The deep web is a fascinating and often misunderstood part of the internet. Here are some of the most credible myths debunked based on insights from Redditors:

Myths About the Deep Web

Myth: The Deep Web is Inherentely Dangerous

• Truth: The deep web itself is not inherently dangerous. It's similar to the regular internet, but accessing it requires special tools like the Tor browser. The danger lies in the content you might encounter, which can be illegal or disturbing. "The dark web is mystified in many online stories etc. But fundamentally it is very similar to surfing on the normal 'clear' web."

Myth: The Deep Web is Only Used for Illegal Activities

• Truth: While the deep web is known for hosting illegal activities, it also has legitimate uses. People in oppressive regimes use it to access uncensored information, and journalists and activists use it to communicate securely. "The main selling point of the dark net is to give people in oppressive regimes the possibility to access information freely."

Myth: You Can Easily Find Anything on the Deep Web

• Truth: The deep web is not indexed like the regular internet, so you need to know specific URLs to access content. It's more like a hidden library where you need to know the exact location of the book you're looking for. "Webpages aren't as simple as .com websites, you kind of have to know what you're looking for."

Myth: The Deep Web is Full of Hackers and Scammers

• Truth: While scams and identity theft are prevalent, they are not the only things you'll find. Many sites offer legitimate services, and with proper precautions, you can avoid most risks. "Scams and identity theft are a big business there", but "The hitmen are almost always fake, a Honeypot to set you up by police or just a guy who will take your money."

Myth: The Deep Web is a Technical Term

• Truth: "Deep Web" is not a technical term but rather a general term for content that is not indexed by standard search engines. "'Dark Web' isn't a technical term, it's an expression used by journalists for dodgy things they don't quite understand but know are bad."

Additional Insights

• Differences Between Deep Web and Dark Web: The deep web includes any content that is not indexed by search engines, while the dark web is a subset of the deep web that uses encrypted networks like Tor. "Dark web is about being separated from the way the general public accesses the internet and being intentionally obfuscated/hidden using non-standard protocols."

• Peter Scully Case: This notorious case highlighted the extreme and horrifying content that can be found on the dark web, including child abuse videos. "Scully ran a dark web operation called No Limits Fun, producing horrific child abuse videos."

Subreddits to Explore

• r/TOR

• r/explainlikeimfive

• r/DeepWeb