Introduction
The terms ‘dark web’ and ‘deep web’ are often used in the place of the other. Though they aren’t
always wrong in doing so, the two terms can’t always be used with the same meaning in mind.
There is also another term that you will need to know in order to understand the other two, and
that is ‘surface web’. You must want to know “what is the difference between the dark web and
the deep web.”
Well we are here to help you find out. We will also tell you what the dark web wiki and how you
can access it.
What Is the Surface Web?
The surface web is the indexed web we use in our day-to-day lives. It is also called the visible
web. The fact that it’s indexed means we can search its content using search engines like google,
yahoo, or bing. These are regular search engines that are used by well-meaning, ordinary people.
Though the surface web seems limitless, it only makes up about 0.03% of the Internet as we
know it.
What Is the Deep Web?
Now that you know what the deep web is, you can easily piece together that the deep web is the
exact opposite of that. The deep web is web content not covered by the surface web search
engines. The search engines are not indexed from the outside world.
It is the largest new information category on the Internet. The deep web is what constitutes the
other 99.97% not covered by the surface web. The total depth of the web is 1000-2000X higher
than the surface web quantity.
What Is the Dark Web?
Now that you know what the deep web is, one question still remains, what is the dark web? The
dark web is even deeper part of the deep web. The dark web is deliberately hidden from your
average search engines. It encrypts all of its information. You need special software,
configurations, or permission to access it.
The IP addresses you use are masked and only accessible with a particular web browser. Tor,
I2P, Freenet, etc., for instance. It is a small portion of the Deep Web (0.01 percent). But it is
generally focused on illegal activities and services, which make it impossible to access if you do
not know exactly which way you are to go.
It could be quite awful. Some people call it the darkest surface of humanity. Though it is
unsearchable by ordinary search engines, it is indexed in the dark web wiki which is more
popularly referred to as the ‘Hidden Web Wiki’ and can be navigated using that.
What Is the Difference Between the Dark Web and The Deep Web?
We have gone over the semantics of it, but you should still know some key differences to
understand the two terms fully.
Deep web is usually used for legitimate, legal purposes. But, the dark web is normally
exclusively a hub for illegal activities, so it makes sense to seek anonymity. This makes
the dark web an illegal off-shoot of the deep web.
In order to have access to Deep Web, you only need encryption or a password. But on the
other hand, you need a Tor Project or a similar browser to access the dark Web.
Deep and Dark Web are both hidden from conventional search engines and are not
displayed. The dark web however can be navigated to an extent using the dark web wiki.
The deep web is larger than the surface web, but the dark web only makes up a fraction
of it.
What Is the Dark Web Wiki?
The dark web wiki is an index of dark web websites. Many think of it as the “introduction” of
Tor. It looks like Wikipedia and has many connections to the onion using links. It includes links
to many illegal websites. Some websites on the dark web have been planted by law enforcement
but there are many actual illegal marketplaces on the dark web.
Bitcoins are normally traded for illegal goods or items as they are not regulated like regular
currency or traceable. Many things on the dark web for sale are shams that are designed to get
your bitcoins without keeping the promise.
Obviously, if someone really wants to purchase access, the victims of scams will receive little
sympathy. However, it does not make the dark web more harmful just because the services
advertised are in many cases just scams.
What Is the TOR Project?
To allow anonymized communication through the use of Internet traffic via a worldwide, free,
voluntary network of overlays, TOR offers itself as free and open-source software. The full form
of it is ‘The Onion Router’. It works on the principle of layers, like an onion. It creates layers
using over seven thousand relays.
TOR can disguise where a user lives and uses anybody carrying out network monitoring or
traffic analysis. TOR makes tracking internet activity more difficult and masks its users. Tor’s
was created with the intention of protecting the privacy of the users. TOR is often used then to
access and browse the dark web with anonymity.
Things to Consider When Using the Dark Web Wiki
Here are a few things you should be mindful of when navigating the dark web using the dark
web wiki:
Do not visit websites you know are illegal and harmful, they can land you in jail or with
the wrong people.
Do not access illegal materials that can expose your device to viruses.
No files or software from the dark web should be downloaded because they often contain
malware.
Limit your searches to serious research.
Do not trust anybody.
Cover your webcam or disconnect them.
Disable java scripts for extra protection.
Conclusion
Now you know “what is the difference between the dark web and the deep web.” And you also
find out what the dark web wiki is. We hope you will use this newfound knowledge for good and
use proper precautions if you decide to look through the dark web wiki.