History of Computers - The Deep Web

The Deep Web, also known as the "Invisible Web", is a part of the Internet whose content is not indexed by standard search engines, such as Google or Yahoo.[1]

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Overview

The Deep web is a part of the World Wide Web containing websites that are publicly accessible but cannot be found using standard search engines. You can use the Deep Web for common things such as email and online banking, but there are many more services as well that you can access, which you cannot access on the Surface Web. Many of the content on the Deep Web holds valuable information. Over 50% of websites on the Deep Web are databases like NASA, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Patent and Trademark Office that contain statistics, academic journals, and other important information. 13% of pages on the Deep Web are contained within hidden internal networks, such as at corporations and universities, that contain personnel files, message boards, and industrial control panels.[3] However, the remaining part of the Deep Web is Tor, which is considered the darkest part of the Internet. The websites on Tor cannot have their IP addresses tracked, thus hiding the identity of the creators of the sites. The websites on the Deep Web hide their IP addresses using the Tor encryption tool. The users of Tor cannot have their Web activity traced, thus, hiding their identities as well.[4] These sites are usually hubs for illegal activity, such as the selling and distribution of illegal drugs, pirating of media, and hiring of assassins.[5]

Significance

The Deep Web contains over 90% of Internet content.[6] These websites are important to many organizations, researchers, and intellectual entities and hold vital information about and for companies, universities, and governments. In addition to holding a vast store of valuable and vital information, it provides a number of services that many people use. However, the Deep Web also creates a new network of illegal activity that is hard to be taken down and stopped. The Deep Web can also pose a threat to companies that use it for storing valuable information and controls for things such as power plants, as hackers and other criminals are able to access and use this information to their advantage. Thus, the Deep Web has brought about an increased need for cybersecurity and monitoring for the Internet as well.