Category: HOME

A new study has revealed Weddings and Couples to be the most popular scrapbook themes in the United States.

Photo by Rirri on Unsplash

Researchers from scrapbook design provider Design Bundles analysed the average number of internet searches for different scrapbook themes in the US over a period of three months between October and December 2021.

US scrapbookers clearly value love and intimacy in their designs as both Couples and Wedding themed scrapbooks came top of the list with an average of 1,900 searches per month for the three months of the study. Creating scrapbooks of a relationship or a marriage is a fantastic way to memorialise your love and to relive and share your special memories in the years to come.

In second place on the list of the top 10 most popular scrapbook ideas in the US was Baby scrapbooks. Baby scrapbooks had an average of 1,600 per month between October and December 2021. Baby scrapbooks are a great way of keeping a record of all the milestones that take place during infancy. From first words to first birthdays, a lot happens in the first few months of a child’s life and a scrapbook ensures you will never forget a moment of it!

Travel themed scrapbooks came third on the list with an average of 1,300 searches per month. We tend to take a lot of pictures when we go abroad or on domestic trips and making a scrapbook of your journey is a fun alternative to simply uploading the photos to your social media account.

In fourth place on the list of most popular themes for scrapbooks was DIY, which had an average of 1,000 searches per month in the US. This particular scrapbook design is perhaps a surprising entry on the list but it would seem that many American residents are compiling their best memories of “do it yourself” home fixes.

Disney themed scrapbooks were in fifth place with an average of 720 searches per month for three months. Disney has created so many beloved characters and films over the last century that is hardly surprising that people, especially younger people, would create scrapbooks to pay homage to their favourites.

In sixth place were Best Friend themed scrapbooks. This theme had an average of 590 searches per month and is another testament to the sentimental value of scrapbooking. If a close friend of yours is due to leave for a new school, college, or job, creating a scrapbook of your entirely unique friendship is a fun way to send them off.

In joint seventh place were Anniversary and Pregnancy themed scrapbooks, which each had an average of 480 searches per month in the US. These two themes are yet another example of scrapbooks being a perfect artistic form to celebrate and memorialise love and intimacy.

The final spot on the list of the most popular scrapbook ideas in the US was taken by Christmas themed scrapbooks. Christmas scrapbooks saw an average of 390 searches per month between October and December 2021. Christmas celebrations are a wonderful theme as so many happy faces and fond memories make for an excellent scrapbook.

Top 10 scrapbook ideas in the US

Scrapbook theme	Average number of searches between October and December 2021	Rank
Couples	1,900	1
Wedding	1,900	1
Baby	1,600	2
Travel	1,300	3
DIY	1,000	4
Disney	720	5
Best Friend	590	6
Anniversary	480	7
Pregnancy	480	7
Christmas	390	8

Source – Design Bundles

What is scrapbooking?

Scrapbooking is a fun and simple craft that is used by people all over the world to preserve fond memories of happy occasions. Scrapbooks might contain photographs, drawings, poems, bits of writing, cut-outs, or just about anything you can think of. Scrapbooks are both fun and functional as they can be used as homemade photo albums as well as an enjoyable creative project.

Scrapbooks are also popular because they can be done collectively with a partner, friend, or child, and you can all share your own writings and memories that go alongside the pictures. Some of the best scrapbook ideas are done over a long period of time and involve multiple people.

Scrapbooking can also be done digitally using your laptop, phone, or tablet. You can upload photos, do online drawings, and paste poems or messages to create your very own digital scrapbook. Digital scrapbooks are a great way of sharing your ideas with many people and ensuring you have your scrapbook to hand whenever you may need it.

What do you need to create a scrapbook?

When it comes to scrapbooking anything goes. There are many different scrapbook layouts and styles, but there are some basics you will need to create a scrapbook that is worth keeping hold of.

So let’s take a look at some of the scrapbooking supplies you will need.

