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. So, how do people get on the dark web? Here are some steps to follow:
Use a Dark Web Browser
Can I Use Tor To Browse The Surface Web?
To access the dark web, you need a special browser that can handle the Tor network. The most popular dark web browser is the Tor browser, which you can download for free. The Tor browser encrypts your internet connection and routes it through several servers around the world, making it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.
Find Dark Web Sites
Once you have the Tor browser installed, you can start searching for dark web sites. However, it’s not as simple as typing a URL into the address bar. Dark web sites don’t have traditional domain names, and they are not indexed by search engines. Instead, you need to know the exact URL or use a dark web directory to find sites.
Is It Illegal To Have Websites On The Dark Web?
Accessing sites on this subdomain requires using special-purpose browsers like Tor. The Dark Web refers to everything on the Internet not indexed by search engines, such as medical records, private social media accounts and fee-based content requiring password authentication. Criminals frequently use it for purchasing weapons, drugs and fake IDs on illicit markets. The privacy offered by the Tor browser is important in the current digital age. Corporations and governing bodies alike currently participate in unauthorized surveillance of online activity.
Use a Dark Web Directory
A dark web directory is a list of dark web sites that are categorized by topic. Some popular directories include The Hidden Wiki and Daniel’s Hosting. These directories can help you find sites that interest you, but be cautious as some sites may contain illegal or harmful content.
Why Is The Dark Web So Popular With Criminals?
This way, prying eyes will run into trouble trying to access your personal information. For more perspective, dive into our breakdown of the deep web vs. the dark web, including the purpose of each and how they differ from one another. You’ll also find best practices for deep web and dark web browsing, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about surfing deep and dark web websites. You need a special browser that’s specifically programmed to access certain parts of the Dark Web. There are several systems, but a very popular one is Tor, or “The onion router.” Using the Tor browser gives you access to all domain names ending with “.onion”, also called the onion network. Onion routing is the original technology developed in the 1990s that made the Dark Web possible.
Why would my phone number be on the dark web?
When breaches happen, the information stolen almost always makes its way to the Dark Web. Here, hackers and cybercriminals buy, sell, and trade various forms of identification, along with bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and phone numbers.
Use Onion Links
Dark web sites use onion links, which are a series of letters and numbers followed by the .onion extension. These links are unique to each site and can only be accessed through the Tor browser. To find onion links, you can use a search engine like DuckDuckGo or start with well-known sites like Facebook’s onion site.
Protect Yourself
The dark web can be a dangerous place, so it’s important to protect yourself. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- For example, a company can search the dark web to see if any of its internal IP addresses, usernames, and passwords have been posted.
- Finally, law enforcement agencies can access the dark web to detect illegal activity, such as weapon deals, drug distribution, and financial crimes.
- In this case, signing up for credit monitoring and checking your rating regularly is also a good idea.
- There are numerous directories that host .onion links and websites, but you should always exercise caution.
- I enjoy reading, researching the topics I write, Alabama Football, hunting with my boys, and a daily fitness routine that is always being revised.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to add an extra layer of security.
- Don’t use your real name or personal information.
- Be cautious of phishing scams and malware.
- Don’t download anything unless you know what it is.
- Use two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Only a year later, the latter and Europol worked together to close down Silk Road 2.0. Before people started using Bitcoin as a currency, which happened one year after its creation in 2008, dark web users had no way to make anonymous transactions. In the ’90s, the Internet became publicly accessible in lots of countries, leading to widespread commercial use. This led to the creation of projects to facilitate anonymous communication and file sharing. Whistleblowers, journalists, and other individuals reporting on companies, governments, law enforcement agencies, and other entities use the dark web to find and communicate sensitive information. Both the WikiLeaks network and whistleblowers like Edward Snowden have used the dark web in the past to spread their message.
FAQs
What is 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.
How do I access the dark web? To access the dark web, you need a special browser that can handle the Tor network, such as the Tor browser. Once you have the Tor browser installed, you can start searching for dark web sites using a dark web directory or onion links.
Is the dark web dangerous? The dark web can be a dangerous place, so it’s important to protect yourself by using a VPN, not using your real name or personal information, being cautious of phishing scams and malware, not downloading anything unless you know what it is, and using two-factor authentication whenever possible.
How do I know if my password has been leaked?
The second, more preferred method, is to use a service like Avast Hack Check, which collects data from all around the internet to identify if your details have been posted online or were subject to any leaks.
