What is the Deep Web?
In many cases, people don't actually know what the deep web is and what the difference is with the dark web. Read more about the deep web here!
We often get asked what the deep web actually is. A logical question, but after digging a bit deeper, people are usually actually looking for the answer to the question: ''What is the Dark Web?''. If you don't yet know the difference between the Dark Web and the deep web, first read our blog about the difference between the dark web and the deep web.
Diving deeper into the invisible web
The Deep Web consists of a range of online networks and sources of information that are not accessible to search engines and are only available to those authorized to access them. This means that users who want to visit these sites need to use the URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) to gain access, or otherwise obtain access some other way. Because these websites are not indexed by search engines, they can only be found by those who know what they're looking for or who have been given access by their own organization.
So some form of authentication is often required to reach the information on the deep web, meaning it isn't always accessible to everyone.
Who uses the deep web?
Although many people think the Deep Web is a source of illegal activities such as drugs and weapons trafficking, this is not the case. You mainly find this on the Dark Web, which actually also has plenty of good things to offer! The invisible deep web contains a lot of legal information that can be useful for many different purposes.
The deep web encompasses all of a company's internal information. When you log in to your work laptop in the morning, you need to be able to work and may need to consult certain files or work folders. This information is stored somewhere online, on the internet, but isn't simply accessible to outsiders — logging in (authentication) is required for this.
On the deep web you'll also find your own healthcare information. This is stored somewhere online, so that the specialist you've just been referred to by your GP can see why you're there.
So the deep web is actually a lot less exciting than most people think...