• An empty book. Of course, the most important component of a scrapbook is the book itself. You can choose a book with a cover that has a predesigned image on the front or one with a blank cover that you can write on. Either way, make sure the front of the book captures the heart of your memories and that the pages inside are blank!
• Multi-coloured pens. Use different coloured pens to fill the entire scrapbook with messages, memories, and poems. The multiple colours will bring the book to life and you can even colour code based on themes or any other category you like.
• Photographs. Photos are the heart of most scrapbooks. They capture the individual moments of the scrapbook and are an integral part of preserving the happy memories of the occasion. You don’t need to use a photograph on every scrapbook page, just choose a selection of the very best.
• Scissors. With so much to cut out for your scrapbook, you will certainly need some paper scissors.
• Glue. It hardly needs explaining why glue is needed! But use it sparingly so as not to damage the scrapbook paper you stick your cut-outs to.
• Decorations. You can have fun with your decorations. They can be sequins, stickers, pieces of material, or even things that are associated with the memories of the scrapbook. Whatever you think is going to add colour and life to your scrapbook, use it and we’re sure it will be great!

Stone furniture can make a great addition to your home residence, office or commercial space. Needless to say, stone furniture collections are made from marble, granite and onyx and can be an excellent addition to your furniture clan.

In this blog post, we’re going to cover the many different kinds of stone furniture that you can use to beautify your home.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Stone Furniture?

Typically, stone furniture used in modern households is made from granite, marble, and limestone materials.

However, residential stone furniture will often be made from quartzite, soapstone, sandstone, travertine, and onyx.

Furniture made from natural stone has been a popular choice for ages because of aesthetic reasons and the high durability of using stone furniture.

Marble Furniture Ideas

Talk about a stone with a rich history — and the name marble is bound to pop up. The marble furniture is known to have been historically used to decorate palaces and temples for centuries.

Nowadays, they’re great choices to decorate kitchen countertops, fireplace surrounds, sinks and flooring. Also, they make great dining tables.

Marble tabletops are classic furniture pieces that are well-loved by wealthy families. It’s also a great asset to display with your friends and family over.

A marble tabletop might just be the item you need in your home. And the best part is its timeless beauty. The marble infused furniture pieces are sure to get you a plethora of compliments. 

But tabletops aren’t the only marble furniture you can add to your decor. You can also use marble tiles to decorate your bathroom and even on your floor.

Beware, though. Marble materials get scratched very easily. They’re susceptible to acidic substances, so beware of that when choosing your marble furniture.

What Makes Granite Furniture Special?

Furniture made from granite screams luxury. If you have a garden at home, you might want to get your hands on a bench made from granite.

Granite bathtubs can be an excellent way to make your bathroom look different. You might also be interested in getting granite laden tabletops to compliment your decor. If you love reading, then bookshelves made from granite might be the way to go.

It should also be noted that compared to marble, granite is much more suitable for heavy use!

Using Onyx To Create Sophisticated Home Decor

Another stone material that’s often used to create distinctive furniture is onyx. The pretty looking fine-grained stone comes in various colours and features different patterns. 

Stone furniture items made from onyx typically include tabletops, dining sets, and bathroom furniture items like shower bases, shower pans, tub surrounds, fireplace hearths, and more.

Furniture Made From Sandstone

Furniture made from sandstone is excellent for the outdoors in particular. Sandstone patios and sandstone benches would make wonderful decorative additions to your garden.

Furniture Made From Quartzite

Quartzite represents another class of sophisticated stone furniture. Elegant tabletops are often made from quartzite.

The nice part about quartzite is that it’s super durable and doesn’t get etched on easily. Furthermore, quartzite tabletops are pretty resistant to acids found in ingredients like vinegar and lemon juice.

Thus, if you cook frequently and want to ensure that your countertops are safe from etching, you might want to consider quartzite.

