Internet for Beginners

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Internet for Beginners

Invisible Web: The Cloaked Internet

"Invisible Web" (sometimes called "The Deep Web" or "The Cloaked Internet") is that immense layer of the Web that is hidden from search engines. Although available to anyone willing to dig for it, this vast content is not immediately available at Google, AllTheWeb, DMOZ, or Yahoo. Ironically, this invisible content is the most popular part of the Web. What follows next is a list of some web sites that host invisible content.
Tutorial: Visible vs. Invisible Layers of the Web
Of the 30 billion estimated web pages today, search engines only catalog 10% of them. This odd setup is due to a technical constraint called layers of "Invisible Web" content. If you have ten minutes, try this article. It will explain why many of your searches end in frustration...
Invisible Web, Explained.
Jennifer Laycock beautifully explains the Invisible Web.
Monster: The Ultimate Job Search Database
Monster certainly isn't the only online job search tool, but it has got to be the most well-funded. Spanning 19 countries, and published in four human languages, Monster.com is a job searcher's friend! Monster's jobs are invisible to Google searching, but they're only one click away from this page.
Complete Planet
A database of databases, Complete Planet helps you find obscure and specialized Invisible Web sites. Looking for a library of Objectivist publications? Need camping advice for New Zealand? Try Complete Planet..
eBay
You are not a true Internet user until you know about eBay. It started in 1995 as a way to trade Pez candy between collectors. Today, the eBay marketplace brings millions of people together to buy and sell clothes, cars, collectibles, artwork, electronics, jewelry and more. If you have never visited eBay, then go and see it for yourself. Warning: eBay is addictive.
About, Inc. 450 Niche Web Sites.
About is the single largest consortium of subject matter expertise on the Internet. Although most of the About content is visible to Google.com, thousands of About forum postings and About user-submitted pages are invisible. If you have an hour, try this link. Warning: About is as addictive as eBay.
Epinions: Consumer Reviews
If you are shopping for a new or used car, a new digital camera, a new DVD player, a new GPS, or even some new pet food, then epinions.com can help. This massive collection of amateur consumer reviews not only details what people truly think about products, but it also lists comparative price quotes for you. Highly recommended.
Amazon.com: Coalition of Merchants
Amazon.com, like eBay, brings buyers and sellers together online. Amazon.com focuses on bringing professional merchants together on one website. Find CDs, videos, clothes, electronics, toys, and most of all: new and used books! Guaranteed by an "A to Z" protection policy, all Amazon.com transactions maintain amazing professionalism. Check it out!
The Weather Network
Going skiing this weekend? Mountain biking or golfing tomorrow? Planning a barbecue with your family? Be it Perth, Florence, Denver, Calgary, Cartagena, Okinawa, Madrid, or Burkina Faso, the Weather Network brings you global satellite and professional meteorology analyses. No, they are not perfect predictors of weather, but they are as close as you can get.
Download.com: Try New Software Here
Powered by CNET, download.com is a very helpful way to acquire and test drive software. Not only are there thousands of title available for free or for no-cost demonstration use, but users also offer their amateur reviews on the products. Need a GPS tool for you Palm Pilot? Want a typing tutor game for yourself? Need ripper software to make music CDs? Then visit www.download.com.
iChef: Free Internet Recipes!
Taco casserole, Aloha cheesecake, Greek pitas... my mouth waters when I browse this site! Excellent resource, and you can't beat the price.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Online.
Certainly cheaper than buying every printed copy of William Shakespeare's work, this online tool can help you find that quote quickly!
Vietnam POW/MIA Database
If you had a loved one who participated as US military personnel in the Vietnam war, you may want to visit this website.
Merriam-Webster English Dictionary/Thesaurus Online
What exactly is "syzygy"? What is another word for "extricate?" What does "expletive" mean? Find it all here.
LawCrawler America
Powered by Google databasing, this web site is a portal to American lawyer and legal resources. If you click on the international portion, it will link you to Canadian and UK legal resources.
NASDAQ
Debuting in 1971, NASDAQ is the world's largest electronic stock market today. 3600 of the world's most innovative companies are listed here.
