deep web

What is the Deep Web?

The Internet runs far deeper than most people realize. The surface web — the public web we see through search engines — is only 10% of the entire Internet, according to estimates.

While the surface web is a good place to find things like news sites, e-commerce stores and video-hosting platforms, there’s much more content that exists on the deep web. This portion of the Internet includes non-indexed websites, as well as databases and intranets that aren’t accessible through traditional search engines.

What is the deep web?

The deep web is a collection of non-indexed websites that are not visible to traditional search engines. They include databases, intranets, and other private networks used by businesses, governments and schools.

How to access the deep web safely

Unlike the surface web, which is accessible by search engines, the deep web is not. Instead, it requires a dedicated network browser called Tor (also known as the Onion Routing project) to reach. This anonymizing technology makes it impossible for search engines to track your exact location, which means that hackers, governments and ISPs can’t track your activities on the deep web.

How to protect yourself on the dark web

To protect yourself from dangerous activity on the dark web, you should have a VPN installed, use safe password practices and be vigilant about your online activities. In addition, it’s best to keep your browser up to date and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Using a reputable antivirus will also help you stay protected from malware and viruses while browsing the dark web.