However, both quartzite and granite react to hydrofluoric acid, which is found in some heavy-duty rust removers. Thankfully, the particular component isn’t found in any ingredient or standard kitchen products.

Stone Accessories

Other than that, there are a variety of stone accessories that you can create from natural stone. 

Many homes feature stylish stone accessories like lamps, candle holders, vases, sculptures, and the list goes on.

If you have successfully integrated stone furniture into your decor, you should consider matching it with a stone accessory like the one mentioned above.

Other Areas Where Stone Material Gets Used In Interior Design

Additionally, as a homeowner, you can also have stone cladding installed and give your walls a unique texture. Stone-clad walls are also more likely to endure harsh weather conditions and are fire-resistant.

Different Types Of Stone Furniture

All around the globe, tons of different stone furniture are created every day. And the process through which a stone furniture piece is turned from conception to reality is glorious.

Having stone furniture in your home offers you an opportunity to turn your home into something magnificent. 

Closing Thoughts

There are many ways to implement stone furniture in your home decor. You can achieve a very distinct and luxurious result using the right assets.

Nowadays, you can make custom orders and have custom furniture made for your home. Beyond that, you can buy from vendors already selling stone furniture made by the finest craftsman.

Finally, you can do as the emperors and empresses of old and display beautiful stone furniture at your home. The possibilities are endless.

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Author’s Bio:

Lia Briamonte 

First Person

I’m Lia Briamonte, the creative director of Anemone Interiors. My business was born out of a passion for hunting hidden gems at antique fairs. I’d always loved doing it, but it wasn’t until 2019 when I took the plunge and pursued it. My style is heavily influenced by my heritage and the inspiration from my Nonna’s apartment in Naples.

Third Person

Lia Briamonte, the creative director of Anemone Interiors, took her passion for hunting for hidden gems at antique fairs and turned it into a business. It’s something she’d always loved to do, but it wasn’t until 2019 when she took the plunge and pursued it. Her style is heavily influenced by her heritage (half Italian), and the inspiration was taken from her Nonna’s apartment in Naples, which is full of beautiful antiques.

The concept of ordering a mattress online is relatively new.

Photo by Trend on Unsplash

It used to be necessary to go into a mattress store and lay on a multitude of different mattresses until you’ve found the perfect one for you. While getting to try out a mattress is great, ordering one online also has many advantages!

So, how do you order a mattress online without laying on it first? Follow these simple tips and tricks to ordering a mattress online to guarantee you end up satisfied with your purchase!

Why Should I Order a Mattress online?

There are so many reasons to order a mattress online, from convenience to price!

It’s a Time-Saver

Why spend hours out of your day visiting different mattress stores and seeing a fraction of the options you could? Scrolling through mattresses online is much quicker. In the time that you could try 5 mattresses in-store, you can probably view 100 online. Not to mention, you don’t have to leave your home which is both time-saving and convenient.

View a Wider Selection

It’s impossible to see the number of mattresses in person that you’ll be able to view online. There’s an endless supply of online mattresses from brands all around the world available at your fingertips. Why not take advantage of it?

No Pressure from Salespeople

One of the worst things about shopping retail in-person is the sales pressure from employees. While they can give you information about the mattress, it’s usually only what they want you to hear. You won’t get the nitty-gritty truth like you would from a customer review or blog post online. Scrolling on the internet allows you to make a decision that is all your own, without outside pressure.

Avoid the Markups

Mattress stores often have high markups on their in-person supply. When you order a mattress online, you’re able to find the best deals and prices without the markups that often come with buying a mattress in person.

Tips for Finding a Mattress Online

1. Choose which Type

The first step to buying a mattress is choosing which type you’d like. There are 5 main types of mattresses: Innerspring, pillow top, memory foam, gel memory foam, and hybrid. Choosing which you’d like depends on what your mattress needs and preferences are.

Back pain

If you struggle with back pain, innerspring or hybrid mattresses are great as they are typically firmer and provide more all-over support.

