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Curious about the mysterious world of the dark web? While it has garnered a reputation for being a shady place full of illegal activities, there are legitimate reasons why someone might want to access it. Whether you’re interested in protecting your privacy, conducting research, or simply satisfying your curiosity, here’s how you can get on the dark web.
What is the Dark Web?
Is the dark web 90% of the Internet?
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also serves as a platform for whistleblowers, activists, and individuals looking to maintain their online anonymity.
Dark Web Links: The Best Onion and Tor Sites in 2024
Proton VPN makes it easy to safely gain access to the dark web by connecting users to the Tor Network in a single click. Its server network includes dedicated nodes set up to reroute internet traffic through the Tor network. Tor Over VPN servers are identified with an onion symbol and found in the country list. It allows you to access and browse websites anonymously, using masked IP addresses. You can only access the dark web with the Tor browser, which prevents tracking, surveillence, and ad targeting. We’ve outlined how to access the dark web on phones and other mobile devices.
- I also included instructions on how to access the dark web, and outlined how to stay safe when browsing dark web links (the dark web is also home to many scams and malicious sites).
- The ‘Deep Web’ refers to all web pages that search engines cannot find.
- Many Tor users also recommend the benefits of using a VPN, which provides maximum encryption and helps to hide your IP address and internet activity.
- IBM Security X-Force, for example, reported that 29% of its ransomware engagements in 2020 involved REvil.
- After all, it’s much less popular, can’t be used to access normal websites, and isn’t as easy to use, among other disadvantages.
How to Access the Dark Web
- Download a Tor Browser: The most common way to access the dark web is through the Tor browser, which allows users to browse anonymously.
- Install a VPN: While Tor provides anonymity, using a VPN adds an extra layer of security by encrypting your internet connection.
- Find Onion Sites: Onion sites are websites that end in .onion and can only be accessed through the Tor network. You can find directories of these sites online.
- Exercise Caution: Remember that the dark web can be a dangerous place. Avoid clicking on suspicious links and never share personal information.
As many as 70.79% of users claim to use the Tor browser for anonymity, 62.28% said they use it for additional security, and 27.07% used it out of curiosity about the dark web. Get Norton 360 Deluxe to help protect the personal data you send and receive online. Darren Guccione is the CEO and co-founder of Keeper Security, the world’s most popular password manager and secure digital vault. Keeper is the first and only password management application to be preloaded with mobile operators and device manufacturers including, AT&T, Orange, America Movil and HTC. Keeper has millions of consumer customers and the business solution protects thousands of organizations worldwide. The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden, requiring a specific browser—Tor—to access, as explained below.
However, the undeniable fact is that most of the activities that happen on the Dark Web are related to criminal actions. Details for credit cards carrying a balance up to $1,000 cost $150 on average, while stolen online banking login details (for an account with a balance of at least $100) go for just $40. This high barrier entry to the Dark Web exists to protect user identities, online activities and location, and maintain their anonymity. Essentially, the Dark Web uses a cluster of nodes and networks called “darknets.” These include — but aren’t limited to — peer-to-peer networks — small and big — including Tor and Freenet. Every time you log into your email account, check your online banking details, or use social media, you’re on the Deep Web. While most people access the internet through common web browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, and Edge, there are deeper levels of the internet that aren’t accessible by the average user.
It’s still mimicking the corporate world
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it illegal to access the dark web?
Why Are All Dark Websites in the .onion Top-Level Domain ?
A: No, accessing the dark web itself is not illegal. However, engaging in illegal activities while on the dark web is against the law.
Ulbricht’s heavy verdict didn’t prevent new versions of the Silk Road from cropping up. Two of the original market’s moderators put Silk Road Version 2.0 online only a month after the arrest. This section of Tor specialized in drug trafficking, among other things, and operated from February 2011 to October 2013. The FBI arrested the founder Ross Ulbricht, otherwise known as the “Dread Pirate Roberts,” and sentenced him with two life sentences without a chance of parole. Riffle employs a series of servers the developers call the mixnet to combat these problems.
Q: Can I be tracked while on the dark web?
A: While the Tor network provides anonymity, it is still possible for law enforcement agencies and hackers to track your activity if you do not take proper precautions.
For most of us, the internet begins and ends with websites we can find on Google. Sure, we understand that there are websites that are hard to find because they’re unlisted. But we imagine these sites mostly to be blogs and business websites that are too small or undeveloped to see the light of search engines. But there’s a whole other world of websites that you can’t find through Google.
The term dark web is often confused with the deep web, a subset of the hidden part of the internet. It exists on the darknet, an overlay network on top of the regular internet, accessible through specific software, configurations, and setups. For example, some of our favorite social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, have set up mirror sites on the dark web for people who don’t want to be watched by the government. Some users looking for how to access the dark web can do that simply because they want to check whether their personal data is for sale.
By following these steps and exercising caution, you can safely explore the dark web and discover what lies beyond the surface web. Just remember to use it responsibly and stay safe online.
