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 hosts legitimate content and communities. In this article, we will discuss how to access the dark web safely and securely.
Anheuser-Busch Distributor, Ben E Keith, Network Breach Update
What is the Dark Web?
ProPublica — Investigative Journalism On Tor
The dark web is a collection of websites that are not indexed by search engines and cannot be accessed through regular web browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. These websites are hosted on private networks and can only be accessed using special software, such as the Tor browser.
Dark web refers to websites on darknets and account for less than 1% of the information available on the internet. Any company, regardless of size or sector, is vulnerable to data breaches. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity solution that protects data from threats that could destroy it. EDR strengthens security through continuous monitoring and gathering of data from endpoints to identify and address cyberthreats in real time. The terms dark web and deep web are often used interchangeably; they both share functional similarities and operational differences that make them unique in the cybersecurity threat landscape. However, the deep web differs in that it doesn’t require a specialized browser such as TOR to access its contents.
ProPublica — Investigative Journalism News Site
The dark web is often used for illegal activities, such as buying and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, it also hosts legitimate content and communities, such as political dissidents, whistleblowers, and journalists who use it to communicate anonymously.
What is .onion used for?
The onion bulb is commonly eaten as food. Onion bulb and extract are also used to make medicine. Onion contains chemicals that seem to reduce swelling and lung tightness related to asthma. It also contains chemicals that seem to reduce cholesterol and lower blood sugar.
How to Access the Dark Web
To access the dark web, you will need to download and install the Tor browser. Tor (The Onion Router) is a free, open-source software that allows you to browse the internet anonymously.
However, note that by accessing the Dark Web you may attract attention from law enforcement agencies who monitor Dark Web activity. FBI, Europol, Interpol, and many other national police agencies regularly police the Dark Web. Several technical features make the Dark Web a unique subset of the Deep Web. Dark Web sites are not viewable on standard browsers like Chrome or Safari—accessing Dark Web sites requires a special browser. Anonymity protocols are standard practice for Dark Web users; traffic is often more heavily encrypted, and sometimes routed through proxy servers.
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.
Once you have installed the Tor browser, you can access the dark web by typing in the URL of a dark web site. Dark web sites use the .onion top-level domain, which is only accessible through the Tor network. For example, the popular dark web marketplace, Silk Road, had the URL silkroad6ownowfkh.onion.
Staying Safe on the Dark Web
Accessing the dark web can be risky, as it is home to many illegal activities and scams. To stay safe, it is important to take the following precautions:
That’s helpful because Tor can suffer IP leaks and malicious actors can run Tor servers. Basically, if a Tor IP leak occurs before you connect to the VPN, your real IP address will be exposed. But if you connect to the VPN before connecting to Tor and an IP leak occurs, only the VPN’s IP address will be exposed. It comes with advanced features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy, and it also has a no-logs policy that has passed several independent audits. ExpressVPN provides high-end security features that are ideal for surfing the dark web. It has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and verified and it uses RAM-only servers, meaning every server reset wipes all data.
- Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) will encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address, making it more difficult for others to track your online activity.
- Don’t share personal information: Avoid sharing any personal information, such as your name, address, or phone number, while on the dark web.
- Use a secure email provider: Use a secure email provider, such as ProtonMail or Tutanota, to communicate with others on the dark web.
- Use strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts, and consider using a password manager to keep track of them.
- Beware of phishing scams: Be cautious of any links or attachments sent to you, as they may be part of a phishing scam designed to steal your personal information or install malware on your device.
Further explore why enterprise dark web monitoring is worth the investment. But with links on the dark web typically just alphanumeric strings of nonsense (think kwyjibo.onion) it can be very hard to know what you’re getting. The UN noted last month that although drug trafficking over the dark web is relatively modest, drug transactions increased 50 percent annually from September 2013 to January 2016. And in early 2016, then-US Attorney General Loretta Lynch warned that some gun sales were shifting to the dark web to stay outside the reach of regulations. It’s hard to estimate just how big the deep web is, but the commonly cited research (albeit from 2001) puts the deep web at 400 to 550 times the size of the “surface web.” Buying drugs, guns or the hacked personal details of millions of unsuspecting people — welcome to the dark web, where everything is off the grid.
- However, you can still access the Tor network using alternate browsers, like OrNet or Onion Browser.
- Generally speaking, most websites are legal and they’re safe to use.
- The first step is to get a quality VPN and for this case, I recommend ExpressVPN.
- It is also used by whistle-blowers, journalists, and other individuals who are not involved in illegal activity but need to protect their communications and identities.
Conclusion
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and can only be accessed using special software, such as the Tor browser. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also hosts legitimate content and communities. To access the dark web safely and securely, it is important to take precautions, such as using a VPN, not sharing personal information, using a secure email provider, using strong passwords, and being cautious of phishing scams.
How much does Tor cost?
Tor is free, open-source software that allows you to browse the internet (including the dark web) anonymously. It does this by routing your traffic through a series of volunteer-run servers, making it difficult for anyone to track your real IP address.