Joint Pain

If joint pain is your issue, consider a memory foam or gel memory foam mattress. These cradles your joints to provide specific pressure point support.

Restlessness

Foam mattresses are also best for restlessness, especially if you share the bed with a partner.

Overheating

If you tend to overheat, an innerspring, pillow top or hybrid mattress will be best as they do not retain heat like foam mattresses do.

2. Find the Right Size

Choose the size of mattress you want! If you share a mattress with a partner or furry friend, you’ll at least need a full-sized. If you have a small bedroom, try measuring the space where you’d like to place your bed to see how big of a size you can get away with. Queen mattresses will fit in most standard-sized bedrooms.

3. Filter your Search

Once you’ve made the above decisions, filter your search to cut down on scrolling time. No need to look at mattresses you know you don’t want!

4. Read the Customer Reviews

Reading customer reviews is essential when buying any furniture online. See what people had to say about the comfort, delivery time, and smell.

5. Compare Prices from other Websites

Once you’ve found a mattress you like, compare the price to that of other websites. You may be able to find a cheaper deal!

If you’re not already aware of the term ‘Anime’ then let us define you. Anime basically belongs to the Japanese nation means fictional animation that Japan produces. Similarly, Anime body pillows are those body pillows that have anime characters printed on them. There are numerous characters who are super cute, handsome, hot and more. 

Niabot, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

We have prepared the following list of the hottest anime characters on Anime body pillows that you can consider before your purchase.

Sasuke Uchiha

If you’re a fan of the Naruto anime then you must know Sasuke Uchiha is the hottest character in the series, unless of course if you like other Uchiha characters. This body pillow character is suitable for girls who can’t stop fangirling over hot anime characters. The black hair, Sharingan, white shirt show off Sasuke’s chest and whatnot. What could be hotter than that?

Levi Ackerman 

The best, hottest, coolest and awesome character of the Attack on Titans is Levi Ackerman. Bet you already know about him and his cool stunts in the anime. Girls would simply love Levi’s anime body pillow. This is the best chance to get yourself one and hug the body pillow all night and make your dreams come true. Not only it is a cool body pillow design, but it is also super soft and cures stress or pain relief.

Erza Scarlet

Erza Scarlet is the S-Class mage in the Fairy Tail series. She is pure chic, hot, has long hair and wears an absolutely stunning costume. The cloak enhances her personality and looks as well. If you’re a boy looking for a hot anime girl body pillow then you should definitely consider Erza Scarlet! She’s a pure gem and you would not feel lonely once you’ll buy this Anime body pillow.

Hinata Hyuga 

A Hinata Hyuga anime body pillow never gets too boring even if it gets 5 years old! I mean, who does not love Hinata? She is one of the bravest female anime characters from the Naruto series and one that is super cute and hot too! A Hinata body pillow always keeps you stress-free and ensures you sleep well enough during the night. It dissipates body heat so you can sleep cool without sweating too much.

Kakashi Hatake

Another amazing guy character from the Naruto series is Kakashi Hatake. Girls are head over heels for him. Even in the Naruto series he looked hot and in Naruto’s sequel Boruto, he looks just as hot as ever! With his one eye masked and unique grey hair, he looks absolutely stunning. Getting him printed on an Anime body pillow could be the real deal here since you need to make sure of the quality and size as well. 

Daiki Aomine

An ace basketball player in the Kuroko No Basket, Daiki Aomine is one super-hot and badass anime character. If you get Daiki Aomine’s Anime body pillow, you’ll never regret it in your life. This goes especially for girls who are fans of dark-toned anime characters with tall figures and fit physiques. His basketball uniform looks super stylish on him as well!