Find a Date, Find a Mate: Lavalife.com
Yes, people do find the love of their lives on the Internet. With the right attitude and mindset, it is very possible to meet high-quality compatible partners. Better than nightclubs, bars, and random chance, the internet is the intelligent way to search for a partner. Lavalife.com is one of the most successful singles services today.
Find a Date, Find a Mate: Match.com
Like Lavalife, Match.com puts people together electronically. What they do from there is their own business. I know this Internet dating does work, because my sister married the man she met on match.com. They are still together, 5 years later, with two beautiful kids.
All Experts: Professional Consultants, Zero Cost
AllExperts.com is the most affordable professional consulting you can get today. Whether you need advice on designing a database, training your German Shepherd, raising your teenager, fixing your car transmission, building your deck, or growing tomatoes, the volunteers at AllExperts.com will answer your questions for free.
Ancient and Classical History: Portal Resource
How are Norse gods different from Greek gods? Who were the Celts, and did they get along with the Teutonic hordes? Where were Persia and Parthia? Did the Roman Empire really take 200 years to fall? All these answers, and more. Highly recommended reading for anyone with a curious mind!
Internet Movie Database
The world's single-most-comprehensive library of filmmaking and television knowledge! Ever wanted to see Spielberg's filmography? Curious where Harrison Ford grew up? Want photos of the upcoming Franke Potente movie? Need a review of the latest Cohen film? IMDB is your next stop.
Pregnancy: Your Online Resource
First child? Fifth child? Then Robin Weiss is the gal to see. Her amazing portal of information is dedicated to all things related to pregnancy and birth.
Teenager Advice
Are you feeling those 1th-grade blues? Is your body image squashing your self esteem? Dealing with peer pressure, drug problems, or an eating disorder? Then you might want to visit this very helpful site.
About Baseball
Mike Dowd has assembled a tremendous database of articles, news, statistics, photos, essays, and factoids about professional, semi-pro, and amateur baseball today. Highly recommended to every baseball fan.
Blogger.com
Blogging: the evolution of ranting. Everyday people focusing on everyday things. Blogging about Governator Schwarzenegger or fallen star Michael Jackson. Blogging about earthquakes and mad cow disease. Blogging about favorite TV shows, the Rolling Stones, Nelson Mandella. Blogging about SARS, Iraq, bounty hunters, and the Simpsons. Blogging about everything.
The Internet Games Portal
Want to find a good Internet game for your interests? Games guru, Dave Spohn, not only explains what MMORPG, FPS, and MUD means, but he also lists dozens of suggested game sites. Warning: Dave's suggestions can be highly addictive.
UseNet Discussion Forums: Google Database
Need to find reviews on the latest Robert Ludlum novel? Thinking about getting a beagle for your next pet? Looking for advice on chronic back pain or arthritis? Then searching the thousands of topic-specific conversations at Google is worth your time. Warning: UseNet discussion forums can be addictive.
Travel Europe: Guide for New Visitors
James Martin has very sage advice. If you are planning to visit Rome or Madrid or Versailles or Lisbon, then do spend an hour at James' site. This is what you really need to know before you travel anywhere in Europe.
Accuweather Global Weather Forecasts
Accuweather distinguishes itself from other meteorology resources by the way it reports. Accuweather offers "RealFeel" temperatures, which describes the perceived temperature after you factor humidity, windchill, and sunlight. Very neat.
Homeopathic Medicine Educational Services
Looking for a natural treatment for hot flashes, migraines, depression? Do you suffer chronic pain or arthritic seizures? Perhaps you have mild asthma or an allergy to pollen? Then you may want to browse the homeopathic resources at this site.
Lexis-Nexis People and Business Database
It costs money to actually use this database, but it's free to try. Lexis-Nexis exhaustively documents individuals and companies public records (and some private ones). Often a topic of heated privacy debates, the Lexis-Nexis database is the stuff of private investigators and police detectives.
ChemicalElements.com
An interactive periodic table of the chemical elements.

Explore Internet for Beginners

More from About.com

Internet for Beginners

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Internet for Beginners
  4. Internet 101
  5. Invisible Web

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.