The internet has many levels. It might remind you of a glacier that floats in the Arctic. The open web is what most of us use or see every day. Below it is the deep web, and even further below that is the dark web.
Some deep web and dark web sites have bad names. This is partly because they’re shrouded in mystery, which can lead to confusion and false information. These sites make up about 96% of the internet. Some of them even offer security features to help you stay safe online.
For more information, read our comparison of the deep web vs. the dark web, which includes what each is for and how they differ. You’ll also find answers to frequently asked questions about viewing deep and dark web websites and the best ways to browse them.
What Is The Deep Web?
On the other hand, the deep web comprises all the web pages that our everyday search tools can’t find. People who own websites hide them to keep information like email and banking accounts, private social media pages, and electronic health records safe from people who shouldn’t be able to see them.
Think about what would happen if someone Googled your name and immediately saw your email account and health records. This doesn’t happen because of the deep web. To get into a secret site on the deep web, you need a specific password or link.
This will make it hard for nosy people to access your personal information. Think about how you use your online bank. You need to enter a password and username before you can access it, which prevents other people from accessing your internet bank or savings account.
Some well-known websites can only be reached through the deep web because each page is unique to each person. One great example is streaming services, which require you to type your login information immediately before you can look at your favorite TV shows and movies.
What Is The Dark Web?
It’s not the same on the dark web. It is a safer part of the deep web where users can access protected websites. But you can only get to these sites with specific computer tools. Some use this protected place to help protect their name and internet privacy. However, hackers like to utilize it to do illegal things. These shady activities make people think of the dark web as dirty and dangerous.
Here are some of the crimes you might face when exploring the dark web:
- Espionage
- NFT scams
- Phishing scams
- Arms trafficking
- Drug trafficking
- Cryptocurrency scams
- Sell stolen passwords and data.
The dark web isn’t just used for illegal things, of course. Many people use it to hide their online activities from governments that block the internet or have a history of jailing political opponents. Journalists could use the dark web to talk to secret sources.
People can use the Tor Project and other dark web tools like it to explore the dark web and talk to others without anyone being able to see their IP address, search history, cache, or cookies. These are special search tools made just for the dark web. You might not be surprised to learn that the dark web has many sites that aren’t related to illegal activities.
The Dark Web’s History
We can only discuss the history of the dark web by mentioning the past of TOR, the most well-known network. In the 1990s, researchers Paul Syverson, Michael G. Reed, and David Goldschlag at the US Naval Research Laboratory developed the idea of “onion routing,” on which TOR is based.
Roger Dingledine and Nick Mathewson made the first version of Tor. They called it “The Onion Routing Project” or “TOR Project.” It went live on September 20, 2002. After that, TOR was built with help from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). TOR was eventually taken over by The Tor Project, Inc., a non-profit group started by Dingledine, Mathewson, and five others.
The company’s past can be challenging. In 2016, a private review found that claims of bullying and sexual abuse against Jacob Appelbaum, the company’s leading creator and public face, were valid. In 2016, The Tor Project Inc. changed its board. Since this chaos, the software that runs the most prominent dark web network has been managed and watched pretty steadily and consistently.
What’s The Difference Between Dark Web And Deep Web ?
When you venture beyond the public web and into the deep and dark web, some important changes must be considered.
Better Access To The Deep Web
Depending on your goals, you can access the deep web in several different ways. For example, you might need to follow a private link to find the right shirt for an event, so it would be helpful if you knew how to log in to your work email. Accessing the dark web requires more work, but it is less work than bringing it to you.
The Dark Web Has More Layers Of Security
An onion connection or nothing else will get you to the dark web. Tor is the most well-known of these. Before linking you to dark websites, it encrypts your personal information. He said, “It’s not called an onion router for nothing.” “Tor encrypts your connection multiple times, so by the time your request gets to its destination on the Tor network, your IP address is hidden.”
The Dark Web Provides More Anonymity
Even though they’re not the only way to hide your identity online, Tor and other onion systems like I2P, Freenet, and Subgraph OS are the best. VPNs can also hide your IP address, but only up to a point. People who know a lot about encryption and security on the internet already know about them.
How To Use The Deep Web Vs. The Dark Web
The deep web is where most of the Internet is, and for good reason. The dark web isn’t just for crime, even though that’s what most people think of when they hear the term. It can also be used to trade stolen data and identity theft. On the other hand, it’s usually used for things that people want to keep secret.
