Content
Hackers use the dark web for illegal activities that could implicate you and expose your information if you stumble across the wrong site. If the dark web lets users anonymously engage in illegal or dangerous activity, why does the government allow it to stay up and running? Tor and other onion routers like I2P, Freenet and Subgraph OS aren’t the only way to mask your identity online, but they are the most comprehensive.
The internet is a vast and mysterious place, filled with both light and darkness. While the surface web is familiar and accessible to most of us, there is another side of the internet that remains largely unknown to the general public: the dark web.
What is the Dark Web?
Do You Need A VPN To Access The Dark Web?
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers. It requires specialized software, such as the Tor browser, to access. The dark web is often associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, arms dealing, and child pornography. However, it is also used by journalists, activists, and whistleblowers to communicate and share information securely.
What are Dark Web Pages?
BBC Tor Mirror
Dark web pages are websites that exist on the dark web. They are often hidden behind multiple layers of encryption and can only be accessed through the Tor network. Dark web pages can look similar to regular websites, but they are often designed to protect the anonymity of their users.
But, unsurprisingly, these reviews are notoriously unreliable, largely because they are coming from anonymous users. It was created with security and privacy in mind, and this has led many less-than-savory individuals to use it as a venue for their illegal activities. But there are a lot of reasons why someone would use the Dark Web, and a good many of them are legitimate. Just hearing the term “Dark Web” can conjure a bit of confusion.
Added Security: Use A VPN
Common Features of Dark Web Pages
- Onion addresses: Instead of a regular URL, dark web pages have onion addresses, which are long strings of numbers and letters. These addresses are unique to the Tor network and are used to protect the anonymity of the website and its users.
- No indexing: Dark web pages are not indexed by search engines, which makes them difficult to find. Users must know the exact onion address to access a dark web page.
- Secure communication: Dark web pages often use end-to-end encryption to protect the privacy of their users. This means that all communication between the user and the website is encrypted and cannot be intercepted by third parties.
However, don’t expect to get the same kind of service and wide-ranging results as you do on Google. Dark search engines turn up a more limited number of most-visited dark web sites, and only some of these search engines can be trusted to protect your data. Ahmia is a search engine for .onion sites — you search for a keyword and Ahmia retrieves relevant results. I tested it 10+ times and it always provided me with accurate search results. For example, I used the “radio” keyword and the third result was Deep Web Radio, which is a popular online radio station on the dark web. You can also filter the results by telling Ahmia to only display links from the last day, week, or month.
How To Access The Dark Web
Is it Safe to Visit Dark Web Pages?
Visiting dark web pages can be risky, as many of them are associated with illegal activities. However, there are also legitimate reasons to visit the dark web, such as accessing censored information or communicating securely. If you decide to visit a dark web page, it is important to take precautions to protect your privacy and security.
What to avoid on Tor?
- Avoid sharing your personal data. Once you enter your Facebook, Google, or any other account, you are not anonymous anymore.
- Turn on the safest mode.
- Visit only HTTPS websites.
- Don't click on suspicious links.
- Update your antivirus software.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN).
Tips for Visiting Dark Web Pages
- Tor and the dark web provide total anonymity from an internet connection standpoint, but an IP address is only one way you’re identifiable online.
- You’ll find black markets selling drugs and other substances, grisly images, and even new identities and online accounts for sale.
- Eventually, your information ends up at the website of your choice.
- The dark web is a part of the internet that isn’t found by normal search engines because the sites located there are not indexed into search engines.
- But I had much faster speeds with ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
You need passwords to access your work email, or you’ll need to follow an internal link to find the right shirt to buy for an event. It takes more effort to access, but it doesn’t require the same level of legwork that accessing the dark web needs. The deep web provides users a level of security or privacy, but it can’t offer full anonymity. In order to have that, you’ll need to go one step further down into what is called the dark web.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your connection and protect your identity.
- Use the Tor browser to access the dark web, as it provides anonymity and encryption.
- Do not download any files or click on any links unless you are sure they are safe.
- Do not share any personal information, such as your name, address, or credit card details.
How do I access .onion sites?
- Download Tor Browser from here.
- Install Tor Browser on your computer by opening the file you downloaded and following the prompts.
- Open Tor Browser.
- Click “Connect” on the Tor startup page.
- Wait for a connection to be established.
- Surf the dark web!
Conclusion
The dark web is a mysterious and often misunderstood part of the internet. While it is associated with illegal activities, it is also used by people who need to communicate securely and anonymously. If you decide to visit dark web pages, it is important to take precautions to protect your privacy and security.
Is DuckDuckGo a Tor?
DuckDuckGo is the default search engine in Tor Browser. DuckDuckGo does not track its users nor does it store any data about user searches. Learn more about DuckDuckGo privacy policy.