Deep Web vs Dark Web: Truth Behind the Internet’s Dark Side!

The deep and dark web are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. The deep web is composed of web pages that are not indexed by search engines. It includes mail pages like Gmail, online banking sites, Netflix catalogs, and medical records.

The dark web is a small part of the deep web, requiring specific software to access it. A lot of criminal activity occurs on the dark web, leading to its association with illegal services and activities. But it’s also used by journalists, civil rights activists, and people looking to avoid surveillance.

Both the deep and dark web offer some degree of anonymity. The deep web is accessed through direct links or password-protected pages, while the dark web requires specific software. However, the deep and dark web can pose significant risks to your online privacy and security, especially if your sensitive information is not adequately secured.

Deep Web vs. Dark Web — Your Complete Guide in 2025

To understand how the deep web and dark web differ, we first need to understand the different layers of the internet. The internet is divided into three primary layers: the surface, the deep, and the dark web. Here’s a general explanation of how these layers differ and what you can expect from each.

What Is the Surface Web?

Any web page you can access on regular browsers, like Google Chrome or Firefox, without a password or any form of authentication is known as the surface web. If you can access a page with a simple search on a regular browser, that page is part of the surface web. However, the surface web is limited to what your local network, your ISP, and website administrators allow you to see.

An example of the surface web is when you go on Amazon.com and search for any product. You will see different search results, and you will see their reviews, their prices, and their images. You or other internet users can see all these things make up the surface of the visible web.

What Is the Deep Web?

The deep web is the largest part of the internet, and its content is not readily accessible to the public. Regular search engines do not index deep websites, so you will need specific URLs and, in some cases, a valid form of authentication, like a username and password, to access them.

This private layer of the internet includes everything from your email and online banking pages to administrator dashboards of all the web pages on the surface web. These addresses are invisible to regular search engines and sometimes require authentication to keep unauthorized people from accessing sensitive information.

The deep web also includes the back-end pages of all websites. For example, to sell on Amazon.com, you need an account to add products with prices, images, and descriptions. You can view the back end of your Amazon store through any regular browser, but you need to provide your Amazon account details to gain access. The process is similar for social media accounts, site management, network administration, and more.

Although web search engines do not index deep web content, it can still be accessed by regular browsers, whereas dark web content requires Tor to access.

What Is the Dark Web?

The dark web is the third layer of the internet and is a subset of the deep web. It is a hidden network within the deep web that can’t be accessed using traditional search engines. You need special software, like the Tor browser, to connect to it. The dark web’s hidden nature has contributed to its usage for illegal and criminal activities like drug trafficking, child pornography, arms trading, and more.

The deep web is often confused with the dark web, but the truth is that much of the deep web is not associated with illegal or criminal activities. The deep web is a broader concept that refers to any part of the internet not indexed by web crawlers, while the dark web refers explicitly to the hidden subset of the deep web that can only be accessed through special tools.

Deep Web vs. Dark Web: Major Differences

Below are some of the most notable differences between the deep and the dark web.

1. Size and Scope

The deep web is the largest part of the internet, while the dark web itself is a tiny part of the deep web. The deep web accounts for more than 95% of the entire internet, while the surface web is not more than 3 to 4%. As the size indicates, the deep web has enormous scope. Internet users rely on the deep web for almost everything, whereas the dark web has a limited scope.

According to the most recent calculations, the dark web accounts for less than 0.0003% of the Internet’s content, including copies of sites.

2. Function and Uses

The deep web includes all the pages we rely on for our day-to-day tasks, like accessing our email, social media, banking accounts, and all educational, medical, and legal databases. It also includes the admin pages of websites where admins can change the website’s settings, create content, and control what is visible to internet users on the surface of the web. You usually need a password or other form of authentication to access deep web sites.

In contrast, the dark web is a hidden network within the deep web that can only be accessed using specific tools like the Tor browser or the Freenet client. Internet service providers can see that you’re connected to a dark web service, but they won’t be able to tell what you are doing while navigating the dark web.

Due to its added privacy and encryption, the dark web has become synonymous with illegal activities like drug and arms trade, child pornography, cybercriminals, and the like. However, like all tech, the dark web is not the culprit here—it’s how it’s used. Many people, like whistleblowers, journalists, and political dissidents, use it for free speech, where the regular internet fails to protect them.

3. Security

From a security point of view, the deep web usually requires a valid form of authentication to access its content. Nobody can search your deep web pages unless they have the exact link and, if necessary, the login credentials. As a result, the deep web provides some security level, but your ISP can still see almost everything you do on the internet.

The dark web can only be accessed with special tools, like the Tor browser, and is laced with dangerous and malicious content. Even one wrong click on the dark web can expose your information and location to hackers, who can then use it to blackmail you.

