How To Protect Yourself On The Dark Web
For added peace of mind, your Aura plan comes equipped with a $1,000,000 insurance policy that covers eligible losses resulting from identity theft. The reality is that you won’t realize how extensive your personal data exposure is until you look at the hard data. While no one can pinpoint the origins of the Dark Web, it’s now referenced in mainstream conversations about technology and digital security as the seedy source of many security issues. Because not all the information you can access online belongs in the public domain. After all, not everyone buying on the dark web may need something illegal — they may only want to purchase goods anonymously.
Understanding the Dark Web vs Deep Web
In the realm of the internet, two terms often cause confusion: dark web and deep web.
Pages on the Deep Web are commonly protected by a login page, password, paywall, or other means of limiting access, and are designed to be private. Deep Web pages include personal pages like webmail inboxes and account pages on various sites. They also include internal company data and sites that are accessible via the Internet but protected by authentication. In case you’re wondering how to access the deep web, chances are you already use it daily. The term “deep web” refers to all web pages that that are unidentifiable by search engines.
As mentioned, The Onion Router, which helped fuel the Dark Web, was a creation of the US Naval Research Laboratory in the mid-1990s to shield the identity of intelligence agents. Instead, law enforcement teams dedicate resources towards seizing and shutting down notorious Dark Web marketplaces. For example, you may have heard of the Hansa Market Dark Web seizure.
While they are frequently mentioned together, they represent vastly different parts of the online landscape.
The Dark Web was designed to maximize user anonymity by hiding information about their location, IP address, and activity. People often confuse the dark web with cryptocurrencies, which are often used to make purchases there. The dark web makes it easier to set up and access websites that offer a high degree of anonymity for everyone involved. If you liked this article, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube, for more cybersecurity news and topics. Sooner or later, some of your data will spill over to collections available for sale on the dark web.
The deep web is part of your everyday web and thus has to comply with all sorts of security standards and be hosted by companies that have at least some interest in maintaining their users’ privacy. When it comes to comparing the dark and deep web, the differences are many. Perhaps that has awoken you to the need to maintain your privacy and security on all of those webs? Due to the fluid and unofficial nature of the dark web, nobody knows how big it is.
They offer various electronic services, including physical technology, Internet services, entertainment programs, communications plans, etc. This week, around 643k data records were announced as lost in the cyber wars. Early on, the public learned of HopSkipDrive’s event, which impacted 155k student guardians. Navvis & Company is a comprehensive healthcare network throughout the US, including Hawaii. They offer scalable healthcare services that push patients towards their health and wellness goals while supporting providers’ roles to achieve those milestones.
Using a special browser known as The Onion Router (Tor), users can explore these hidden sites and engage in both legal and illicit activities under the cover of an anonymous IP address. Here’s a look at how the dark web works and the many ways in which people use it, both legally and illegally. The deep web refers to any web content that is not indexed – or pages that can’t be found with a search engine. Examples of the deep web include any websites that are behind a paywall or require log-in credentials.
What is the Deep Web?
- For these reasons, without the exact address you want to load, reaching certain websites can be difficult.
- You can access content such as human trafficking and can purchase items such as firearms and drugs.
- Today, the dark web has expanded and evolved greatly, working with increased sophistication.
- The magnitude of the Hidden Web is colossal, dwarfing regular internet territory by roughly 550 times.
- No one can prevent all identity theft or monitor all transactions effectively.
- As such, most of the attention is placed on online marketplaces for drugs, exchanges for stolen data, and other illegal activities when people think of the dark web.
The deep web encompasses all parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
This means that the information found here is not accessible through a standard search query.
Examples of deep web content include:
- Private databases (like academic journals and medical records)
- Online banking portals
- Subscription-only websites
- Intranet systems used by corporations
- Secure government resources
Essentially, the deep web is vast, comprising an estimated **90-95%** of the entire internet.
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 browsers.
Accessing the dark web usually requires specialized software, such as Tor or I2P, which provide anonymity to users.
Common activities and services found on the dark web include:
- Illegal drug sales
- Weapons trafficking
- Hacking services
- Stolen data and personal information
- Forums for whistleblowers and activists
While it does host illegal activities, it also serves as a platform for privacy-focused individuals seeking protection from government surveillance.
Key Differences Between Dark Web and Deep Web
Understanding the differences between the two is crucial:
- Accessibility: The deep web is accessed through normal internet browsers but requires credentials, while the dark web requires specialized software for access.
- Content: The deep web contains legitimate content like medical records and databases, whereas the dark web is predominantly known for illegal and illicit activities.
- Indexing: Content on the deep web is not indexed by search engines, while the dark web operates on a hidden network purposefully obscured from the public eye.
FAQs About Dark Web vs Deep Web
Q: Is the entire dark web illegal?
A: No, while a significant portion hosts illegal activities, the dark web also contains legal content, especially for those seeking privacy.
Q: Can I access the dark web with a regular browser?
A: No, you need specific software like Tor to access the dark web.
Q: Is it safe to explore the deep web?
A: Generally, browsing the deep web is safe if you are accessing legitimate sites. However, caution is advised in sensitive areas.
Understanding the distinction between the dark web and deep web is essential for navigating the internet and staying informed.
While both have unique characteristics, only the dark web is often associated with criminal activity, while the deep web holds a treasure trove of valuable, legitimate information.
