How Do You Access the Dark Web?

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. Accessing the dark web requires special software and an understanding of how it works.

A VPN, in combination with Tor, further adds to the security and anonymity of the user. When data brokers get hacked, the stolen data can include compromised credit cards, social security numbers, and other data, depending on what was exposed in the breach. This is a common way for identity theft and doxing attacks to occur. The Tor Project says that of the 2 million people using Tor every day, only 1.5% of them are accessing hidden, or dark, websites. And most dark web websites are in English — according to one estimate, a staggering 78% of information on the dark web is in English.

What Is The Tor Browser?

Using the Tor Browser

Use A VPN (Virtual Private Network)

The most common way to access the dark web is by using the Tor browser. Tor stands for “The Onion Router” and it is a free software that allows you to browse the internet anonymously. It works by routing your internet connection through a series of volunteer-operated servers around the world, which makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.

The most famous is DuckDuckGo, fondly known as the search engine that doesn’t track you and doesn’t store your personal information. The downside is that it doesn’t have the same amount of features you’ll find on Google. It’s really strange that the world’s largest social media platform would have a .onion address, but there you are, Facebook it is. This part of Facebook was supposedly developed by them to cater to those who want a social network that’s anonymous. I’m not quite sure how ‘anonymous’ and ‘social’ work together, but the .onion Facebook claims not to keep logs of user activity.

There Is Bad Stuff, And Crackdowns Mean It’s Harder To Trust

To use the Tor browser, you first need to download it from the official Tor Project website. Once you have installed it, you can open it and start browsing the internet as you would with any other browser. However, when you want to access the dark web, you need to type in a special .onion URL instead of a regular website address.

Finding .onion URLs

Step 3: Safety Tips While Using The Dark Web On IPhone

Your ISP and others will be unaware that you are downloading and using Tor Browser if you use a VPN. These search engines work within the Tor network and facilitate the discovery of dark web websites. In this article, we will explore various methods to access the dark web on both Android and PC devices. However, engaging in illegal activities while on the dark web is not.

.onion URLs are not indexed by search engines, so you cannot find them by doing a Google search. Instead, you need to use directories or forums that list dark web sites. Some popular directories include the Hidden Wiki and Daniel’s Hosting.

It is important to note that not all .onion sites are legitimate or safe. Many of them are scams or phishing sites that aim to steal your personal information or infect your computer with malware. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution when accessing the dark web and only visit sites that you trust.

When searching and surfing the dark web, it is possible to run into malicious websites that contain malware. There is a significant amount of malicious websites on the dark web which means it is essential to be extremely careful about where you go. As a result, it is essential that you use a strong firewall, and an antivirus with real time scanning and protection against incoming threats. Most search engines do not work on the dark web, because they are not designed to search for “.onion” URLs. The good news, however, is that you can use the dark web version of DuckDuckGo to search for and navigate to websites on the dark web. On the other hand, those stats reveal that around 40% of the dark web is not actually illegal.

Using a VPN

Another way to access the dark web is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a location of your choice. This makes it difficult for anyone to intercept your traffic or track your online activity.

• And while plenty of cybercrime does take place, the dark web is used legally as well.
• Connect to a VPN first, then use Tor in a Tor-over-VPN setup for extra security.
• This category includes cloud drives, account pages on different websites, medical records, credit card information, reports, etc.

While a VPN can provide an extra layer of security when accessing the dark web, it is not a substitute for the Tor browser. This is because a VPN does not route your traffic through a series of servers, which means that it is still possible for someone to track your online activity. Therefore, it is recommended to use both the Tor browser and a VPN when accessing the dark web.

Conclusion

Accessing the dark web requires special software and an understanding of how it works. The most common way to do this is by using the Tor browser, which allows you to browse the internet anonymously and access .onion sites. It is important to exercise caution when accessing the dark web and only visit sites that you trust. Additionally, using a VPN can provide an extra layer of security, but it is not a substitute for the Tor browser.