The deep web refers to sites and pages that are not indexed by search engines. This means that you can’t find deep web sites via Google or Bing, and for good reason. You don’t want someone finding your private data through a search engine.
While the deep web is not inherently dangerous, its vast data is a target for many hackers. To secure your connection every time you access the deep web, follow these basic cybersecurity tips:
- Install a reliable antivirus to detect and weed out any malware.
- Use a VPN when accessing the deep web to keep your information safe and encrypted.
- Create strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.
- Use two-factor authentication for all your accounts.
Our highest-ranking VPN is NordVPN. We tested it against dozens of other VPNs, and it has proven to offer you the best protection on the deep web and dark web.
Learn more about the deep web’s features and differences between the deep, surface and dark webs by reading the rest of this article.
Wondering how to access the deep web? You may not realize it, but you already browse the deep web on a regular basis. Anytime you log into Facebook, your work email, or your online bank account, you get on the deep web.
Estimates suggest that the majority of the internet is considered the “deep web.” Only about 4 to 5% of the internet counts as the “surface web.”
But what is the deep web exactly? What are the differences between the deep web and the dark web? In this article, we discuss the deep web, what you can find there, and how you can access it.
What is the Deep Web?
The “deep web” refers to web pages that are hidden from search engines and require some form of authentication before they can be viewed.
Examples of the deep web include your email inbox, your cloud storage, your Spotify library, your cryptocurrency wallet, and the dashboards of online student portals and bank accounts. All of these examples require you to first log into your account before you can view them.
Your Netflix dashboard is another prime example of what you can find on a deep web site. While Netflix’s homepage is accessible to anyone, your personal dashboard can only be opened if the correct login info is provided.
News articles that are behind paywalls also count as part of the deep web. This is because you need a paid subscription before you can read the article.
Deep web vs. Dark web: What are the differences?
Many people confuse the deep web and the dark web. Others even use the terms interchangeably. However, there are some technical differences between the two.
| Feature | The Deep Web | The Dark Web |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | The deep web can be visited using any browser as long as you have the correct login credentials. | You need to know the exact URL of the dark web page you want to visit, as you can’t find them using search engines. |
| Searchability | Web pages on the deep web can’t be found using a search engine. | The dark web requires a specialized browser (the Tor browser) in order to view dark web pages. |
| Examples | Your WhatsApp messages, your saved tweets on Twitter, confidential company databases | Black markets, dark web versions of news websites, dark web search engines |
The dark web is significantly smaller than the deep web. Estimates suggest the dark web only makes up around 0.01% of the deep web. You’ll need a dark web browser, such as the Tor Browser, to access the dark web. This browser makes use of the Tor network to keep your identity hidden while you browse the dark web.
Since websites can operate in total anonymity, the dark web has become associated with many illegal activities. You can find stolen credit cards, hacked PayPal accounts, and ransomware-as-a-service on the dark web.
We don’t recommend visiting the dark web unless you’ve studied how to do so safely. Using the Tor browser alone poses a risk since it doesn’t encrypt your browsing and downloading activities. For that, you need a virtual private network. We recommend NordVPN for its top-notch security features.
What was the Silk Road?
The Silk Road was one of the most well-known dark web commerce sites. This dark web site doesn’t exist anymore — and if it did, we’d tell you to steer clear!
People often ask us what was traded on the Silk Road, and the answer is nothing good. This website was a bastion of illegal activity, selling everything from drugs to weapons. That is, until it was shut down a few years after launching in 2010, with its creator jailed for life without parole.
Note:
We don’t recommend buying anything illegal online. Even the best VPNs won’t protect your anonymity from law enforcement agencies that are determined enough to locate you.
How to Access the Deep Web
How does one get into the deep web? In most cases, all you need to access the deep web is a web browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.
Next, you’ll need the correct credentials to log into an account you own or a subscription to a paywalled website.
In short, accessing the deep web is pretty straightforward. Whether for personal use or work, you probably already do it on a daily basis.
How Big is the Deep Web?
The deep web is vast, especially compared to the surface web. Some estimate the deep web is about 400 or 500 times larger than the “surface web.” The surface web refers to websites that you can find by Googling, such as The New York Times.
To give you an idea of how big the deep web is:
- More than 347.3 billion emails are sent daily, contributing to the growing size of the deep web. All these emails can be found on the deep web.
