Those involved in the internethave almost certainly heard talk of the Deep and Dark Web, as well as the dangers that may lurk there.
See also: Deep Web search engines for researchers
But what exactly are these parts of the web and why have they gotten a bad reputation?
First, what we need to know is that the internet and the web are two different entities. The internet was created by DARPA in the 1960s, while the World Wide Web, or web, was developed almost 3 decades later at the CERN particle physics research laboratory, near Geneva, Switzerland.
The web includes three different types, the Surface or Clear Web, the Deep Web and the Dark Web. To better understand the concept of the above types, we can think of the web as an iceberg, where we can only see a small part of it, while most of it is below the surface of the water.
At the tip of the iceberg is the Surface or Clear Web and is the part of the internet that is visible and accessible to all users.
It contains the websites we visit on a daily basis, the services that serve us in our work or communication and in general it is the part that most of us know as the internet. The Surface Web also includes the search engines that we use for the information we need for our daily activities. Although it is the most well-known of the types, it constitutes only 4% of the total internet.
See also: How to change the default search engine on Android?
Beneath the Surface Web lies the Deep Web, and we can imagine it as the tip of an iceberg that goes below the surface of the water. It is much larger than the Surface Web and accounts for about 90% of all websites on the internet. The Deep Web includes data that is not accessible by major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Firefox. We need special access, in the form of credentials, to be able to view some of this data.
It is the part of the web that contains medical and financial records, social media files, and many other important information that we would not want to be accessible through a simple Google search. The Deep Web also includes many private databases, as well as illegal content.
In the deepest parts of the Deep Web, the most dangerous content and activity is found, and only Tor sites reach this end of the deep web, which is better known as the Dark Web and is only accessible by anonymous browsers.
We could imagine the Dark Web as the tip of the iceberg in the water, which you find quite deep within the web. It is a very hidden part of the Deep Web that few will ever interact with or see, and it is not the most secure part of the world wide web.
However, it is important to note that the Dark Web is not exclusively for criminal activity, but can also empower people through anonymity. In countries that restrict free speech or closely monitor the communication of their citizens, the Dark Web helps with freedom of expression and seeking information that is otherwise unavailable.
See also: Parler: The new free expression social media ... of conservatives
However, there is no denying the fact that the Dark Web is mostly used for illegal activities.
Simply browsing the Deep and Dark Web is not illegal. However, purchasing prohibited products or services is illegal and there is no guarantee that you will not lose your money.
The Dark Web was once a haven for hackers , law enforcement officers, and cybercriminals. However, encryption technology and the Tor browser software now allow anyone to delve into the dark side of the web if they are interested.
If you need to access the Dark Web, you should make sure you stay safe while using it.
To avoid scams, you should first and foremost be smart when browsing the dark web. Staying safe requires being careful about who you talk to and what sites you visit.
Your username, email address, “real name,” password, and credit card should never be used anywhere on the Dark Web. Create new accounts and IDs if necessary.
Don't use anything that could be used to identify you. Many online security services now offer identity protection. Be sure to take advantage of these tools.
The fear of malware infection is significantly higher in the illicit dark web. Real-time file scanning by an antivirus program can help you check any incoming files in case you choose to download them.
Use a secondary account without administrator rights for dark web activities so that even if you fall victim to hacking, your personal information cannot be discovered.
Of course, even if you don't visit the dark web, there is still the possibility that your data could be at risk.
That's why you should always be on guard, change your passwords regularly, and not trust messages you receive from unknown people.
