One of the most asked question by people across the globe is ‘Is the dark or deep web real?’ Before diving into the dark web, it is very important to know about the Surface, dark and deep web. It is basically that part of the internet which is hidden from conventional users. Accessing deep websites requires special software and different configuration and settings. What we call the ‘dark web’ is not indexed by search engines and therefore does not appear to every user present on the internet. Special software like Tor is required to access the dark web, which allows user anonymity across the network.
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Definition – What does Dark and Deep Web mean?
It is just part of the internet that is not indexed and visible to search engines. (like Google, Yahoo, Bing etc.) It requires an anonymizing browser to access it. We only access only 5-10% web, i.e. surface web and the other 90% is called the Dark or Deep web, which is part of the deeper part. Dark Web is popular with both the black market as well as user protection, so it has both positive and negative aspects.
Differences – Deep Web Vs Dark Web
Most people tend to confuse the deep web with the dark web. Although, in essence, both of these terms are co-related to each other, there is a major difference between the two.
The Deep web is that part of the internet which is unindexed by any search engine. The deep web consists of content and web pages not found by the conventional search engine. A variety of web pages and websites can be categorized under the deep web.
The dark web is a smaller subset of the deep web. It differs from the deep web in the fact that the content of the dark web is intentionally hidden from the normal internet. This makes it an excellent platform for all sorts of illicit and criminal activities. The contents of the dark web can be accessed with the help of special software like Tor. But still, the question haunts – ‘is it real?’
The existence of the Dark or Deep Web
While for some, the question ‘Is the dark web real?’ is a myth, there are many who believe that dark or deep web does exist. It is a place where people store their information and data they do not want the public to access. Even conventional web browsers fail to find this information and content. The existence of the dark web also begs the question, ‘ What kind of content and information is stored in the dark web?’
What is Found on the Dark Web?
Mostly, one can find illegal and abusive content on the dark web, along with illegal services. Some of the content you can expect to find on the mysterious web is as follows -:
- Porn – It is full of illegal porn. People tend to share all kinds of abusive videos on the dark web without any filters. Child pornography and revenge porn are some of the most sought videos available on it. These children are trafficked from poor countries and forced into prostitution.
- Arms trafficking is also a primary hub for all sorts of arms trafficking. Criminals and terrorist groups all around the world have been using the dark web more and more in recent years to trade weapons and ammunition. Since user anonymity is maintained on it, it becomes easy for these criminals and terrorist groups to operate without the intervention of law enforcement agencies.
- Drug trade – Another major item which is traded on the dark web in heavy quantity is drugs. It has become the prime hotspot for all drug dealers to sell their products to their customers at a competitive price without the fear of getting caught by law agencies. The anonymity of the dark or deep web ensures the protection of the identity of both the supplier and the dealer.
- Black hat hackers – It is also a prime hub for the operations of various black hat hackers. Data and information have a tremendous value on the dark web, and these black hat hackers sell confidential data and information to the highest bidder. One can even buy a subscription to malware software, which is capable of ruining the system infrastructure of organizations etc.
- Illegal services – It also provides a platform for users to hire all kinds of black hat services like a contract killing, kidnapping, extortion, cyber terrorism etc. The user anonymity on the dark web makes sure that the parties involved in these activities are not caught.
Security Precautions:
One must understand the consequence of using the deep web and the deep web formal practices. Accessing the dark web is not illegal. However, one must exercise extreme caution while surfing. You should also get a VPN as an extra layer of insurance. If you go into the dark web without a VPN, identifying details such as your location could be compromised. No personal information must be disclosed. Suspicious links should not be clicked. It is also advised not to trust anyone on the darknet completely. Regarding the software configuration, one must ensure that the Javascript cookies are disabled.
The Verdict
It is obvious that the dark or deep web is real and exists in some parts of the internet. However, it is very difficult to comprehend the size and value of the dark web exactly, and it is also complicated to understand what kind of content and information gets flown around these secret webs.
