what is the deep web

The deep web is the large portion of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. It includes web pages, databases, and content that require a login or specific permissions to access, such as private email accounts, online banking, subscription services, academic databases, and intranets. Unlike the surface web, which is accessible through standard search engines, the deep web is hidden from public view because its content is dynamically generated, password-protected, or otherwise restricted. The deep web is much larger than the surface web, estimated to be about 90-95% of the entire internet. Importantly, the deep web is distinct from the dark web, which is a smaller, intentionally hidden subset of the deep web often associated with anonymity and sometimes illicit activities.