The Dark Web... real or FAKE?

[Andrew NDB]

As someone who is relatively internet savvy, even knowing quite a bit about networking, proxies and IPs and such... I wonder, is the fabled "Dark Web" really a real thing? Like, where would you even go to look into it, let alone log into it? And are you sure?

I only know of one lady who I know IRL who purports to have accessed it... but she's a blowhard and I don't believe anything she says.

I wonder if this is just some kind of pop culture thing that has been talked about so much, people have convinced themselves it is real.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

I've done some research into it for one of my novels, but never actually run across anyone legitimate who claims to have been on it or used it.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

I've done some research into it for one of my novels

That's why I bring it up. I've heard "Understood, sir! let me do some research on the Dark Web and see what I can find," etc., from TV shows and movies of late... I'm wondering if there's any factual foundation to it at all.

[Candy Kappa]

It's just a part of deep web, sure it's highly mythologized due to its secrecy but it's still a thing.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

It's just a part of deep web

What is "deep web"? Like an intranet?

[TigerClaw]

I believe its something you get access to by using some sort of VPN.

[The Deadman]

I havent really messed with it, but there's a browser you can download. Never really did any digging on it, though.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I believe it is real, the part of about online black market for drugs and terrorism, but I think the horror stories about live Snuff Films in Red Rooms are fake/exaggerated.

[Candy Kappa]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

What is "deep web"? Like an intranet?

Deep web are just content that isn't indexed, nothing more special

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

Deep web are just content that isn't indexed, nothing more special

Why wouldn't it be indexed? Search engine bots/spiders ping everything.

[Candy Kappa]

That's just how it works. Not all web address are searchable through conventional search engines, cause it's not open to public eye.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

That's just how it works. Not all web address are searchable through conventional search engines, cause it's not open to public eye.

But that's by the setting of the search engine itself. i.e., if I change my IP address to Germany and do a certain search, there are results omitted vs. if I do a search just with my own IP address.

Search engine bots/spiders still probe any URL that exists.

[IndigoErth]

Any URL? Years ago I used to actually submit urls for little sites I made so search engines would hopefully find them. That was a thing... It did seem to work, but it may be buried under other search results with higher priority.

One I have now (for over two years) that I poke at now and again isn't found by Google even when offering it the url in it's search box. At best it found where I mentioned it on Twitter once. (Though it does get visits as it's linked to a chat thingy hosted at another site, so it's fine.)

If I recall the site builder page for it does have the option to have it able to be found or not. It don't think I've enabled that.


As for the dark web/deep webs stuff... Can't say I've bothered to give it much thought. Dark web sounds like a fictional thing conspiracy people would come up with.

[CyberCubed]

It's likely all the place where all the creepy pedophiles can post child porn and get away with it.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It's likely all the place where all the creepy pedophiles can post child porn and get away with it.

'cubed have come and sorted it all out! Yay!

From what I understood, DW works more like P2P / torrent networks. Whether it is as big and horrible as some people might say is anyone's question. But most likely it's just a rumor / hyperbole from the same people who believe that "4Chan is a great hacker".