Lack of regulation by authorities or other users makes it easy for cybercriminals to carry out scams. Dark web websites look pretty much like any other site, but there are important differences. Instead of ending in .com or .co, dark web websites end in .onion. That’s “a special-use top level domain suffix designating an anonymous hidden service reachable via the Tor network,” according to Wikipedia. Browsers with the appropriate proxy can reach these sites, but others can’t. On the Deep Web, these risks primarily relate to the fact that you need to authenticate to access a private site and that these sites contain a great deal of sensitive and valuable personal data.
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, such as providing a platform for free speech and whistleblowing. If you’re interested in accessing the dark web, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it safely and anonymously.
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Deep web content — which isn’t picked up by search engines, either — includes pages that typically require additional credentials to access. Your online banking accounts and email accounts, for instance, are examples of deep web content. According to Internet Live Stats, the World Wide Web passed the one billion website benchmark in 2014 and is still hovering around that figure.
This is because the dark web is placed on darknets, an overlay network that exists ‘on top of” the regular internet. While the content on the dark web has the potential to be more dangerous, this content is usually walled off from regular users. However, it is entirely possible for regular users to accidentally come across harmful content while browsing the deep web, which is much more easily accessible. This makes deep web security important for individuals and enterprises alike. Unlike the dark web, which is deliberately obscured by layers of technology, the deep web exists just below the surface web. The majority of the deep web consists of regular websites that require users to create an account before they can be accessed.
The U.S. shut down this infamous online black market and prominent member of the dark web in 2013. Search engines don’t index any of the websites on the dark web, which means you can’t get there by using Google or Yahoo or your search engine of choice. The dark web is known as a place where illegal goods and services can be bought and sold, and for that reason, it’s earned a reputation for being a little seedy and salacious. In this alternative, you don’t let the VPN see your IP address since the internet traffic first goes through Tor.
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Removing your personal information from the dark web is difficult. Once the data is available on dark web marketplaces, it’s nearly impossible to track down the individuals responsible. To avoid theft of your personal data in the first place, use a data protection tool that helps you keep your data in your own hands.
What You’ll Need
For example, you can configure the CyberGhost VPN app to automatically connect to a desired VPN server and open the Tor browser app on launch. On average, I had really good browsing speeds — .onion sites loaded in 2–3 seconds, HD videos loaded in 5 seconds, and there was only minor buffering at the start of the videos. ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for browsing pages on the dark web in 2024 — it supports Tor traffic, provides excellent security and privacy features, and has very fast speeds. There are different categories — my favorite one is Multiple Choice, where you need to pick the most popular autocomplete answer for a random Google search (like “is it ok to swim with …”).
- A computer or mobile device
- A virtual private network (VPN) service
- The Tor browser
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Step 1: Use a VPN
Before accessing the dark web, it’s essential to protect your online privacy and security. A VPN service will encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address, making it difficult for anyone to track your online activity. There are many VPN services available, both free and paid. Do your research and choose a reputable one with strong security features.
Step 2: Download and Install the Tor Browser
The Tor browser is a free, open-source web browser that allows you to access the dark web anonymously. It works by routing your internet connection through a series of volunteer-run servers, which makes it difficult to trace your online activity. To download and install the Tor browser, go to the official website (https://www.torproject.org/download/) and follow the instructions.
Step 3: Connect to the Tor Network
Once you’ve installed the Tor browser, open it and connect to the Tor network. This may take a few seconds or minutes, depending on your internet connection. reddit dark web When you’re connected, the Tor browser will look and feel like any other web browser, but all your internet traffic will be routed through the Tor network.
Step 4: Access the Dark Web
To access the dark web, you’ll need to know the .onion URLs of the websites you want to visit. These URLs are not indexed by search engines and are only accessible through the Tor browser. There are directories of .onion URLs available online, but be cautious when using them, as some may contain malicious links. When you visit a .onion website, be aware that it may contain illegal or explicit content, and use your judgment before proceeding.
FAQs
Is it legal to access the dark web?
Accessing the dark web is not illegal in itself, but some activities on the dark web how to access darknet are illegal. Always use your judgment and avoid engaging in any illegal activities.
Can you get in trouble for running a Tor node?
We believe that running a Tor relay, including an exit relay that allows people to anonymously send and receive traffic, is legal under U.S. law. Law enforcement, however, often misunderstands how Tor works and has occasionally attributed illegal traffic on the network as originating from a Tor exit relay.
Can I use my regular web browser to access the dark web?
What happens if you accidentally searched something illegal?
On that note, your internet searches alone typically will not get you in trouble with the police. It is perfectly legal to search anything online in most cases, but if those searches are linked to a crime or potential crime, you could get arrested. From there, you could get taken into custody and interrogated at best.
No, you cannot access the dark web with a regular web browser. You’ll need to use the Tor browser, which is specifically designed to access the dark web anonymously.
Is it safe to access the dark web?
- I included Beneath VT in this guide because it stands out from other sites on the dark web, and it’s also interesting and fun to read.
- VPN encryption protects your data from being intercepted while on the dark web.
- Whistleblowers, journalists, and activists also use dark web tools — especially if they live in countries with repressive political regimes.
- There are countless examples of this type of communication taking place on the Dark Web.
Accessing the dark web can be risky, as it is often associated with illegal activities and malicious content. Always protect your online privacy and security by using a VPN and being cautious when visiting .onion websites.
Why shouldn’t you go full screen in Tor?
full screen/ maximizing will/can “leak” your real screen resolution, even with letterboxing: i.e the letterboxing only steps, so it's not hard to extrapolate the real size to something expected.
Can I get in trouble for accessing the dark web?
If you access the dark web for illegal activities, you may face legal consequences. Always use your judgment and avoid engaging in any illegal activities.
How do I know if a .onion website is safe?
It’s difficult to know if a .onion website is safe, as they are not indexed by search engines and are not regulated. Always use your judgment and be cautious when visiting .onion websites.
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.
