Which of the following layers of the Internet is the visible part of the web, where contents are indexed by search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing?

The surface web refers to the portion of the internet that is accessible to the general public and can be indexed by search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. This includes websites that are visible and openly available, such as blogs, news sites, and online stores. The content on the surface web can be easily discovered through search engines, allowing users to find information quickly.

In contrast, other layers of the internet have different characteristics. The deep web encompasses all parts of the internet that are not indexed by standard search engines, including databases, private corporate sites, and other content that requires credentials or specific permissions to access. The dark web is a small segment of the deep web that requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access, often associated with illicit activities. The term "invisible web" is sometimes used interchangeably with the deep web but is not a widely accepted term.

Understanding these distinctions is crucial in digital forensics as it helps in identifying the sources of information that can be relied upon during investigations, especially in terms of visibility and accessibility of data.