When the dark web is talked about online, it’s usually in connection with illegal markets and arrests made by police. Sci-Hub is mostly useful for academics who know the PMID, DOI, or URLs of papers they want to access. At the same time, websites like the Imperial Library of Trantor store stuff that’s interesting to the broader public. Aside from revealing just how widely unused Tor is (data suggests barely more than 1.5 million daily users), you can also see the scope of the network. Riseup provides email and chat services that keep no record of your activity.
Dark web, often portrayed as a mysterious and hidden part of the internet, is actually a subset of the deep web that is not indexed by traditional search engines. While it does have a reputation for illegal activities, there are legitimate reasons for wanting to access the dark web, such as ensuring online privacy and freedom of speech.
Steps to access TOR:
The dark web may be the Wild West of the internet — a place without rules, gatekeepers, or censorship — but there are still reasons to visit. Check out our rundown of the best dark web links and how to navigate dark websites safely. They target the illicit sale of personal data, malware and cybercrime tool development and sales, as well as ‘cybercrime-as-a-service’. “The goal is to identify, disrupt and prosecute cybercriminals domestically, and through international law enforcement partnerships,” an AFP spokesperson says.
Understanding the Basics
To access the dark web, you need to use special software like Tor (The Onion Router) that allows you to browse anonymously. Tor routes your internet traffic through a series of encrypted servers, making it difficult for anyone to trace your online activity back to you. This layer of anonymity is crucial when accessing the dark web, as it helps protect your identity and privacy.
Download Tor from its official website
This method allows law enforcement agencies to trace activities back to specific individuals on the TOR network. You can access the dark web by using a specialized browser like Tor and a VPN to ensure privacy and security. Tor is the most commonly used method, but other platforms like Signal can also be utilized for accessing the dark web securely.
Ranked: Best (and worst) browsers for privacy in 2024
Step-by-Step Guide
However, thanks to Tor’s onion routing, your online activity is encrypted and hidden from view. This means your ISP can’t see that you’re accessing the dark web (or indeed, the specific sites you’re accessing). The best dark web sites provide access to educational materials, host secure services, or bypass government censorship. Dark websites are hidden under layers of encryption that cloak user activity, which can be a boon to whistleblowers, activists, and others who don’t want anyone tracking their activity. When you use Tor, which routes your internet traffic through many different relay “nodes,” your online activity is obscured because you’re browsing anonymously. Tor also supports various privacy extensions, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to track users on the dark web.
1. Download and install the Tor browser on your device. This browser is specifically designed to access the dark web safely and securely.
2. Open the Tor browser and connect to the Tor network. This process may take a few minutes as your connection is routed through multiple servers.
Ubiquiti Dream Machine (UDM) – unable to connect to NBN
3. Once connected, you can start exploring the dark web by entering .onion websites into the browser’s address bar. These websites have unique URLs that end in .onion instead of .com or .org.
best deepfake apps and websites in 2024
4. Remember to practice caution while browsing the dark web, as it is known for hosting illegal content and activities. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown files to protect your device from malware and other threats.
- To stay safe on the dark web, get a premium VPN service like NordVPN.
- You should only ever access websites you know are safe because they’re vetted by websites or other sources that you already know are safe.
- You can also find email messages, online bank statements, and much more information on the deep web – information that is usually private and inaccessible by the public on the surface web.
- By encrypting data at multiple stages, the Onion routing technology ensures that users remain hidden when browsing the web.
- Deep web content — which isn’t picked up by search engines, either — includes pages that typically require additional credentials to access.
By following these steps and using the necessary precautions, you can safely navigate the dark web and explore its hidden corners. Remember to always prioritize your online safety and privacy, and use the dark web responsibly.
