Understanding the Dark Web and Deep Web
So what does it mean to investigate the dark web or the Deep Web? A lot of people think that the dark web is something different than the internet. We have a client we’re working with now that has a lot of potential hidden assets based on various events in their life. Part of the interest is to search the dark web, and that was their request. Certainly, that’s part of what we do; that’s part of ENT, it’s part of a standard investigation.
Misconceptions about the Dark Web
The thing to keep in mind is the word dark web is something that’s really only used by the media or by the public. There’s really not such thing as the dark web. What the dark web refers to, it’s kind of like people love to hear phrases that sound like James Bond or some kind of secret covert type thing. The dark web is simply parts of the internet that are not showing up on Google. That’s basically what it is. It’s the pieces of the internet—websites, documents, data—that’s not easily searchable. People that know how to do it can find it. That’s why they call it dark because it’s not in the light, so to speak.
The Reality of the Dark Web
If you run a Google search for an address or a phone number or a name, Google’s going to show you hundreds or thousands of results. There’s probably another hundred or thousand that don’t come up on a Google Search, and you have to find those using other means. So it’s not a separate place; it’s still part of the same Internet. It’s just the method of accessing it is different than just a standard Google search.
Limitations of Google Search
A lot of people think Google shows everything on the internet. It shows maybe 40% of what’s available. Some things are not indexed, some things are no-follow, some things are behind blocks, and you have to know how to access those. So if you have a case where you want to get information that you think is on the dark web, don’t think of it as a separate place. Just think of it as internet records or online records which are not found just with a standard search. You have to use other more advanced techniques to get to that part of the internet.
Accessing Hidden Online Records
Some of them are on the same website you already look at. For example, you can go on a corporate website from any major corporation and find things in their directories and their indexes. There are parts of that corporate website that are not public where you can’t just look on their navigation tab or do a Google search. You have to know exactly how to directly access those records. Is that dark web? I guess it is under that definition, but just don’t get hung up too much on the dark web as some kind of secret spooky place. It’s more of a method of accessing it that takes more work. It’s not just easy consumer-level research; you have to have more advanced skills to get it.
Conclusion
Hopefully, that helps answer the question. If you have more information you need, click the link below. We’d be glad to arrange a consultation conversation with you to help you more in detail.