Uses For The Deep Web
- Regular Use: People who use their login information to log in to standard websites like banks or social networks are on the deep web without realizing it.
- Safe Payments: People put their credit card information through the deep web whenever they buy something online.
- Campaigns: Website developers can put parts of their sites or pages on the deep web to track campaigns. For example, they could show people home page styles in certain places.
- Paid Subscriptions: Paywalls prevent search engine bots from seeing material that only people who have paid for or joined can see. This material is clearly on the deep web.
Uses For The Dark Web
- Journalism Without Limits: Reporters use the dark web frequently, especially when they are working on secret stories or traveling to other countries.
- Freedom of Speech: People living in countries that are harsh on them use the dark website. During the Arab Spring, when governments blocked access to social media, the dark web was a fundamental way for protesters to get around Internet control.
- Safety: Many people who whistle-blowers on businesses and the government use the dark web to stay safe. WikiLeaks has a copycat site on the dark web just for this reason.
- Privacy: People being stalked or threatened online can hide their whereabouts on the dark web while figuring out how to get out of their situation.
Risks of Going to the Dark Web vs. the Deep Web
The deep web and the dark web can be used for many things, but they also pose some risks. The deep web poses few risks if you know how to keep your information safe and avoid identity theft. Many people do this every time they log in to a secure website, but going to the dark web is risky.
The dark web might not be as scary as people say it is, but the fact that it exists is still dangerous for the rest of the web. Data breaches are always risks for businesses, but the dark web makes them even more apparent. For example, if your company has a silent data loss, your users’ personal information will probably end up for sale on a dark web market. This is why watching the dark web is essential for your overall security.
Safe Access To The Deep And Dark Web
The best ways to safely access the deep and dark web are similar to the best ways to safely access the public web. You can’t just browse the dark web; you must take steps to protect your safety first.
How To Safely Access The Deep Web
Since more than 90% of all Internet data is already on the deep web, the safest ways to reach it are the same as for the open web. Check every website you visit for security holes and threats.
Even though you don’t need to do a security test on every website you visit, you should ensure that the one you’re on is safe and uses HTTPS encryption. Following these best practices will help you stay safe on the deep web once you’ve reached sites that use a secure framework:
- Have outstanding accomplishments that set you apart. If you use a strong password, bad people may find it harder to access your private information. If necessary, change the default password that the company gives you.
- Keep up with good IT maintenance. When you send private information like social security numbers or payment information, you should only use networks you know and trust.
- Get training in cybersecurity. The best way for a business to protect its data is to ensure everyone knows and follows its privacy rules. This includes directions and the best ways to use the deep web.
How To Safely Access The Dark Web
Before you can browse the dark web, you need to take steps to protect your privacy. A VPN connection and a safe online browser, like the Tor Browser, are two things you will require. If it fits your needs, you should use your VPN to get the safe browser you pick. To bring to the dark web, do the following after downloading the protection tools of your choice:
- First, turn on your VPN. Ensure you’ve turned off any software you don’t need, especially browser add-ons.
- Open your safe browser and make sure it is up to date. To keep your computer secure, don’t change the size of your browser window.
- Find the page you want to visit on the dark web. It will have a domain name that ends in. onion instead of a normal top-level domain.
- The domain name will also generally have a random string of letters and numbers that changes often.
Best Browsers To Access The Deep And Dark Web
You can only use a safe browser to get to the dark web. This can be done in a few different ways:
- Tor Browser: This browser is what most people use to access the dark web, and for good reason. Unlike many other safe websites, the Tor Browser is ready for use as soon as you download it.
- The Invisible Internet Project: This web browser and secret network layer was created to enable citizens in authoritarian governments to circumvent Internet censorship.
- OS Subgraph: Subgraph is not a web browser but an operating system. Because of this, it can come with many high-tech security features, like a safe email client and an instant chat app.
- TAILS: It can be saved on any machine’s DVD or USB drive. It doesn’t leave any files on your computer because it mostly runs on RAM.
- Whonix: This is another operating system that is made for looking deeply. It doesn’t just use TOR exit nodes, which separate its data sources for better security.
Conclusion
The Internet is a large ecosystem with open, deep, and dark web levels. Private emails and financial accounts are on the deep web, which search engines cannot scan. However, Tor is needed to access the purposely concealed black web. Despite its legitimate application for data security, the dark web is generally linked with unlawful activity.