The Differences Between the Deep Web and Dark Web

When it comes to the world of the internet, terms like deep web and dark web are often used interchangeably. However, they actually refer to two distinct parts of the online world with different characteristics and uses.

By tracking the Dark Web, organizations can quickly find out if their data has been compromised and take steps to mitigate the damage. Cybercriminals that buy stolen passwords from the Dark Web can use them for all kinds of online attacks, including ransomware attacks. In fact, experts believe that a stolen password helped the Darkside ransomware group attack Colonial Pipeline. Many Internet users find content on the Deep Web through the surface web. But when you access your account using your login credentials, you’re on the Deep Web.

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Deep Web

The deep web refers to any part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. This includes content behind paywalls, private databases, and password-protected websites. While the deep web is not inherently illegal, it is often associated with sensitive information that is not meant for public consumption. Examples of deep web content include medical records, academic journals, and internal company documents.

Data Structures And Algorithms

Our newsletter provides insights, news, tips and more for Fraud, Risk, Payment and Security Professionals. Install Avast SecureLine VPN for iOS to protect your privacy and keep your data from falling into the wrong hands. Install Avast SecureLine VPN for Android to protect your privacy and keep your data from falling into the wrong hands. The release of Freenet in 2000 is often cited as the beginning of the dark web. The thesis project of Ian Clarke, a student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, the Freenet was intended as a way to anonymously communicate, exchange files, and interact online.

Dark Web

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The Silk Road was perhaps one of the most well-known examples of an illegal marketplace in the darknet. It was shut down in 2013 but not before it showed the world how easy it was to buy illegal drugs, counterfeit documents, and other questionable items online. The deep web can help protect personal information, but that doesn’t mean that clever hackers can’t still crack the sits on it. Cybercriminals often use tactics like credential stuffing and password spraying to obtain the details they need to steal and expose your data. Some mainstream sites are only accessible via the deep web because of how they customize each page to the user. Streaming platforms are a great example of this, requiring you to enter your login credentials immediately before you can continue to watch your favorite TV shows and movies.

On the other hand, the dark web is a small portion of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. The dark web is often associated with illicit activities such as drug trafficking, illegal weapons sales, and cybercrime. Users accessing the dark web usually do so anonymously through tools like Tor (The Onion Router) to hide their identity and location.

For example, you might tell your closest friend about a problem in your personal life, but you would not tell the clerk at your grocery store. Silk Road was a pioneering darknet market, established in 2011 by its founder Ross Ulbricht who was known as ‘Dread Pirate Roberts’ in online circles. Managed entirely on Ulbricht’s personal laptop, this online black market facilitated a slew of illicit transactions until it was shut down by the FBI. The dark web is actually considered to be a small part of the deep web. It can only be accessed through special networks like Tor or via static IPs shared privately. However, the dark web is also used by individuals seeking online privacy or to bypass censorship in their home countries.

Main Differences

While both the deep web and dark web are not indexed by traditional search engines, the key difference lies in their content and accessibility. The deep web encompasses a vast amount of legitimate and harmless content that simply requires special access, while the dark web is a smaller, more secretive part of the deep web that is often associated with illegal activities.

The majority of criminal data that is bought and sold on the dark web are breached databases, drugs, weapons, and counterfeit items. Users utilize crytpocurrency to make every currency transaction decentralized and anonymized as well. Some people speculate that a deeper “layer” of the dark web exists, called the shadow web. There are conflicting reports of the accuracy of these claims and the existence of such a level of internet secrecy and restricted access. Forums and web boards have alluded to the shadow web as a pay-wall level of the dark web where people can view things like video documentation of executions.

It allows users to visit websites without divulging information that could be used to track the people they surf the internet. Many legitimate websites, including the New York Times, have a dark web presence, and other reputable organizations try to create websites that offer users a cloak of invisibility. Using the Deep Web is as simple as opening your favorite browser and checking your email.

• Prior to Keeper, Darren served as an advisor to JiWire, now called NinthDecimal.
• Its focus on privacy has made it a popular channel for hackers, cybercriminals, and other threats who prefer anonymity regardless of whether the communication or transaction is illegal or not.
• Yet the legality of accessing and using the deep web and the dark web can vary by country.

In conclusion, understanding the distinctions between the deep web and dark web is crucial for navigating the online world safely and responsibly. By being aware of these differences, internet users can better protect themselves from potential risks associated with accessing hidden parts of the web.