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How To Protect Yourself Online
The deep web is mostly harmless and extremely important for protecting our personal information and privacy. But it isn’t the sinister abyss of illegal and disturbing activity that the media clamors about. Browsing the Deep web or Darknet is not a crime, but anything other than browsings, such as buying things or services, may be illegal in the user’s place of residence. Ivan Novikov is a white hat security professional with over 12 years of experience in security services and products. He is an inventor of memcached injection, and SSRF exploit class as well as a recipient of bounty awards from Google, Facebook and others. Ivan has recently been a speaker at HITB, Black Hat and other industry events.
Based in Switzerland, ProtonMail is an encrypted email service that is very popular with cryptocurrency enthusiasts. The process costs a fee, but unlike other “tumbler” or “mixing” services, there is no risk that Wasabi or any of its users could scam you out of your coins. In this guide, we’ll explain what the Deep Web and Dark Web are, how they’re different, what to do if your data has been leaked, and how you can safely access these hidden layers of the internet. Monitoring programs can also be customized within certain bounds to address gift card and digital product theft, the sale of credentials and customer data by insiders, and other specific merchant challenges. With all the discussions related to hacking and exploit trading on the dark web, it is a great place to see where yet-unknown vulnerabilities are being discussed.
Understanding the Deep Web and Dark Web
Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection scans the Dark Web to find if your personal information was exposed. This is true for all threat actors, no matter if they are lone hacktivists, organized cyber-crime, or nation-state operations. Because, as our cybersecurity experts have validated through decades of research and practice, your data has a price.
The terms deep web and dark web often evoke a sense of mystery and danger. While they are related, they represent different parts of the internet.
What is the Deep Web?
The deep web refers to all parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. Here are some characteristics of the deep web:
However, the Dark Web isn’t all bad, and, in fact, the technology that makes it possible, Tor, was originally created by the U.S. government for legitimate purposes. The Surface Web, which is accessible via search engines like Google and Bing, only makes up a small portion of the Internet. The Deep and Dark Web lay outside the publicly accessible portions of the Internet and are used for different purposes. Law enforcement agencies keep an ear to the ground on the dark web looking for stolen data from recent security breaches that might lead to a trail to the perpetrators. Many mainstream media organizations monitor whistleblower sites looking for news. If you want to learn all about privacy protection or cryptocurrency, the dark web has plenty to offer.
Some users use this website as a way around the government censorship that exists in some countries. By using the dark web version of Facebook, people can attempt to stay anonymous and speak freely. By creating a Facebook account on the dark web, you can attempt to do so completely anonymously by using a different name and email address.
- Contains private databases, academic resources, and subscription services.
- Includes user-generated content found on social media platforms.
- Houses sensitive information such as medical records and government resources.
- Generally, requires authentication or specific access rights to view.
If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. We continuously monitor activities or policy violations providing cloud and network virtualized containment, as well as threat hunting SOC Services, and 24/7 eyes on glass threat management. Install and run strong, trusted security software on your computer and devices to help ensure the privacy and security of your data. Here are a few tips and tools to help stay safe when using Tor and other browsers.
While the original aim of the dark web was to facilitate secret communication, the network’s anonymous nature also encouraged illegal activity. Helped by the launch of Bitcoin in 2009, the dark web quickly became a platform for criminals to source and deliver illegal items. All sites on the dark web end with “.onion,” as opposed to “.com” or “.org” commonly seen on the surface web. That’s a deliberate ploy so that only browsers with specific proxies are allowed to access those sites. It’s also very difficult to remember the URLs of sites on the dark web, which is another way to maintain their anonymity.
Estimates suggest that the deep web is significantly larger than the surface web, with the majority of its content hidden from public view.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a small portion of the deep web that has been intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It requires specific software or configurations, such as Tor, to access.
- Moreover, if ProtonMail gets blocked in your country, Tor can circumvent this block.
- It lies within the deepest parts of the internet abyss and requirse non-standard protocols and ports to access.
- This kind of data emerges on black-market pages and is sold within days.
- Although fee-for-service sites, such as Netflix, are visible on the web, most of their content is not.
- Meanwhile, many users are trying to use a limited number of relays—some of which will be low quality.
- Often associated with illicit activities, including the sale of drugs and weapons.
- Hosts anonymous websites that prioritize user privacy.
- Implements strong encryption and anonymity tools for both users and operators.
The dark web is notorious for illegal activities but also serves as a platform for free speech in oppressive regimes.
Differences Between Deep Web and Dark Web
While both the deep web and dark web are not indexed by traditional search engines, they differ fundamentally:
- The deep web is largely benign, containing useful resources, while the dark web often harbors illegal or dangerous content.
- Accessing the deep web typically requires credentials; meanwhile, the dark web necessitates special software.
- The deep web includes medical records, academic journals, and databases; the dark web includes marketplaces, forums, and hidden services.
Common Misconceptions
Several myths surround the concepts of the deep web and dark web, including:
- All of the dark web is illegal: While much of it is used for illicit purposes, there are legitimate uses, such as protecting freedom of expression.
- The deep web is dangerous: Most of the deep web is secure, containing everyday information and data.
- Accessing the dark web is easy: It requires specific knowledge and tools to navigate safely.
FAQs about the Deep Web and Dark Web
1. Is everything on the dark web illegal?
No, not all content on the dark web is illegal. Some sites focus on privacy and free speech.
2. How do I access the dark web?
Accessing the dark web typically requires using specialized browsers like Tor, along with an understanding of how to maintain privacy.
3. Can I be tracked on the dark web?
While the dark web provides anonymity, it is still possible to be tracked if proper precautions are not taken.
4. What are the risks of exploring the dark web?
The risks include exposure to illegal content, potential scams, and security threats like malware or hacking attempts.
Conclusion
The deep web and dark web are essential components of the internet, each serving different purposes. Understanding their differences helps demystify the online world and encourages safe practices when exploring these hidden spaces.
