Deep Web came to the forefront in 2015 with the Silk Road case, in which Ross Ulbricht was jailed in prison. Silk Road was a Deep Web platform that introduced internet users to Bitcoin. All sites that cannot be found through search queries or that are not found by search engines such as Google or Yandex are included in the Deep Web.
Deep Web includes hidden databases, subscription-based websites, or illegal activities. Many web pages such as information, images, and videos are found within the Deep Web.
Deep Web is different from other search engines and is believed to have more data than the data of these search engines.
Internet sites may not want to be viewed for various reasons. For example, information such as library archives, public and private company databases are data whose general access is restricted. In some cases, it may not be desirable to view content that is difficult to index. In addition to all of these, sites that work with AJAX (jQuery) and sites that work with passwords, as well as FTP sites that are difficult for search engines to read, are also included in the Deep Web.
To prevent security vulnerabilities, system and administrator folders on sites and forums are naturally not shown in search results. It is possible to access the Deep Web through different search engines. For user safety, these links cannot be accessed with standard browsers like Google. According to a study conducted by the University of California in 2001, it is known that data of 7.5 petabytes exists on the system called Deep Web.
What Are the Significant Characteristics of Deep Web?
The unique features of Deep Web are as follows:
- Inaccessible to search engines
- Accessible through special browsers
- Contains various content, including illegal activities
- Likely to contain security vulnerabilities
- Contains a vast amount of information
- Includes features that preserve anonymity
Inaccessible to Search Engines
The Deep Web contains internet pages that search engines cannot index or access. Therefore, pages within the Deep Web cannot be found through normal internet searches or browsers.
Accessible through Special Browsers
Special browsers are required to access the Deep Web. These browsers allow users to connect to the internet while hiding their identity. For example, the Tor internet browser can be used.
Contains Various Content, Including Illegal Activities
While most pages within the Deep Web contain legal and informative content, pages that host illegal activities, such as drug and weapon sales and child abuse, can also be found.
Likely to Contain Security Vulnerabilities
As the Deep Web hosts many pages that search engines cannot access, it is likely to contain security vulnerabilities. Therefore, caution should be exercised when accessing the Deep Web, and users should avoid entering unknown pages.
Contains a Vast Amount of Information
The Deep Web contains a larger amount of data than what can be found on the normal internet, including many pieces of information that search engines cannot index. As a result, a wide range of information and content on various topics can be found within the Deep Web.
Includes Features that Preserve Anonymity
Special browsers used to access the Deep Web conceal a user's identity, thus preserving anonymity. Therefore, anonymity is crucial when carrying out illegal activities within the Deep Web.
How to Access Deep Web?
The Deep Web can be accessed through closed DNS redirections. This can only be done using specially designed operating systems and browsers. One of the browser applications used to access the Deep Web is Tor Browser.
Tor Browser was developed by the United States Navy but later canceled and began to be used on the internet.
All internet sites that produce and share illegal content in the Deep Web are referred to as the Dark Web. Deep Web is generally referred to as the Dark Web. Some countries in the world (China, Iran, Russia, Armenia and Egypt) have censored the Tor browser due to illegal content found within it.
It should not be forgotten that caution is required when accessing Deep Web. This is because there are sites where illegal activities are carried out, which can harm users. In addition, security vulnerabilities can occur when accessing Deep Web, and users' personal data can be put at risk. Therefore, it is important for users to take security measures and choose trustworthy sites before accessing Deep Web.
