But, as with most things, the truth is far more complex and far less sensational than that.

Understanding these 3 layers is key to truly grasping how the internet works.

What Is the Surface Web?

A screenshot of the Disney Plus landing page

I found this from searching “Disney Plus” on Google

This visible layer only makes up about 4% of the entire internet.

You found us because this page is indexed.

They build whats called a sitemap, which exists to help search engines automatically navigate the site.

A screenshot of the Disney Plus landing page

I found this from searching “Disney Plus” on Google

Then, for human users, they add new pages to their overall site structure.

Properly configured robots.txt directives tell crawlers: “Don’t go here, don’t index this.”

What Is the Deep Web?

A screenshot of the Disney Plus landing page

It’s largely benign, enabling everything from confidential records to password-protected accounts.

However, there are also legally dubious areas that host illicit content.

So, you should still be careful when diving below the surface web.

A screenshot of the Disney Plus app settings page

What Is the Dark Web?

Political activists use it to organize and spread information freely in oppressive regimes.

Even law enforcement and intelligence agencies leverage the dark web.

A screenshot of ProPublica’s dark web site

While the dark web provides some anonymity, it still carries major risks if misused.

How Does the Deep Web Work?

To understand how the deep web works, lets first look at how search engines work.

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Search tools use crawlers to regularly analyze new or updated web pages.

These pages get stitched together dynamically every time you sign in, combining unique data sets.

This divide between public and private/personalized internet content is crucial for securityand functionality reasons.

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What Is the Deep Web Used For?

Deep Web vs. Dark Web: Whats the Difference?

Confusing, I know, but let me explain.

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However,the dark web has another layer of obfuscation that means regular browsers cant access it.

Going with my earlier metaphor, we can consider this at the very bottom of the iceberg.

Heres a quick summary of the main differences:

Can You enter the Deep Web?

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You dont need to use a specific web app to visit the deep web.

Most of the time, all you need is to access to any of your personal accounts.

Is the Deep Web Illegal or Dangerous?

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Using these websites may be illegal in these jurisdictions.

Try a private search engine.More popular search engines often exclude results for a variety of reasons.

What exactly is on the deep web?

A screenshot of the Disney Plus landing page

How big is the deep web?

And thats just emails.

Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!

A screenshot of the Disney Plus app settings page

Visit ExpressVPN

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A screenshot of ProPublica’s dark web site