description carefully before you open any links since The Hidden Wiki also contains links to websites that include illicit content.
The deep web refers to all parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. This means that while the surface web is what we typically navigate, the deep web contains a vast amount of information that is inaccessible through standard searches.
Contrastingly, Dark Internet is a relatively minute component of the Deep Internet. Comprising a suite of sites reachable to users, yet masking the servers’ IP addresses that host them, making it a challenge to locate the operators managing these sites. Think of the internet as an unbounded digital cosmos; our daily interaction only grazes the surface. The Dark Web is a portion of the Deep Web that is harder to reach and relies on connections between reliable peers. It also requires specialist software, tools, or equipment to access.Tor and I2P are two prominent tools for this.
- Examples of deep web content:
- Databases
- Academic resources
- Private corporate sites
- Medical records
- Government resources
- Characteristics of the deep web:
- Requires specific permissions or subscriptions
- Often password protected or encrypted
- Not searchable via standard search engines
Tor (The Onion Router) is a free software program that was designed by the United States Naval Research in the mid-90s to protect US Intelligence communications online. Well, technically the deep web came first since it’s everything on the internet that isn’t easily accessible. However, the term “dark web” didn’t come into use until late in the 1990s when people started using TOR to access hidden services on the internet. Virtually everyone that uses the internet will use the deep web rather frequently, and the similarities to the surface web are apparent. Any part of a website that is password restricted is a part of the deep web.
What is the Dark Web?
In contrast, the dark web is a small portion of the deep web that has been intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. To access it, one typically requires specific software, configurations, or authorization.
- Characteristics of the dark web:
- Uses encryption for anonymity
- Contains illegal content and activities
- Home to various marketplaces and forums
- Common uses of the dark web:
- Privacy-focused communication
- Whistleblowing platforms
- Cryptocurrency transactions
- Illegal trades (weapons, drugs, etc.)
The Importance of Anonymity
Both the deep web and dark web prioritize user anonymity. This is crucial for several reasons:
- Personal Privacy: Users can maintain their anonymity while browsing or communicating.
- Freedom of Speech: Activists and journalists can share sensitive information without fear of reprisal.
- Protection against Censorship: Individuals in countries with stringent internet regulations can access uncensored information.
How to Access the Deep Web and Dark Web
- Content on the Dark Web exists on overlay networks that use the Internet and special tools and configurations to sustain security and privacy.
- Endpoint security programs like Kaspersky Security Cloud are comprehensive to cover both identity monitoring and antivirus defenses.
- It makes up about 99% of the entire web and is largely inaccessible to normal users.
- In general, the rules for accessing the deep web and the dark web safely are very similar to the best practices for accessing the surface web.
Accessing the deep web is typically straightforward, as it includes many legitimate sites. For example, many libraries and educational institutions offer resources that are part of the deep web.
On the other hand, accessing the dark web requires specific tools, such as:
- Tor Browser: A specialized browser that enables anonymous communication and browsing.
- I2P: Anonymizes internet traffic through a different routed network.
It’s important to use these tools responsibly, as the dark web can pose significant risks.
FAQs
1. Is everything on the deep web illegal?
No, not everything on the deep web is illegal. Many resources, such as academic articles and government databases, are perfectly legal and accessible with the right permissions.
2. Can I get in trouble for visiting the dark web?
While accessing the dark web is not illegal, engaging in illegal activities found there is against the law. Caution is advised.
3. How can I protect my identity when exploring the deep web or dark web?
Using encryption tools, anonymous browsers, and VPN services can enhance your privacy. Always be aware of the risks involved.
Conclusion
In summary, the deep web and dark web serve different purposes within the broader internet landscape. Understanding their characteristics helps users navigate their complexities and make informed decisions about online privacy and security.
