When browsing the Internet we can suffer very different computer attacks. Therefore, it is always convenient to know what the risks are and to know how to act. But there are certain circumstances that can cause that risk to be greater. In this article we are going to talk about the dangers of accessing the Deep Web, How can we be attacked and we will also give some advice to improve protection at all times.

What is the Deep Web

We can say that the Deep Web or the deep web is the part of the Internet that does not appear visibly when we do a search. That is, if we enter Google or any similar search engine, we will not be able to find content that is in this area of the network. They can be forums, web pages, services to host content…

Also known as Invisible Internet, precisely because it is not directly accessible. But keep in mind that not everything here is illegal, nor is it dangerous. In fact, most of the content does not appear in search engines because it corresponds to hidden documents, private files ( for example what we save in the cloud ), information from public entities with restricted access, etc.

But there is a part within the Deep Web that is known as Dark Web. And there the problem does begin. In fact it is where we are going to suffer cyber attacks in case we are victims of any problem. There are forums to negotiate the purchase and sale of credentials and passwords, malware, weapons, drugs…

It is in this part of the Internet where you have to be careful when browsing, since it is especially dangerous and we can be victims of many types of attacks. We could download a virus by mistake, expose personal data that ends up in the wrong hands, give information that can be used against us and a lot of other problems.

Therefore, we can say that the visible or superficial Internet is the one that we find in Google. They are web pages indexed in the main search engines, such as RedesZone. Instead, all content that is left out and not indexed is what is known as the Deep Web. To enter we will have to use special tools, such as the Tor browser.

Risks of entering the deep web

Let's talk about what are the most important security risks in case you decide to enter the Deep Web, especially in sections of the Dark Web. Your personal data, the proper functioning of your equipment and even third-party information may be in danger and should be prevented.

Download malware

The first thing is that you can download malware without realizing it. This is going to happen in case you enter a forum where they exchange malicious software, for example. You can click where you shouldn't or just download a file that you thought was a legitimate program and it turns out that it has been maliciously modified.

Here you have to basically differentiate two things: you may download an advertised malware as such and end up exploiting yourself or you may download a file that you think is safe, that it is only a program, but that an attacker has modified it precisely to scam.

State personal data

You can also put your personal data at risk. This can happen if you register in a Deep Web forum, if you put any comments or give some type of information when entering a web page. This will make your privacy compromised and you have major problems.

Keep in mind that personal data has great value on the net. Attackers can find a way to collect information and then sell it on the Internet, on the Deep Web. Therefore, they will try by all means to attack you, cause you to make a mistake and thus collect your personal data. They could even impersonate your identity.

Enter false pages

An ever-present risk when accessing the Deep Web is ending in a false page. This is a major problem, since a cybercriminal can create websites with the intention of pretending to be legitimate and thus be able to steal personal data, passwords and, ultimately, compromise the safety of those who visit them.

This can lead to a classic Phishing attack. Basically we are going to enter through a link in a deep web forum and it takes us to a page that pretends to be a social network, a bank page, etc. The problem is that everything we send will go to the hands of a cyber criminal. This includes the username and password.

Being linked to illegal activities

If you enter Dark Web forums you can end up linked to illegal activities even if you really haven't done anything. After all, you can leave a trace, you can leave certain personal information. In these types of forums, data is exchanged, viruses are sold and there are illegal activities of all kinds.

In the event that someone's name ends up exposed or in any way intervenes, it could result in them being linked to these illegal activities. One more problem, even though there really is nothing illegal.

Put third parties at risk

All this that we have explained can not only put the person who enters the Deep Web at risk, but also third parties. For example to members of a company, other users who are connected to that network or who use the same equipment. They could see how malware gets into their systems or personal data is exposed.

Therefore, accessing the hidden part of the Internet can also have a negative effect on third parties. One more reason to be careful and avoid exposing more information than necessary or making mistakes.

How to avoid problems

Let's explain what to do to avoid being victims attacks on the Deep Web or see how our personal data ends up in the wrong hands. We are going to give a series of interesting tips that you can put into practice to always increase protection and not fall into the trap.

Maintain common sense

The first and most important thing is common sense. It is essential don't make mistakes. For example, not exposing personal data in Deep Web forums, do not download files without really knowing what they are about or not entering non-guaranteed web pages and where they require us to give certain information.

Most online attacks will require the interaction of the victim. They are going to need us to make a mistake, so it is going to be essential to maintain common sense and avoid any unnecessary risk.

Have security programs

Of course, another very important factor is having security tools. A good antivirus is going to be essential to be protected on the net and this also includes browsing the Deep Web. There are many programs that you can use for it. An example is Windows Defender itself, but also other solutions that exist both free and paid.

Whichever you decide to install, you must ensure that it works properly and will protect your data well. Otherwise, you could be the victim of very varied attacks and that could put your personal data and the operation of the equipment at risk.

Have everything updated

A vital point is to have everything correctly updated. In this way we will be able to solve many vulnerabilities that may appear. If you enter the Deep Web and mistakenly download a file that exploits a Windows security flaw, in case you have not corrected it, you can expose data and compromise the proper functioning.

If you want to update Windows, what you should do is go to Start, you enter Configuration and you will Windows Update. All the files that are pending installation will appear and you can count on the latest improvements.

You should do this process periodically, to always make sure you have everything updated. You must apply it to any operating system you use and also programs you have installed. Only in this way will you be able to maintain a good operation of the equipment at all times and avoid risks.

Use only official applications and websites

If you are going to install a program or you are going to log in through a web page, you must make sure they are official. You should always download software from legitimate sites and not from third party pages where they have been able to sneak some maliciously modified application with the aim of stealing data.

This is especially important if you are going to log in from a Deep Web page. There are social networks that have a version to access from the Tor browser, but you should always do it safely and not from links that could be a fraud and really be a Phishing attack.

Browsers to enter the Deep Web

On the internet we can find many different applications, with which we can enter the Deep Web. But the truth is that not all of them are reliable. In any case, there are some that are well known and are considered the best in this area. The most important thing is to have safe tools. Which do not pose a danger to users. For this, it is best to download them by the official media.

Tor: It is surely the best known browser to access the Deep Web. And in this case, he was also the first of all. It is totally focused on user privacy and security. This makes it one of the most popular alternatives to the best known conventional browsers. This what it does is a traffic redirect, and it is sent by many different nodes. This is known as layers, hence the « onion ». This makes tracking very complicated, and hides the IP address of your users. This browser is compatible with the main operating systems.
Subgraph: We are in front of an open source browser, and it is based on Tor. But the truth is that this is not only a browser, but it has its own operating system. Their privacy policies are very strict, always seeking maximum security in their communications. This is capable of encrypting files, and even provides us with an instant messaging tool.
Whonix: It is a browser that is available for the main operating systems, and allows us to browse anonymously. It has a system that prevents tracking of IP addresses, so it will not let it be exposed. Again, we are dealing with a browser that has its own operating system, which always seeks maximum anonymity.

In short, as you have seen entering the Deep Web has certain risks. It is imperative that you always take precautions and keep the equipment protected. Only in this way will you avoid cyber attacks and have your data correctly protected, in addition to avoiding attacks that may affect third parties.