The Deep Web is a subset of the World Wide Web that refers to content on the Internet that is not searchable by traditional search engines. All Web pages, websites, intranets, Restricted content, and personal Cloud Services are included in this category.
Unlinked Networks, online communities, and other content that is available via the Internet but is not crawled and indexed by search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo are examples of unlinked addresses.
Only 4% of the online is accessible, while 96% of the web is unseen or Deep Web, according to estimates. It may be a place of untapped potential, but with a little skill and luck, you can uncover a wealth of information that many people have worked hard to preserve.
It’s also known as the Invisible Web, Undernet, Deepnet, or Hidden Web. When the deep web search terminology was discussed alongside illicit activity taking place on the Freenet darknet in 2009, the terms “deep web” and “dark web” were first conflated.
Dark Web content, like deep Web content, is inaccessible to traditional search engines, although this is usually due to the content being unlawful.
What does this mean for security?
While the Deep Web is unlikely to be useful to the majority of Internet users, businesses must understand what goes on beneath the surface in order to safeguard their clients from cybercriminal activities taking place there. It comes particularly handy while communicating over a secure network.
Anyone who need protection from supervising authorities is one of these users.
Intelligence contractors, government or business employees, ordinary individuals, ex-spies, military personnel…all of these groups have previously spoken to media about corruption in their industries. They can convey classified information to journalists under the guise of anonymity in order to reveal wrongdoings.
The dark web is a wonderful way to communicate anonymously for anyone who wants to avoid government surveillance (which, in many situations, could later be used to suppress free speech). Organizations must adopt early detection and countermeasures against these dangers, as they will eventually find their way into the hands of users.
How to Access the Deep Web?
Tor was so successful at providing anonymity for these groups that it didn’t take long for the criminally inclined to use it. Tor isn’t used by all Dark Web sites. A specialised browser is required to access the Deep Web. The most popular browser is the Onion Router (also known as Tor), which is followed by I2P and Freenet.
Files are frequently hosted on a variety of different servers via peer-to-peer networking since the information on them cannot be accessed directly. As a result, this mode of data access is frequently encrypted, making it harder to monitor where users are situated and what data or information they are accessing. If you’re unfamiliar with Bitcoin, it’s a type of encrypted digital currency.
How Bitcoin Works will tell you all you need to know. Bitcoin, like conventional cash, may be used for a variety of transactions and, more importantly, it provides anonymity; no one can track a purchase, whether legal or illicit.
The future of the Deep Web
The Deep Web’s criminals and law enforcement organisations are always competing, with the criminals focusing on technological advancements to improve the stealth of their activities and find new ways to become even more anonymous and untraceable.
Its anonymity will continue to be a source of controversy and fascination for both law enforcement and Internet users seeking to avoid government surveillance and action. As a result, IT security professionals like you and me must continue to monitor the Deep Web as its importance on the Internet develops.
Is it illegal to access the deep Web?
Is it against the law to use the Deep Web? It’s been a circulating question on the internet for quite some time, with no definitive solutions. Browsing the deep web is not unlawful.
You are free to surf the deep web, but you are not allowed to purchase illegal things such as drugs, ammunition, fraudulent passports/licenses, driver’s or anything else that is illegal in your country. So there are no explicit laws, but there are laws; it’s more of a case of “applies to nothing but everything.”
And it is mostly determined by the country in which you reside. To answer your question about whether accessing the hidden Web is unlawful, I can only reply that it is at best criminal. You can’t be incarcerated or prosecuted for being on the deep web, according to this definition.
But it’s still something the government doesn’t support or approve of, so if you’re ever charged with another cyber-crime, the fact and proof that you’re a Deep web stroller could be used against you in court.
