This lack of indexing of its content makes these layers of the internet less easily accessible and harder to navigate than the Surface Web. The deep web is defined as the internet section that is not indexed by web crawlers. The dark web, on the other hand, is defined as a subsegment of the deep web that can be accessed only with special tools. While the former is used chiefly for legitimate day-to-day online activities, the latter is more anonymous and known for illegal transactions. This article reveals the top five key differences between the dark web and the deep web. The Deep Web includes all content not indexed by search engines.This isn’t necessarily illegal—it’s just private or restricted.
Should I Use Services Like Web2Tor?
As a result, it not only focuses on the UK but also provides worldwide news. You can choose the best darknet (.onion) website that suits you and start surfing. For safer browsing, it is highly recommended to also use a VPN and antivirus software.
A lot of illegal activity takes place on the dark web, and engaging in any of that activity can be a criminal offense. Whistleblowers, journalists, and activists rely on the dark web to bypass censorship and communicate securely. Even reputable organizations like the BBC have mirror sites on the dark web to ensure that people living in oppressive regimes can access unbiased news. However, the main caveat is that the Tor network (an onion network that uses a series of nodes to provide you with access) is very slow. This makes it hard to use the Tor browser for surface web activities that require fast speeds (such as streaming, gaming, torrenting, making private calls, etc.).
What Is The Darknet?
For example, DuckDuckGo is the most popular but often shows repetitive results and is sometimes unrelated to the question. Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections to protect as many devices as possible. Also, try its services risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee. The VPN will protect your traffic when you connect with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption.

Table Of Contents

So, even though it does exist on the internet, Google doesn’t index any of these pages or content. For example, the Freedom of Information Foundation has long advocated for the use of the Dark Web in enabling free speech in repressive regimes. Would you be able to tell if a cybercriminal changed one character to send you to a malware-infested copycat site? There are a lot of misconceptions about it, but we’ll answer that question once and for all in this guide. We’ll also discuss why it’s dangerous and why you should inform yourself about the dark web even if you don’t plan to be on it. Learn effective strategies for conducting threat hunting in your organization.
First, Install A Reliable VPN

It offers top-of-the-line security and fast speeds for a smooth browsing experience on the dark web. ActiveX and Java frameworks are susceptible to being exploited by hackers. Since you are navigating in uncharted territories with all the myriad threats today, you’ll have to disable them in your network settings to stay safe. You should never use your personal information on the dark web anywhere else in your life. In fact, create new throwaway accounts and documents if possible. Ensure you have used prepaid and unidentifiable credit cards when purchasing on the dark web.
In addition to the Tor browser, you should use an antivirus program (like Norton 360) to protect your device from malware infections, and a VPN (like ExpressVPN) to secure your IP address and traffic. Also, only use .onion links from legitimate sources like The Hidden Wiki. Staying safe on the dark web requires even more vigilance than the public internet. Scammers and criminals are lurking everywhere to take advantage of the unwary. Follow the pointers below to avoid becoming a victim if accessing the dark web.

The deep web vs dark web are often misconstrued as being one thing when in reality they represent two different levels of the internet. The deep web refers to all that is accessible on the internet that is not indexed with those typical search engines. This would include a very broad range of content such as private databases, academic resources, and password-protected sites. Unlike the surface web, which is easily accessible and often serves legitimate purposes, the deep web holds valuable information that typically requires specific access credentials or subscriptions. Users often turn to the dark web for private communication, whistleblowing, or accessing restricted information in censored regions.
Safe Browsing Tips:
For example, Whonix’s virtual workstation machine connects to the internal virtual LAN. It can only interact with the gateway, the most effective method by which the browser protects user applications from learning a device’s IP address. To prevent detection, the program runs user data via a tiered stream before allowing access to the dark web. In due course, the framework was remodeled and made public as a secure browser. While it might appear tempting to venture into the dark web, it’s crucial to understand that the risks here are far more severe compared to the deep web. Therefore, if you do decide to explore it, exercise extreme caution.
Dark Web Search Engines
- Its free plan comes with up to 1 GB of storage, 150 messages per day, and 1 email address.
- Called “dark” because it is accessible with anonymity and only through certain networks and software such as Tor, this part of the Internet represents a small fraction of the overall Web.
- Due to the anonymity of the seller and buyer, these marketplaces are full of fraudulent sellers.
- ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.
- This article reveals the top five key differences between the dark web and the deep web.
Web crawlers run the regular internet, scouring the web to discover newly published websites or pages in a process called crawling. Anonymizing browsers are banned in some countries like China and Russia. Moreover, given the nefarious nature of the dark web, some government agencies may set up Tor gateways to monitor what’s happening on the dark web.
Legitimate Use Cases For The Average User

I2P can only be used to access hidden sites that are only available on the I2P network. Supreme Court will allow the FBI to search and seize any computer that’s using the Tor browser or VPN. Rule No.41 allows a federal judge to issue a search and seize warrant for any person who is using anonymity software like Tor. So, once you’ve activated your VPN and your privacy is secured, it’s time to visit Tor’s official download page. Make sure that when you download the Tor file, it’s from their official website. It’s impossible to access the dark web with a regular browser like Chrome or Safari.
While your IP address is hidden, the site can still collect information you share on your profile. The best news is Torch updates its sites every single day, so you’ll always be able to browse the latest news and access new services and sites. It lets you search both clearnet and dark web sites, but it blocks all trackers, doesn’t use your location data, and never stores your search history. Your traffic is relayed and encrypted three times as it passes over the Tor network. The network is comprised of thousands of volunteer-run servers known as Tor relays.
Illegal Trade And Services
Understanding how these parts of the internet work helps you protect your security and privacy as you navigate them. Dark web websites don’t bear Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) domains, such as .com. They use a scramble naming structure that combines a string of letters and numbers to create URLs that are impossible to remember.