Rias Gremory

Are you a fan of High School DxD? Then you must definitely like Rias Gremory! She is the sultry demon in this anime and has a super lovely personality. Her long red hair makes her attractive and brings out her personality. She is one appealing female character for a hot anime body pillow, and you must get it if you are a boy totally a fan of her! There are different poses of Rias so you can choose one to two that you like the most for the front and back of the anime body pillow.

Different people have different hobbies, likes, and dislikes. Some take their hobbies and give them their time to enjoy while some ignore them as they give serious matters in life much more importance. But some people take their hobbies to another level. For example, if someone likes to watch movies, so he has a small private cinema in his house, or someone likes to swim gets a pool installed in the backyard. Talking about pools, as it is a big project it needs to be handled with care.

Photo by Dim Hou on Unsplash

It is better if you consulted someone who has already installed one in his or her house. Someone who has been through a project can guide you better about it. They could provide some tips to keep you on track for building a swimming pool that fits your budget, property, and lifestyle. Searching the web for pool builder to get any contact of someone who could do the job is what people normally do. But you should get the contact too from the person you take tips from as the builder will also be an experimented one.

1. Have a clear picture

Before asking for estimates from swimming pool companies, it is important to have a clear picture in your mind about what exactly it is that you are planning to make? Whether it is a funky fun side with slides or a pool with classy tanning shelves?

2. Low estimates mean low quality

Don’t get impressed by someone who offers low estimates. It is often the case that these low estimates prove to be even more expensive than the initial cost as repeated repairs, equipment failure, and structural problems arise.

3. Inspect the candidates carefully

 A swimming pool repair or construction is a very delicate job. One should try to be as sure as possible when selecting a final candidate to hand over this job to. Online reviews, solid references, and a strong showcase of projects can help develop trust in a particular contactor.

4. Budget

As building a swimming pool requires a large amount of money, a budget must be made. A balance between what you want against what you need should be maintained. Reputable pool construction firms are upfront about costs that affect original estimates. Therefore, the budget should be planned before a final call is made.

5. Shape, size & landscape

A couple of trees and bushes might have to be sacrificed to accommodate a swimming pool. To avoid this, go with a free-form pool that is shaped around the plantings that are already there. The top pool shapes when building a swimming pool should be checked once before deciding upon a shape or size.

6. Pool enclosures

The state regulations require pool enclosures to be made to ensure security. Talk to the contractor about different types of fencing and barriers that provide security as it remains the priority. At the same time complements the good looks of the backyard getaway.

7. Green pools

 Saving on swimming pools energy costs is easier than ever. Pool covers, pumps, and lighting timers all can pay for themselves in energy savings in a relatively short time. Some people run away from swimming pools simply because they think it is very unethical environmentally. The industry has worked very hard to make swimming pools eco-friendly in recent years. The swimming pools are heated nowadays, using solar energy. They are even filtered using natural methods. Swimming pool covers also help with water lost in evaporation, saving you time and money.

8. Weather conditions

The climatic conditions of the area, city, or region where you live can affect certain pool design decisions. In the colder regions, people often consider enclosures to prolong the pool season. People in wetter climates also have a pool indoors. In the temperate climates, pool heaters are useful as it never gets overly warm. Windy areas, heavily treed areas, or places cold enough to close swimming pools for the season will all need a pool cover. The cover also helps evaporation and keeps the leaves and debris at bay. Many of these ideas are better to imagine about your pool design or if you fall in some colder, rainy, or dry region, then all this might become a necessity.

9. Safety

Apart from any mandatory fencing the local codes command, think about other safety measures that can be taken when building a pool. Smart alarms can be installed to alert you when someone or something enters the water. Child-proof locks on gates and security alarms on windows to the backyard are also considered.

A swimming pool adds so much beauty to your home where it uplifts the look of the house. At the same time, care must be taken before having it installed. And after it is installed, don’t forget to throw a pool party at your place.

The internet has become a dangerous place in the past 20 years. Fake profiles, identify theft, and scams are the norms now, and the scary bit is that it takes just a minute for someone to learn everything about you. 

Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

With that said, it’s essential in today’s age to know how to keep your social media accounts like: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, IMO private and only intended for those you wish to allow. 

There are numerous ways you can do that and today, we’ll share some tips to help you maintain your online privacy.

While you can find many solutions over the internet, not all of them are trustworthy or works best to keep your social media profiles private and secure. Therefore, you must only go for the ones that are recommended, tried and tested. 

Tip#1 Use a VPN 

First up is the mighty VPN – Virtual Private Network. Your account is particularly at risk if you regularly login into your social media accounts on a public hotspot. We know you feel it’s necessary to take a photo of your aesthetic lunch at the cafe down the street, but your accounts are highly susceptible to hackers on public networks. 

So be smart, don’t be irresponsible about your privacy – use a VPN service like Express VPN. You can also check out the top VPN deals by VPNRanks to choose from a selection of VPN providers best suited for your needs. 

A VPN will help keep your communication well encrypted and protect all your data from potential hackers and identity thieves. But how does a VPN do that? It does so by confining your information within a tunnel within itself and the websites that you are visiting. 

Tip #2 Use Strong Passwords

It’s common knowledge that most people keep the same password for all of their social accounts, just for the sake of memory. Let’s face it – it can be a bit laborious to remember every single password of your social accounts. However, this increases the likelihood of all of your accounts getting hacked by hackers relatively easily. 

This is why you should aim to create a unique password and change it up every three months. A robust password usually consists of an array of capital letters, numerics, and symbols. The stronger password that you use, the harder it will be for a hacker to crack it. 

Your password should be something special to you to easily remember, but it’s difficult for others to guess it. You should skip common passwords like birthdays, anniversaries, and pet names. It’s a given that you should keep different passwords for each social media account you possess. If this seems like a daunting task, you can use a password manager to assist you. 

Tip#3 Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Once you’ve set up a strong password, your next likely step should enable two-factor authentication or login verification. By activating these features, you are essentially switching on another layer of security for your accounts. 

What two-factor authentication does is that it sends a code to your phone so that the log-in process from a new device can be completed. On the other hand, Login verification will send you a verification code whenever you log in from an unknown device. 

This might seem like an exhausting task to some people, but you should enable two-factor authentication if you are serious about your online privacy. 

Tip#4 Use Geotags Wisely 

And lastly, we know that it might seem very tempting to update your social handles with your whereabouts. But this comes with a sinister risk that most of us don’t realize when we harmlessly check-in at a location on Facebook or upload travel photos. 

Geotags put you at risk, both in the virtual and the real world. Your vacay pictures could signal potential burglars to make their move or stalkers from locating you at your most frequently visited spots. So, avoid using geotags to thwart unwanted attention in your life.

Conclusion:

Unfortunately, it’s a known fact that countless people become victims of identity thefts and data breaches every year.  This results in a traumatizing ordeal for many, as you lose your data, and there is a blatant invasion of privacy. 

Just imagine someone barging into your house in real life, rummaging through closets, and picking up your items.  However, if you keep your guard up and take the necessary precautions, a traumatizing event of this sort could be well avoided. 

The same goes for the social media profiles that contain all of your private information, which in case of theft can lead to way more problems and confidentiality issues than you can expect. 

We hope our tips were helpful for you, so do let us know in the comments below! 

The housing market has been off the chain since 2020. All over the United States, homes have been selling quickly and for thousands of dollars above asking price, leaving first-time buyers struggling.

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

Instead of trying to find the right home in a competitive market, many people are turning to new construction instead. In December 2021 alone, there were 1,702,000 new residential construction projects and 1,295,000 residential completions.

Home buyers want customization

Buying a new home is a big endeavor. Homes aren’t cheap right now, so it makes sense that some people would spend a little bit more time and money to get a new construction they can customize.

