Getting on the Dark Web: A Beginner’s Guide

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. In this article, we will provide a beginner’s guide to getting on the dark web.

Best Dark Web Sites In 2024 + How To Stay Safe

What is the Dark Web?

The dark web is a collection of websites that are not indexed by search engines and are only accessible through specialized software. These websites are often used for illegal activities such as buying and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, there are also many legitimate uses for the dark web, such as whistleblowing, political activism, and secure communication.

Take Action Against Identity Theft

Websites and data on the dark web do typically require a special tool to access. In short, even with Tor, there’s no perfect anonymity online, but there are efforts to claw back our power online, says Lewis. There are different levels of security in the browser that are worth considering.

How to Access the Dark Web

Malware Infection

To access the dark web, you will need to use a specialized browser such as Tor. Tor is a free, open-source software that allows you to browse the internet anonymously. It works by routing your internet connection through a series of volunteer-operated servers, which makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.

To get started with Tor, you will need to download and install the software on your computer. Once you have installed Tor, you can use it to access the dark web by visiting websites with the .onion extension. These websites are hosted on the dark web and are only accessible through Tor.

Staying Safe on the Dark Web

The dark web can be a dangerous place, and it is important to take steps to protect yourself. Here are some tips for staying safe on the dark web:

• Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) will encrypt your internet connection and help to protect your privacy.
• Don’t share personal information: Avoid sharing any personal information, such as your name, address, or phone number, on the dark web.

EDR strengthens security through continuous monitoring and gathering of data from endpoints to identify and address cyberthreats in real time. Dark web sites are not indexed by search engines, so there are no search engines to guide users. Browsing safely on the dark web is most effective when users have the exact URL for the website they want to visit.

• Use strong passwords: Use unique, complex passwords for all of your accounts.

It’s the parts of your internet activity that aren’t hidden per se, but can’t be accessed by others online. While the terms, “deep web” and “dark we” are often used interchangeabley, they are not the same. 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. In 1989, Ian Clarke launched the Freenet project, which aimed to allow anonymous online interactions at a time when internet anonymity was difficult to achieve.

• Beware of scams: Be cautious of any websites or individuals that ask for money or personal information.

The Brave browser is a privacy-oriented Surface web browser that can also connect to the Tor network. To provide more secure access to the Tor network, in 2020 Brave launched its own Tor Onion Service. You can connect to the Tor network using the Tor browser, a custom web browser designed specifically to work with this network.

• Tor over VPN requires you to trust your VPN provider, which can see that you are using Tor and keep metadata logs, though it can’t actually see the content of your encrypted Tor traffic.
• Yes, but you need to be cautious because there are many malicious sites on the dark web.
• In addition to these tools, you need to exercise extreme caution when browsing on the dark web because there are tons of phishing and malicious sites on there.

The military wanted to make sure the network couldn’t be attacked by external actors. Revealing personal information on the dark web leaves you vulnerable to being scammed or hacked. Just like the surface web, the dark web sees tons of phishing attempts to steal personal data.

Conclusion

It’s not easy to find what you’re looking for on the dark web, especially if you want to do it safely. You should only ever access websites you know are safe because they’re vetted by websites or other sources that you already know are safe. Take a look at the sites that these directories have collected and see what topics interest you. If you want to improve your security further, you could also use a VPN at the same time as Tor. For the most security-conscious, you can even install the Tails operating system on a flash drive and run Tor from that.

The dark web can be a valuable resource for those who need to communicate securely or access information that is not available on the surface web. However, it is important to take steps to protect yourself and stay safe. By using a VPN, strong passwords, and being cautious of scams, you can minimize the risks and enjoy the benefits of the dark web.