The Difference Between the Dark Web and the Deep Web
Drugs, death and depravity probably come to mind whenever you hear about the dark web. Or is it the deep web? Is it both? You may find yourself confusing the two terms, assuming that both the dark web and the deep web are the same place for illegal and generally shady activities. But while the dark web is part of the deep web, the deep web is not really a dark web.
What is the dark web?
Let’s start with the type of internet you’re probably thinking of with the phrases “dark web” and “deep web”. You probably envision an underground, secret network of sites where illegal activities abound, drugs, smuggling and banned media are passed around with reckless vigor. These sites certainly exist, and they are part of the so-called “dark web”.
However, the darknet is not only a playground for perverts. While these sites get all the attention, the dark web is not really defined by the content of its sites (even if most of us define it as such). Instead, the dark web is simply a collection of private networks that cannot be accessed through traditional methods.
What is a “surface web”?
The Internet, as most of us know, is called the “surface web.” In fact, this is a set of sites that are indexed by search engines. If it pops up in Google search results, then it’s part of the surface web. This does not apply to the dark web. You can’t open Chrome, type “drugs please” and expect to find these sites. In fact, you can’t use Chrome or any traditional web browser at all.
How to access the dark web
If you want to access the dark web, you will need special tools to do so. (You can learn more about accessing the dark web here .) To get started, a specific browser is required, such as Tor, for example. Just like you use Chrome to access public internet sites like Facebook or Lifehacker, you use one of those browsers to access dark web pages.
However, it’s not just the browser that makes the dark web unique: because you need special protocols to access these sites, this traffic is often private and anonymous. This is what makes the dark web an attractive option for illegal activities – activity on the site is not tracked down to individual user accounts. Cryptocurrency, like bitcoin, is a darknet currency as it also protects your privacy during transactions.
However, not everything is so bad. While the most common uses of the dark web may be against the law, anyone with a reason to be anonymous can use the networks. Common examples of “good” on the dark web are whistleblowers who need a place to leak their information without the governments and organizations responsible for that data knowing who they are.
So what is a “deep web”?
The dark web is just a subsection of the (and smaller) deep web. The deep web, also known as the “hidden” web, is a collection of sites that are not indexed by search engines. While this definition includes dark web pages, it also includes sites that are completely harmless. Most of these sites are hidden behind login pages and can range from banking and email to paywall content such as live streaming. Sure, you’ll find Netflix through a Google search, but you won’t find a player for Better Call Saul , Season 1, Episode 5 unless you first log into the site.
It also consists of protocol pages responsible for identifying user accounts when entering a site, making payments when making a purchase, and other sites that you will never need. In short, it is both the backbone of the Internet and the part of the Internet that you regularly see for yourself. Deep web pages are not indexed but often have URLs that can be directly linked to and are accessible from traditional web browsers such as Chrome or Firefox.
In short, the deep web is not a scary place. Darknet maybe , but not necessarily.
[ Britannica ]