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

As a hub for criminal activity, the Dark Web offers more than just “products” to anyone willing to buy and consume. It also offers services that enable cybercriminals to launch attacks with little technical knowledge or experience. In addition to the possibility of making big money on these Dark Web marketplaces, people seek the Dark Web for other reasons as well. This part of the internet also hosts vast amounts of child pornography, with some websites reaching tens or hundreds of thousands of users. By using the Tor browser, internet users can access the Dark Web to communicate and share data in confidence, without the risk of being traced.

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The deep web and the dark web are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinct concepts. While both are hidden parts of the internet, they differ in their content and accessibility. In this article, we will explore the differences between the deep web and the dark web.

What is the Deep Web?

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Like the deep web, the dark web is used for positive as well as nefarious purposes. On the positive side, dissidents, journalists, whistleblowers and advocates for freedom of speech are able to express themselves on the dark web with less risk of exposing their real-world identity. For example in countries with restrictions of freedom of speech such as China, users have successfully bypassed Internet controls with the TOR project.However, the darker side of the dark web is more infamous. Founded in 2011 and shut down by the FBI in 2013, the Silk Road was a black market for all kinds of illegal activity. Due to encryption and other privacy features, catching criminals on the dark web is difficult, and often requires agencies such as the FBI going into deep cover to try and surface criminal activity. In conclusion, the Dark Web, Deep Web, and Darknet are distinct parts of the internet with different characteristics and purposes.

The deep web is the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing. It includes databases, private networks, and other content that is not accessible to the general public. The deep web is estimated to be 400 to 500 times larger than the surface web, which is the part of the internet that is indexed by search engines.

Examples of Deep Web Content

The anonymity offered by dark web forums and marketplaces emboldens hackers, fraudsters, and other digital threat actors to openly offer cyber attack services and sell stolen data. 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. Generally any webpage or content that requires a login or custom tool to access will be considered part of the Deep Web. The dark web is infamous for criminal activity – illegal goods, stolen data being sold, or hacker services being hired.

• Academic databases
• Corporate intranets

It includes web pages and data that regular search engines cannot find or that require passwords or subscriptions to access. Examples of deep web content include online banking sites, private databases and academic journals. The dark web refers to encrypted online content that is not indexed by conventional search engines. Darknet provides a user with anonymity but service was introduced that allowed someone to host a website on the darknet and remain anonymous. This attracted people who do illegal stuff to sell things without getting caught. One example is a website called the silk road which was on a darknet called TOR, used to sell drugs, and was taken down by the FBI.

• Government databases
• Medical records

The dark web allows people to communicate privately and securely, protecting whistle-blowers, journalists or individuals living in countries with strict censorship or surveillance. We can’t discuss the history of the dark web without understanding the history of TOR, the most popular dark web network. The principle of ‘onion routing’, which underpins TOR, was developed by the researchers Paul Syverson, Michael G. Reed and David Goldschlag at the United States Naval Research Laboratory in the 1990’s. The very first version of Tor, named ‘The Onion Routing Project’ or simply TOR Project, was developed by Roger Dingledine and Nick Mathewson.

What is the Dark Web?

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The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. It is often associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, and hacking. The dark web is hosted on networks that use the Tor protocol, which provides anonymity and encryption.

Examples of Dark Web Content

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• Illegal marketplaces
• Hacking forums
• Anonymous chat rooms
• Cryptocurrency exchanges

How to Access the Deep Web and Dark Web

Accessing the deep web is relatively simple. You can use a search engine like DuckDuckGo or Startpage to find content that is not indexed by mainstream search engines. However, accessing the dark web requires more effort. You will need to download and install the Tor browser, which allows you to access websites on the Tor network. It is important to note that accessing the dark web can be risky, as it is often associated with illegal activities.

FAQs

Is the deep web illegal?

No, the deep web is not illegal. It includes content that is not accessible to the general public, such as academic databases, corporate intranets, and government databases. However, some content on the deep web may be illegal, such as copyrighted material or confidential information.

Is the dark web illegal?

Not necessarily. While the dark web is often associated with illegal activities, it is not inherently illegal to access or use it. However, engaging in illegal activities on the dark web is, of course, illegal.

• All web pages not indexed by web crawlers are considered to be a part of the deep web.
• It also offers services that enable cybercriminals to launch attacks with little technical knowledge or experience.
• Although you can’t use just any browser, all that’s needed is downloading and installing a special browser like Tor.
• The dark web, on the other hand, is a more enigmatic and notorious entity.
• TOR browser offers the safest protocol to jump into the Dark Web and the Deep Web.

Can I get in trouble for accessing the dark web?

It depends. Accessing the dark web is not illegal, but some activities on the dark web are. If you engage in illegal activities on the dark web, you could face legal consequences. It is important to use the dark web responsibly and avoid engaging in illegal activities.

Can I access the deep web on my phone?

Yes, you can access the deep web on your phone using a search engine like DuckDuckGo or Startpage. However, accessing the deep web on your phone may be more difficult than on a desktop computer, as some content may not be optimized for mobile devices.

Can I access the dark web on my phone?

Yes, you can access the dark web on your phone using the Tor browser. However, it is important to note that accessing the dark web on your phone can be risky, as it may expose your device to malware or other security threats.