- But some people insist on search engines, and several Tor engines exist.
- In addition to the regular Wiki information, it holds a massive resource of .onion sites which makes it a great place for finding deep web resources.
- That’s not a simple task for most people—so they’ll often take to search engines in hope of finding answers.
- But before visiting any sites on the dark web, get comprehensive cybersecurity software to protect yourself from any threats you may encounter.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also has legitimate uses. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to find the dark web.
Risks And Threats Of The Dark Web
Infamous criminal sites live there, but so do popular, well-known sites and brands. Perhaps you’ve heard the infamous stories about Silk Road, the online marketplace used to sell illegal drugs with bitcoin behind the veil of the Tor browser. Launched in 2011, it is known to be one of the first online platforms of the dark web. Anyone who wants to access the dark web on their iPhone while also being concerned about their security should use Tor and a good VPN like NordVPN.
What is the Dark Web?
Often, you also need to provide some kind of authentication, such as a password. If you get NordVPN, you can also use the Tor network whenever you want with its Onion over VPN servers. These are special servers from NordVPN that first hide your IP address and then route your traffic through the Tor network.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires special software to access. It is often used for illegal activities such as buying and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, it also has legitimate uses, such as providing a platform for whistleblowers and journalists to communicate safely.
How to Access the Dark Web
What Is The Dark Web? How To Access It And What You’ll Find
To access the dark web, you will need to use a special browser called Tor. Tor is a free software that enables anonymous communication by directing internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer network consisting of more than seven thousand relays.
Step 1: Download and Install Tor
The first step is to download and install Tor on your computer. You can download it from the official Tor Project website. Once you have downloaded the software, follow the instructions to install it on your computer.
Step 2: Launch Tor Browser
Proton VPN
The site allowed users to buy and sell drugs, weapons, and other illegal goods using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The Silk Road was shut down by law enforcement in 2013, but other dark web marketplaces have since emerged to take its place. As long as there’s a demand for the ability to privately browse the internet and, more importantly, host websites anonymously, the deep web will exist. Due to its decentralized structure, there is no real way to “shut down” the deep net, just like you can’t really shut down the regular internet. Making sure you’re connected via HTTPS is one solution to this problem, as is using a virtual private network. If you’re gonna use the Tor network to access the deep web — or the surface web for that matter — make sure to install one of the best VPNs to protect yourself against malicious exit and entry nodes.
After installing Tor, launch the browser. You will notice that the Tor browser looks and feels like a regular web browser, but it routes your internet connection through the Tor network, providing you with anonymity.
Step 3: Access the Dark Web
To access the dark web, you will need to use a special URL that ends in .onion. These URLs are not indexed by search engines and can only be accessed through the Tor browser. There are many directories of .onion sites, such as the Hidden Wiki, that can help you find websites on the dark web.
What happens if my phone number is on the dark web?
If your phone number is in the wrong hands, your identity and sensitive information could follow. Scammers and hackers could use your number to access your cloud accounts, which might hold private photos and details about you. They could then threaten to reveal your identity or information unless you pay a ransom.
Instead, everything stays internal on the Tor network, which provides security and privacy to everyone equally. Over 1 million people have visited the social network over Tor in a single month, and many did so through Facebook’s anonymous hidden service. Using Facebook’s increasingly popular .onion site, you can beat censorship and maintain better privacy even when using the world’s most popular social network. There’s plenty of illegal content, products, and services available on the dark web. Anonymity doesn’t make carrying out illegal acts any more permissible, so be cautious about making purchases or downloading content.
Safety Tips for Accessing the Dark Web
Accessing the dark web can be risky, and it is essential to take precautions to protect your privacy and security. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind:
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to add an extra layer of security.
- Do not use your real name or personal information.
- Do not download any files or click on links from unknown sources.
- Be cautious of any websites that ask for personal information or payment.
- Use antivirus software and keep it up to date.
ProPublica has a clearnet site, but its dark web version won’t see your IP address, so you get better privacy. You can also use its .onion link via the Tor network to access the site in restrictive countries, where it might be unavailable. The link checker lets you test a .onion link to see if it’s active or not. Some dark web links take ages to load or don’t work on the first try, so this tool lets you quickly check if they’re active. There’s a list of 100+ dark web links, and each site comes with a quick, helpful description.
Conclusion
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. While it is often associated with illegal activities, it also has legitimate uses. To access the dark web, you will need to use the Tor browser and special URLs that end in .onion. Remember to take precautions to protect your privacy and security when accessing the dark web.
What is the difference between the dark web and the deep web?
Access: Despite not being indexed by search engines, the Deep Web is accessible via traditional web browsers — i.e. you can access a Gmail page using Firefox, Chrome, etc. The Dark Web, on the other hand, is only accessible via special browsers that use Tor to protect anonymity.
