As the name implies, the surface web is the part of the internet where webpages such as NetBet Casino gaming sites are easily accessible using standard web browsers and are indexed by major search engines. Most people use browsers to explore and do other myriad of projects.
Despite the fact that the “surface web” may accurately depict what the average user encounters, the “dark web” has many more levels of hidden material. Using a particular browser called The Onion Router, users may conceal their online identities while still accessing these secret sites for legal and illegal purposes.
Can You Explain What the Surface Web Is and How It Functions?
Surface websites are those that the general public may access without the need for anonymizing tools like Tor or specialized client software. Sites on the open web are easily discoverable by search engines since they are indexable.
Many of the most visited.com,.net, and.org domains are located on the surface web, but only around 5% of all internet information is accessible from the surface web; the remainder is found on the deep web or black web. The visible part of the web is like the very tip of a massive iceberg, while the vast majority of the web is concealed just below the water’s surface.
Is There a Certain Date for The Launch of the Dark Web, And What Motivated Its Development?
Ian Clarke, a student at the University of Edinburgh, is widely credited as the creator of the dark web when he launched Freenet in 2000. Clarke hoped to create a system that would let people use the internet anonymously to exchange messages and data.
Upon this premise, the Tor Project, which began in 2002 and released a browser in 2008, was established. The development of Tor made it possible for users to surf the internet in complete anonymity and access previously off-limits “black web” sites.
The Workings of the Hidden Web
After being initially utilized by the US Department of Defense for anonymous communication, the dark web has become a haven for people worldwide who value privacy. There are both legitimate and illicit uses for the dark web.
It uses an “onion routing” method to conceal users’ identities by sending their data through a randomized sequence of encrypted servers. By passing user data across a distributed network of thousands of relay nodes, Tor users’ online activities are practically hard to trace.
Black Markets for Legitimate Purposes
Although accessing the black web may look criminal at first appearance, this is not the case. TOR and anonymous surfing have many perfectly valid uses where governments may use surveillance to monitor and repress political opponents.
Users should nevertheless exercise caution when navigating the deep web and take necessary precautions, such as utilizing a reliable virtual private network (VPN) and refraining from using regular email.
Conclusion
Fortunately, governments, police forces, and hundreds of IT experts are continuously countering the cyber and international risks posed by the dark web’s anonymity.