Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

Which layer of the Internet contains confidential data that is not indexed by search engines?

1. Surface Web

2. Deep Web

3. Tor Network

4. Public Web

The correct answer is: Deep Web

The Deep Web is the layer of the Internet that contains confidential data not indexed by search engines. This part of the web includes various types of content, such as databases, private corporate sites, academic resources, and areas that require authentication or are behind paywalls. The content found here is not searchable through regular search engines like Google or Bing, making it accessible only to those who have the appropriate permissions or access rights. While the Tor Network is also often associated with anonymous browsing and can shelter certain confidential information, the Deep Web encompasses a broader range of unindexed content beyond just those that utilize Tor. The Surface Web represents only the narrow portion of the internet that is indexed by search engines and is publicly accessible. Public Web is a term that generally refers to the content available to anyone without restrictions, which is primarily found in the Surface Web. Thus, identifying the Deep Web specifically as the layer containing this unindexed confidential data is accurate.