When you punch a search term into Google, dark web onion the results you get are from what’s known as the Surface Web. But the rest of the web is deeper and more dangerous, including “onion” sites that hide behind passwords or security firewalls.
These include fee-for-service sites, intranets and private databases. It’s these kinds of sites that are most infamous for hosting illicit material.
Information on the deep web isn’t indexed by search engines
The deep web is a part of the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines, like Google or Bing. This part of the internet contains private information that isn’t accessed without credentials, such as a username and password or special software. This includes information that isn’t displayed on your computer screen or in a browser, and includes information from websites you have to pay for or log into. It also includes information from fee-for-service sites, such as Netflix, and the content of internal company networks or databases.
Information on the deep web can include anything from email inboxes and dashboards to private databases and even online bank accounts. It could also include a university library’s online catalog or your personal Dropbox folder. However, the deep web also includes illegal content like guns, drugs and pornography, as well as stolen passwords, hacked credit card account numbers, and rogue software programs.
Search engine crawlers scour the Internet to find new websites and fresh content. When they find a page they consider “important,” they record it and link it to other pages in an index. This process is called “indexing.” Unlike a traditional newspaper, which requires an editor to curate and select news, the indexing of the Internet happens automatically. Search engines use crawlers to find new and updated pages, which then get indexed. Using these links, the search engine then returns results that are relevant to users’ queries.
Although many people fear the dark web, it’s important to remember that it’s not always illicit or dangerous. In fact, the vast majority of the sites on the dark web are used for legitimate purposes, such as legal documents, financial transactions, and social media posts that are pending review. Some of these sites are also set up to protect the privacy of their users by requesting that search engines not index their content.
While the surface web is easily accessible, it’s estimated that 90-95% of the World Wide Web is in the deep web. It’s like an iceberg underneath the water: it’s not visible, but it is very large and likely contains more data than the surface web.
It’s more dangerous
The deep web isn’t necessarily more dangerous than other websites, but it does present some unique risks. It’s important to be aware of these risks and take precautions when browsing this part of the internet. For example, it’s essential to use a VPN and an antivirus when browsing the deep web. This will help prevent malware infections and credential theft.
Many users access the deep web without even knowing it. For instance, they might access a banking website that requires them to log in or browse private posts on social media. Such sites are considered parts of the deep web, and they offer a wealth of personal information to cybercriminals. As such, it’s crucial to practice basic online safety measures to prevent security lapses that could lead to the information on these sites ending up on dark web marketplaces.
In addition, some parts of the deep web offer users the chance to bypass legal restrictions and access content that isn’t lawfully available in their region. This is often accompanied by risky activity, such as downloading pirated music and movies. These activities also expose users to malware and other cybersecurity threats. Lastly, the deep web often allows fee-for-service sites to keep their content away from nonpaying Internet users.
The depths of the dark web also contain shady activities, from illegally downloaded files to e-mails requesting sensitive information. In fact, there are even services on the dark web that promise to provide professional hitmen for a price. Despite this, the vast majority of deep web content is harmless. However, it’s important to monitor children’s curiosity and encourage them to use safe browsing practices when exploring the deep web.
It’s not illegal
It’s important to note that not all of the information on the deep web is illegal. For instance, some of the most popular social media sites have a presence on the deep web along with corporate intranets and password-protected websites for banking and email. However, if users are using a public network to access their online accounts, they’re likely sharing information with cybercriminals who can use it to steal their personal data and exploit them. Keeping up good security procedures is essential to avoid these dangers, including maintaining strong passwords and using a trusted VPN whenever possible.
Many people also use the deep web to bypass local restrictions in order to download movies and music that aren’t available in their country. Others visit the dark web to communicate with confidential sources. Some even engage in espionage or other shady activities on the deep web. While these activities don’t make the deep web more dangerous, they do give it a seedier reputation.
The deep web is home to a wide range of information, including internal websites for companies, schools, and government agencies. It also includes personal databases for bank and email accounts and private forums for communicating with colleagues in a secure way. Many of these sites can be accessed through Tor, which uses a series of servers to mask a user’s identity and location. Using Tor to access the deep web is more difficult than simply using a search engine, but it offers increased privacy and security.
Although the deep web isn’t necessarily more dangerous than the surface web, it does pose a higher risk of malware infections and credential theft. For this reason, it’s a good idea to install antivirus software and a trustworthy VPN before visiting the deep web. If you do choose to access deep web pages, always use a secure Wi-Fi connection and don’t enter any sensitive information on public networks. This simple practice will protect you from the threat of phishing scams that could be used to steal your personal information and money. Additionally, it’s a good idea to update your anti-virus software regularly.