- There are more than 1 million academic papers uploaded on the Social Science Research Network, which you can only access after creating an account.
- Facebook’s 2.89 billion users have uploaded countless photos and videos over the years, to say nothing of Instagram’s 2 billion users and TikTok’s 1.67 billion users. All the photos and videos not set to public are part of the deep web.
How Does the Deep Web Work?
Websites on the deep web are “hidden” from search engines because they are invisible to “web crawlers” and search engine indexes.
For a better understanding of how the deep web works, let’s first look at how search engines work. Whatever search engine you’re using, the process is largely the same.
How search engines index surface web content
- Search engine crawlers analyze content. Crawlers are bots that quite literally “crawl” the web to scour for new websites, newly published content, and updated content.
- Search engines index the crawlers’ findings. “Indexing” means the web page will be stored in an organized index connected to the search engine.
- Users are served with results relevant to their search. When users make a search, they are served results based on indexed pages.
How deep web content is hidden
Crawlers can’t find deep web content because these websites don’t have any inbound or outbound links connecting them directly to the surface web. It would be like trying to locate a hidden passageway that doesn’t have any doors and isn’t on any maps.
Deep web pages are purposely hidden from traditional search engines in order to protect their content. For instance, the exact URL of your bank account dashboard is not available to Google — or anyone using Google. This makes it more difficult for hackers to gain access to your bank account.
For the same reason, deep web pages are hidden behind signups and logins. If a hacker doesn’t have your login details, they won’t be able to open your dashboard.
Is the Deep Web Dangerous?
The invisible web is not inherently more dangerous than the surface web. Like anywhere online, the deeper web contains pages that are dangerous or best avoided. However, there are also countless deep web sites that are safe to view.
In fact, the biggest danger associated with the deep web is when a data leak or targeted hack occurs. These incidents can expose personal information you have stored on the deep web. And unfortunately, they’re becoming increasingly common:
- In 2022, the popular fantasy sports and betting platform DraftKings was hacked. The hackers accessed player accounts, stealing around $300,000. Players’ account balances are stored on company servers on the deep web, making them a lucrative target for cybercriminals.
- In January 2023, sports and fashion giant JD Sports suffered a data breach when an unauthorized third party gained access to its systems. According to our news investigation, around 10 million customers were affected, with personal information on the deep web stolen.
- In July 2023, the popular game Roblox saw a data breach that affected not just players but developers too. The breach actually occurred nearly three years ago but wasn’t unearthed until much later.
How to Stay Safe on the Deep Web
To avoid deep web and dark web dangers and keep your data private, we recommend the following:
1. Install an antivirus scanner on your device
Installing an antivirus on your device helps protect you from deep web malware attacks. There’s always a risk of being infected by malware whenever you open your emails. This risk is most pressing if you interact with links or attachments, which can inject malware straight onto your device.
Note:
Never download an attachment from an unknown sender, and avoid clicking on suspicious links from unknown people!
The best real-time antivirus will also spot suspicious dark web websites before you venture onto them. Norton 360 offers protection for the most popular desktop and mobile devices. It also ranked highest in our antivirus tests, making it the best option for your device’s security.
2. Use a VPN whenever you go online
Whether you’re visiting the surface web, the deep web, or the dark web, protecting your internet connection from hackers should be an immediate concern.
Malicious actors try to hack your router so they can control your connection. This can result in the infection of multiple devices with ransomware. You also risk identity theft, and you may have your login credentials and credit card information stolen.
To ensure your safety, it’s critical to use a VPN, especially for activities like checking your bank account, logging into private accounts on other platforms, and shopping online.
A VPN is an app that lets you encrypt your IP address and your online activities. By using a VPN, you hide information that is crucial for hackers to take advantage. And since your IP address is connected to your location, using a VPN will also increase your anonymity on the web, as people can no longer tell where you are based on your IP address.
Our top VPN recommendation is NordVPN, as it topped all our recent VPN tests on speed and security against dozens of competitors. With a single subscription, you can protect up to 6 devices with military-grade AES-256 encryption.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
You can read our review of NordVPN or click the button above to start your 30-day NordVPN free trial.
3. Create strong, unique passwords for each account
To ensure account security, no two passwords should be the same. This makes guessing passwords across your accounts harder for hackers.