Using a VPN is the best way to secure your online identity and protect your privacy on the dark web. VPNs reroute your internet traffic through another server, which masks your location. The VPN also masks your online activity by establishing an encrypted tunnel between your device and its servers, also called the VPN tunnel. As a result, your internet traffic cannot be deciphered by your ISPs.

Even if hackers try to locate your actual location, the VPN will only reveal your virtual location, making it very difficult to trace you on the dark and deep web. Although the Tor browser is encrypted, your ISP can still see you’re using it, which is reason enough to put you under surveillance in some countries. Which is why it is best to use a VPN when accessing the dark web.

Deep Web vs. Dark Web: Which Is More Dangerous?

The dark web is the most dangerous part of the internet. Just about everything is available on a dark web marketplace, from illegal goods to personal data and hacking services. There have been many notable examples in the past where these marketplaces were exposed to law enforcement:

• The Silk Road Case: This was the Amazon of the dark web. It was launched with good intentions but ended up becoming a hub for the sale and purchase of drugs, weapons, and even fake documents. This marketplace collapsed when its owner was caught, but placeholders soon spawned.
• AlphaBay Case: This dark web marketplace was created to fill the gap after Silk Road was shut down. It was used to sell the same illegal items and services, plus even more than was previously available on the Silk Road. The authorities also stopped it when they caught its owner.
• The Ashley Madison Case: Ashley Madison was a mainstream website created for extramarital affairs. Cybercriminals hacked the site and then released the information containing more than 60 GB of user data on the dark web. The hackers were never caught.

Although the Tor browser and other dark web software are free, you should be extra careful when using them. If you want to explore the dark web, you should always use a top-tier VPN to protect your online identity and safeguard your privacy.

Best VPNs for the Deep and Dark Web in 2025

My team and I have tested dozens of VPNs to find the best ones that keep you safe on the internet and protect you from malicious content and hackers.

1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for the Deep and Dark Web

ExpressVPN protects your online security with military-grade encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. Leak protection and the kill switch prevent your data from being exposed if the VPN tunnel fails. Its encryption is the current standard used by military and government channels, making any hacking attempt on your VPN data almost impossible.

It also safeguards your online privacy by adhering to a strict no-logs policy. It does not record your online activity on the deep, dark, or surface web. ExpressVPN uses TrustedServer technology, which relies on RAM-based servers to operate. These servers erase any data stored on them every time they reboot.

ExpressVPN’s proprietary internet protocol, Lightway, provides stable and consistently high speeds. During my testing, I got an average speed of 18.5 Mbps on a 20 Mbps base connection with just a 7% loss, making it the best option for using the dark and deep web safely and without compromising the quality of your internet connection.

In addition, ExpressVPN’s users can test it completely risk-free with its solid 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like what you paid for, you can claim a complete refund during this period.

Get ExpressVPN

2. CyberGhost VPN — NoSpy Servers for Increased Online Security on the Deep and Dark Web

CyberGhost is one of the few VPNs offering specialized NoSpy servers for increased online security. These servers are located inside CyberGhost’s headquarters in Romania and can’t be accessed by anyone other than the staff. In addition, it follows a strict no-logs policy, meaning that it does not record any of your online activity. This makes it one of the best choices for protecting yourself on the deep web.

CyberGhost keeps your online data secure with AES-256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. During my testing, the kill switch prevented my data from being exposed by cutting my internet connection completely when I tried to change servers mid-session.

It comes with a content blocker option that prevents adware and malware from infecting your system and exposing your actual data, which is helpful if you plan to browse the dark web.

CyberGhost VPN includes a 45-day trustworthy money-back guarantee, more than most competitors, so you can try it out confidently.

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3. NordVPN — Onion Over VPN Servers to Safely Access the Dark Web on Any Browser

In addition to military-grade encryption, leak protection, and an automatic kill switch, NordVPN offers “Onion Over VPN” servers. These servers protect your online data on the dark web and remove the requirement to install the Tor browser to access it. You can easily access all the Tor network and any onion sites using regular internet browsers.

NordVPN has a Threat Protection feature that blocks websites associated with malware and adware. However, it was a bit slower than ExpressVPN, with my speed averaging just above 17 Mbps on a 20 Mbps base connection. It’s enough to access your favorite content and use the dark and deep web without lag issues.

You can also test NordVPN risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can request a refund anytime during this period, and they’ll reimburse you for the entire amount.

Conclusion

Although the terms deep web and dark web are often used interchangeably, there are many differences between them. The deep web makes up about 96% of the internet, while the dark web is much smaller—less than 0.0003%. All our day-to-day online activities depend on the deep web, while the dark web has become notorious for being a hub of criminal activities.

In addition, the dark web can only be accessed with specialized software, like the Tor browser, or advanced network configurations.

The dark web is associated with many illegal activities, so it is advisable to avoid it. However, if you must access it, I strongly recommend using a VPN to protect your online privacy. A VPN hides your location and comes with multiple security features that make it very difficult for your data to be hacked or exposed.

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Topic: Internet