If you’re going to pay a premium in the marketplace for an existing home, you may as well spend that extra money on a new construction and get exactly what you want. Floor plans are readily available, and home builders like Natale add new floor plans regularly.

Building a home from scratch allows buyers to customize the layout and design, including the fixtures. In short, you get what you want with a new construction and you don’t have to settle.

New constructions avoid bidding wars

The biggest inconvenience of buying a home in the current market is dealing with bidding wars. Many people have a real estate agent to negotiate on their behalf, but it’s still a frustrating experience.

Many buyers are getting outbid by wealthy investors and corporations that offer thousands above asking price. In 2021, over 4,500 Seattle homes sold for at least $100,000 over asking price. A total of 146 homes sold for $300,000 above asking price. That’s astronomical.

The high premiums created a kind of chain reaction where homes were being listed higher than their value. Since supply has been short, many of those homes have sold.

In 2022, the market has cooled off a bit, but it is still overpriced. First-time buyers don’t stand a chance with those sales prices. In cities like Seattle, it’s better to skip the bidding wars entirely because in the end, a rich investor or corporation is going to win. The average first-time home buyer can’t afford to offer a higher premium, so they have to bow out of the negotiations and concede to a higher bidder.

Since over-priced bids are happening so often, many people think it’s not worth getting involved. Contracting a new construction is easier and less stressful. One of the only points of concern is the contractors making mistakes. However, if you choose a reputable company, they’ll hire competent contractors.

New constructions are easier

Buying a home has never been a simple process, but it’s never been all that complicated, either. There are plenty of things you need to know and there are processes, rules, and regulations. However, it’s never been a battle that sucks all of your energy and drains you.

Home buyers have been exerting enormous amounts of energy chasing homes that end up being pulled out from underneath them by excessive bids. After spending all of their time and energy trying to buy a home, it’s frustrating to lose to a higher bidder.

If it only happened once, it wouldn’t be so bad, but home buyers in certain areas are being outbid multiple times, making the task of finding a property exhausting.

Supply is short

The supply of homes has been short, but it’s dwindling even more. Home buyers, whether new or experienced, are struggling to find their ideal property. With the options available, many have had to settle for homes that don’t exactly fit their needs.

Another big problem with the market is that people can’t just put their home on the market and expect to find a new property before closing. People are putting their homes on the market and selling them without a problem, but they are struggling to find a new home to buy at a reasonable price.

Existing homeowners are better off contracting a new construction before they put their home on the market. This way, there’s no need to scramble to buy a new house that may not even be what they want.

New home constructions are ideal

Whether you’re looking to move to a new location or you’re a first-time buyer, a new construction might be your best option. If you don’t want to deal with the bidding wars and high prices, talk to a builder to find out how you can get a new home built. You’ll have a better chance of getting a home you’ll enjoy.

Believe it or not, all websites you can visit using a regular browser and find on a search engine account for only about 5% of the total Internet.

Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash

This multitude of easily discoverable online resources is referred to as the surface web.

What about the rest? More than 90% of web pages in existence represent what’s called the deep web. These are protected from unauthorized use through paywalls or authentication forms, and their content is beyond the reach of surface web search engines’ crawlers. A classic example is your email account no one else is permitted to access, or a piece of scientific research only registered users can view.

There is one more subset of sites collectively dubbed the dark web. They aren’t indexed by search engines and cannot be accessed with a normal web browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. To navigate around this shadowy territory populated by .onion sites, you have to use the privacy-centric Tor Browser. It routes all connections through hundreds or even thousands of randomly picked relay points, thus making it infeasible to attribute your online sessions to you.

Many users find it difficult to understand the difference between deep web and dark web. Although the two concepts overlap (the dark web is considered to be a part of the deep web, and neither of them is searchable with the likes of Google), using them interchangeably is a misconception. Let’s eliminate the ambiguity.

