The hidden side of Internet: Deep Web

Context: Internet is the widest field of knowledge that humans have had access but not all content is reachable for the common user. There is information that remains hidden to society in the most profound part of Internet called Deep Web. But we now have a chance to keep learning thanks to deep web browsers. As always, information is related to technology and society both monitored by governments. Outline: There is a lot of information related to the Deep Web, this article covers a basic part of it, from basic notions to how we can access it with TOR and I2P browsers, and what content we can find. Importance: Information and knowledge have always been something precious and right now governments are trying to keep track of this useful information without any restriction. This is why Deep Web and TOR browser will allow you to keep this information anonymous.

Keywords: Deep Web; browser; TOR

What is Deep Web?

Also known as Deep net, Invisible Web, Dark Web or Hidden Web it is a shrouded mystery for common internet users. “The value of deep web content is immeasurable … internet searches are searching only 0.03% … of the [total web] pages available” [1] affirms Michael K. Bergman a well-known Web scientist; therefore we are not aware of all contents that are present on this World Wide Web.

These web pages are not searchable because they are not “indexed” by the common search engines: Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Indexing is a set of methods used by search engines to facilitate fast and accurate information retrieval [2]. However, the most important aspect of indexing are the “web crawlers”, they are automated bots which go across Web’s threads, like spiders jumping from link to link, generating a giant structure that can be saved and listed thanks to indexation. The answer to why these web pages are not retrieved is diverse; maybe the format is not index able because it is a flash web, probably programmers code them for being ignored, though also they can be protected by password consequently inaccessible. Nevertheless, some of them are dynamic like the ones that get retrieved when you query an online database.

How can we access these hidden webs?

Not indexed does not mean inaccessible, we just need the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or the IP (Internet Protocol) to access these web pages. Besides, the problem is that most of them are encrypted and normal web browsers as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox cannot display them without the encryption tool [3].

Here comes Tor, an anonymous web browser that keeps your identity masked and your location falsified. It uses numerous layers of security and encryption to render users anonymous online [4] by hiding IP (Internet Protocol) from being tracked. More important is that Tor has the tools for decrypting these web pages mentioned above. All web pages that are “.onion” domain can be decrypted because they are inside the Tor server’s network.

But not only Tor is able to dive in the Deep Web, I2P (Invisible Internet Project) is another web browser which differ in that was designed and optimized for hidden

services, which are much faster than in Tor, as the network is fully distributed and self-organizing[5]. As Tor, I2P has his own address domains called “.i2p” that cannot be retrieved by Tor; equally I2P cannot retrieve “.onion” domains.

Both browsers provide anonymity but the deep net stills being dangerous so you have to be careful with your behavior when diving on it. It is recommended the use of virtual machines because in case of malware infection, probably it will not go through all your files. Additionally, downloading files from Tor could be dangerous so must be avoided equally as enabling any web plugin that could have been exploited like Flash plugin. Also, Tor project recommends visiting all HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) versions of websites because it only encrypts packets to and within the Tor network but the traffic between you and the final destination depends on the security of the protocol.

What can we find?

In our society Deep Web has been related to something illegal and dark but nowadays is more often used. Commonly associated with illegal activities such as drug dealers, weapon markets, fake identifications and hiring hitman’s; has attracted the attention of common internet users as result of the actual though of U.S government and others are spying on citizens [6].

Numerous forums about conspiracy and spying have raised in the last years as result of Edwards Snowden findings of U.S government intentions.

Conclusions

Freedom is a word that should define the Deep Web as opposed of dark and illegal, ideas that governments and social media try to establish. People should be free on expressing theirs opinions on this World Wide Web without being traced and being spied by authorities. On the other hand, not all the activities inside this enormous domain are “legal” so it can be so difficult to keep track of them without invading user’s privacy. Once and for all, the access and use of Deep Web browsers is linked strictly to everyone’s intention, bad or good.

References:

[1]theguardian (November 2009), The dark side of internet http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/nov/26/dark-side-internet-freene (1 November 2015)

[2]Wikipedia (December 2012), Search engine indexing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_indexing (1 November 2015)

[3]PC ADVISOR (August 2015), What is the Dark Web? How to access the Dark Web. What's the difference between the Dark Web and the Deep Web? http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/internet/what-is-dark-web-how-access-dark-web-deep-3593569/ (2 November 2015)

[4]MailOnline (October 2013), The disturbing world of the Deep Web, where contract killers and drug dealers ply their trade on the internet http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2454735/The-disturbing-world-Deep-Web-contract-killers-drug-dealers-ply-trade-internet.html (2 November 2015)

[5]Allen Freeman (2012), Tor vs. I2P: The Great Onion Debate http://null-byte.wonderhowto.com/how-to/tor-vs-i2p-great-onion-debate-0133642/ (2 November 2015)

[6] Robert E.G. Beens(uknown), No PRISM. No Surveillance. No Government Back Doors. You Have our Word on it. https://ixquick.com/eng/prism-program-revealed.html (2 November 2015)