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Even email services like Gmail are part of the deep web because search engines cannot access the platform’s data. Dark Web is part or division of the Deep web, that is intentionally hidden from normal search engines. To access it, you need special software, configurations, or authorization. It uses masked IP addresses, which accessible only with a specific web browser. Free online services that are open to the public can be categorized as part of the deep web.
The results of a Hotwire search are perfect examples of Deep Web content. The entirety of the web that is not accessible by search engines. Tor software encrypts web traffic in layers that allow it to bounce traffic around the world. With each pass, a layer of encryption is deleted before the data moves to the next network. Though it isn’t foolproof, it’s the best-known way to prevent anyone from spying on computers that enter the Dark Web.
Steps to access the deep and dark web using a VPN
Interestingly, many discuss the importance of dark web safety but, to the average internet user, deep web safety is more relevant. Particularly, due to the fact that you don’t need a special browser to search the deep web and therefore, you can end up on more dangerous web pages accidentally. But if you think the surface web is a vast place, think again. The surface web is like a small lake compared to the vast ocean that is the deep web. Where the deep web accounts for approximately 7,500 TB of data, the clear web is only responsible for a mere 19 TB which is equivalent to 980,000,000 websites.
- The surface web is the part of the Internet that most people easily see and access.
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- Beyond this “surface web” is the deep web, and within the deep web is the dark web.
Advanced encryption technologies have made the anonymization of web surfing a hassle-free affair for regular users. Due to their unique registry operator, websites on the dark web are inaccessible by regular web browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. 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. However, you cannot simply browse to sites on the dark web—you have to take steps to ensure privacy first. The deep web and the dark web have a lot of uses, but they also aren’t without their risks.
You should always take action to remove yourself from a situation if something doesn’t feel right. Regardless of being a business, parent, or any other user of the web, you’ll want to take precautions to keep your information and private life off the dark web. With many Tor-based sites being overtaken by police authorities across the globe, there is a clear danger of becoming government target for simply visiting a dark website. For government critics and other outspoken advocates, they may fear backlash if their real identities were discovered.
Dark Web News
Web pages on the Dark Web can only be accessed using the Tor browser, and users need to know the URL of the website to find it. This makes Dark Web sites a rich source of threat intelligence for organizations; however, the design of the Dark Web can make this information difficult to find. While the Deep Web can be a refuge for criminals, not all websites on the deep web are used to facilitate malicious activities. There are parts of the Internet hidden from the public that are not meant for illegal activity as well. For instance, e-mail inboxes are not indexed by search engines, making it part of the deep web, but is are still fully accessible.
Tor is a non-profit organization involved in the research and development of online privacy tools. Likewise, a Tor browser encryptsyou’re a user’s traffic and routes an IP address through a series of volunteer-operated servers. Similarly, the other portion of the deep web uses authentication features to restrict access. For example, some websites require credentials like a login to verify a user’s identity before granting access to their online resources. In these cases, a user will need a username and password—or other valid credentials—to get past the login wall.
How to Access the Dark Web Safely?
Privacy is essential for many innocent people terrorized by stalkers and other criminals. The increasing tendency of potential employers to track posts on social media can also make it difficult to engage in honest discussions publicly. If you’re looking to explore what lies beyond the surface of normal search engine results, then understanding both the deep and dark webs could be beneficial.
The most common access to the Dark Web is through a Tor network. Tor is a non-profit organization that researches and develops online privacy tools. Tor browsers disguise your online activity and you may even need to be invited to access specific .onion domains within the Dark Web.
You can create groups with friends and family, and all the documents, photos, or videos you share are stored with end-to-end encryption. The application uses public-key cryptography to ensure the chats stay private. You can use Facebook’s services without exposing yourself to the company’s privacy-eroding tentacles.
A huge drug bust raises questions about dark web anonymity
Some of these are well-known, established threats that circulate in this nook of the web. However, others may be taking advantage of the dark web’s reputation to trick users out of large sums of money. Also, some users on the dark web may attempt phishing scams to steal your identity or personal information for extortion. Infiltrations can put you at risk of monitoring for other types of activity as well. Evading government restrictions to explore new political ideologies can be an imprisonable offense in some countries. China uses what is known as the “Great Firewall” limit access to popular sites for this exact reason.