First off, the dark web is only a tiny fraction of the deep web. Secondly, while the deep web is browser-neutral, the only way to access sites on the dark web is to use the Tor Browser that’s built around the onion routing technology for anonymous communication. And with the robust privacy architecture and data encryption at its core, the dark web is home to a slew of sketchy sites that sell illegal drugs, firearms, stolen identities, passwords, and pornographic materials forbidden by law.

Now that you know the fundamentals of the World Wide Web’s composition, let’s take a closer look at its darkest building block. The following paragraphs reflect 5 facts about the dark web you might have been unaware of.

1. The dark web doesn’t boil down to illegal activities

Whereas the dark web has earned a bad rap for a plethora of nasty practices it propels, its privacy-first architecture allows perfectly benign uses. For instance, it can be leveraged for secure communication in totalitarian regimes where discussing certain subjects in the open can get users in trouble.

In addition, many trustworthy online services have a presence in the .onion zone of the Internet to offer more privacy to their audiences and help bypass location-based censorship. Facebook has been available as a Tor hidden service since 2014. The same goes for well-known news media outlets, such as The New York Times, Deutsche Welle, and BBC.

The dark web is also a long-standing bastion for surveillance-free journalism and political whistleblowing (think Edward Snowden), allowing reporters and activists to chat or spread the word about things that might get them on authorities’ radar.

2. To visit a site on the dark web, you have to know the exact URL

Surfing around the dark web requires certain skills and connections with other residents of this secretive Internet segment. In other words, every action is deliberate and you’ll need to enter a specific URL in Tor Browser. While some addresses leading to reputable or quasi-legitimate websites are made publicly available via repositories on the surface web, the vast majority of them are only shared with restricted groups of people.

Cybercriminal forums, for example, are off-limits to the average layman. To access them, a user needs a special invitation and must prove he or she isn’t a security researcher or an undercover police officer. As a rule, providing evidence of a criminal record is the main criterion.

3. The dark web is a safe haven for the ransomware economy

To step up their operations security (OPSEC), ransomware distributors host the entirety of the victim interaction infrastructures on .onion sites. Furthermore, combining malicious encryption with data theft is a major trend in this area of cybercrime, and it also relies on the anonymity provided by Tor.

To name and shame non-paying victims, crooks set up .onion leak sites to which they upload files covertly extracted from the networks of breached organizations. Since the public exposure of sensitive business records is potentially devastating for the reputation of any brand, the odds of succumbing to felons’ demands increase significantly.

4. Roaming across the dark web can get your device infected

Since the dark web is a decentralized and unregulated environment, it is laden with malicious scripts and dangerous programs waiting to be downloaded behind the scenes, such as keyloggers, file-encrypting ransomware, botnet malware, and scareware. To top it off, it harbors numerous phishing scams aimed at obtaining personal data or spreading predatory code. Therefore, if you venture into visiting this area of the Internet, consider using a virtual machine and installing a reliable antivirus tool.

5. The dark web is a goldmine of threat intelligence data

Dark web monitoring is an indispensable component of modern security-as-a-service (SaaS) frameworks. A prime example is attack surface management (ASM) geared toward inventorying an organization’s digital posture from an external adversary’s perspective. These tools scan “underground” resources for keywords that correlate with a customer’s proprietary information.

By knowing what enterprise credentials, databases, and other sensitive assets have been dumped on the dark web, businesses can strengthen the most vulnerable areas. That being said, security providers increasingly frequent this shadiest territory of the World Wide Web to expand the horizons of their reconnaissance.

Summary

The dark web is undoubtedly the most clandestine part of cyberspace, but it’s not necessarily evil. Not only do its privacy-hardening characteristics lure criminals, but they also bring tamper-proof communication to the fingertips of dissidents, human rights activities, whistleblowers, and people who can’t put up with the scourge of ubiquitous surveillance on the surface web. However, if you decide to explore what it’s like to be on the darkest side of the Internet, be careful – it’s not a safe place to go.