We recommend using a trustworthy password manager so you can generate unique passwords and store and encrypt them in a vault. Remember not to write passwords on Post-it notes, and definitely don’t store them in a document on your computer.
Having tested several password managers, NordPass is our recommended option. It has a free version that you can use starting today, and it has proven its security through annual audits conducted by independent firms.
4. Use two-factor authentication where possible
Using two-factor authentication (2FA) is your last line of defense against potential hackers. 2FA requires you to authenticate a login through an application on your mobile phone or another medium.
We always use two-factor authentication when it’s available. Even if a hacker gets your passwords, they won’t be able to verify your second layer of authentication.
Note:
Never give your one-time passcode away. A common scam involves hackers posing as your bank and asking for a PIN that’s sent to your phone. Your bank will never ask you for your one-time login code.
Final Thoughts: Stay Safe When Browsing the Deep Web
Crawlers don’t index deep web pages for a good reason. You don’t want your bank information or private photos popping up in users’ search queries.
But while most deep web pages are safe, the real danger lies in hackers attempting to steal and sell the data stored on the deep web. Dark web sites also pose a great level of risk in terms of malware infections, credential theft, and more.
Whatever you choose to do online, back yourself up with an antivirus like Norton 360 and a strong VPN like NordVPN as both will minimize these risks. A VPN in particular is essential when browsing the dark web, as it hides your IP address and activities from anyone who tries to spy on you.
We also recommend you use NordVPN when logging into websites with sensitive data, like your online bank account or cloud storage. A VPN encrypts your information and activities so you can avoid getting hacked.
Key Takeaways
- “Deep web” is a collective term for the hidden content of the web that isn’t crawled or indexed by search engines.
- The dark web is a part of the deep web, but it has numerous cybersecurity risks for users.
- You should always use a VPN if you visit the dark web.
- Even the best VPNs won’t give you legal immunity if you’re engaging in illegal activity online.
For more information on browsing the deep web and the dark web safely, check out these resources:
- The Dark Web Dictionary: Definitions for Everything Dark Net
- Who Can See Your Browsing History: The Complete Overview
- How to Install Tor on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android
Have you got a question about the deep web? Click on any of the questions below for an answer.
The deep web is an umbrella term for web pages that aren’t indexed by search engines. This includes bank accounts, private photo albums, medical records, and so on. In most cases, you need the direct URL and login credentials to view deep web content.
Check out our article on the deep web for more information and a few examples of deep web pages.
No, the deep web is not dangerous by nature. Just like on the surface web, there are deep web pages you should probably avoid, but the deep web is not inherently more dangerous. That said, whenever you go online, you can vastly improve your safety by using a strong antivirus software and a VPN.
You can access the deep web by logging into your Facebook or Instagram account, checking your bank balance, or going through your emails. These are all examples of deep web pages. There are over a trillion deep web pages, none of which are indexed by Google or other search for privacy purposes.
The dark web is a very small part of the deep web. Whereas the deep web consists of unindexed pages such as private or paywalled content that are generally above board, the dark web is notorious for illegal activity.
The dark web is much more difficult to reach. You need a special browser like Tor to access these pages. You’ll also want to take a few extra precautions to safely reach the dark web.
I was recently hacked on all my email addresses, including my socials. Needless to say, everything right down to locking me out of all my devices that had all my email accounts and it took me a week to get access to at least my main phone, but I'm glad I found this to help inform me, cause I am not finished getting all that I need. This is by far not done and over. I am doing my own work to find the person or persons involved in any kind of way of spying on me. So if you have more to help my case, I trust in the lord that I will get justice for getting my absolute privacy violated. The more I search, the more information I get. Fyi this has me upset that it was more than enough to justify my own actions of self protection by filing a police report. It will be published and announced my situation.
It's awful that that happened to you! Hacks can be really troublesome. Especially having your privacy violated like that is so disheartening. If you manage to get your accounts back or have any accounts that are still completely yours, make sure to secure them all with strong, new passwords and use two-factor authentication where possible. There's a big chance the person who's responsible wasn't specifically targeting you, but simply tried to hack as many accounts as possible to benefit from it. Regardless, it can be smart to file a police report so the police will be able to handle the situation. Thank you for sharing your story. We wish you all the best of luck and hope the situation will improve soon!