The Deep Web is something that is, possibly by nature, shrouded by mystery and misunderstandings. Before we dive into this mystery we must first dispel some common beliefs. When most people refer to the deep web, they are actually referring to the dark web. These are networks that are only accessible through specific anonymizing software such as Freenet, I2P, or Tor. Whereas the Deep Web is anything that can't be accessed from a search engine. Your Steemit settings are an example of a deep webpage because they require further validation, such as masterkeys or your password. Whereas the blog posts which are freely accessible are the clearnet. 

In this article I would like to discuss Tor, my favorite uses for hidden services and why you would utilize hidden services. 

https://i.supload.com/SJgUvP0Asg.png
https://supload.com/SJgUvP0Asg

When you first install the Tor browser you will be introduced with a window like this. It is then recommended you Test your network settings. 

https://i.supload.com/Hk5-u0Cie.png
https://supload.com/Hk5-u0Cie

If everything is configured correctly, Tor browser will let you know that you're ready to privately browse the Internet or the dark web. So how exactly does it work? 

https://i.supload.com/H1FtdAAjg.png
https://supload.com/H1FtdAAjg

Tor works by routing your connection through three or more "relays" that act as proxies. Each relay connection is encrypted, and so if anyone were to try to intercept your traffic or determine your IP address, they would only be able to go as far as the relay. Relays are run by volunteers who believe in privacy and security. 

Though very useful, this feature of Tor only affects Internet traffic to and from the webpage you are visiting. The webpage you are visiting can still be vulnerable or even leak details about your browser and computer. This is where hidden services become handy. 

https://i.supload.com/rkiHY0Rig.png
https://supload.com/rkiHY0Rig 3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion

Hidden services function the same as normal websites, except that they don't utilize IP addresses. This allows hidden services to circumvent DNS (as well as conventional search engines) to create an anonymous browsing experience. Because Tor is required to access hidden services, it is almost guaranteed that everyone accessing that website will be anonymous and thus browsing habits are less likely to be leaked. 

As I mentioned previously, due to the nature of Tor, conventional search engines don't work the same with Tor hidden services. You can't just submit a Google query and browse the entirety of hidden services, you must have a link to that hidden service. If you would like to access DuckDuckGo's hidden service (screenshot above) visit this address in your Tor browser: 3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion

You might not know it, but there are in fact several legitimate hidden services being ran by well-known companies. For example, another hidden service I like to visit often is the ProtonMail hidden service. 

https://i.supload.com/rk6O9A0ix.png
https://supload.com/rk6O9A0ix protonirockerxow.onion

And of course you have the shady side of the dark web. A lot of the time, these hidden services will be buried deep in places you'll have to spend hours looking for. You can find a lot of hidden services in Pastebin, but for ethical reasons I won't point you directly to anything more harmful than The Pirate Bay. 

https://i.supload.com/SkYviA0sx.png
https://supload.com/SkYviA0sx uj3wazyk5u4hnvtk.onion

In summary, the dark web is for much more than just illegal activity (even https://bitsquare.io/ utilizes Tor) and is something everyone can utilize even if you just have a respect for privacy.