Don’t Stick Your Nose Where It Doesn’t Belong

The Internet is sizable with millions of web pages, databases, and servers all run 24 hours a day. But the so-called “visible” Internet (aka surface web or open web) — sites that can be found using search engines like Google and Yahoo — is just the tip of the iceberg. Learn more about our various degree and certification programs today by requesting more information. Even if you haven’t directly accessed the dark web yourself, that doesn’t mean you are exempt from dark web exposure. The reality is that millions of personal information, account records, credit card numbers and other sensitive documents are leaked on the dark web every day. That is why dark web monitoring solutions are now a necessity for companies, governments, and even individuals who want to protect themselves from data theft.

Is It Illegal To Access The Dark Web?

Finance Solutions Provider Systems East Suffers 200k+ Data Breach

How to Access the Dark Web: A Comprehensive Guide

This is particularly dangerous on the dark web, as .onion websites are not regulated and there is a large amount of malware. By blocking the scripts, you reduce the possibility of your computer becoming infected. However, even by blocking the scripts you are not protected from any damage. Because of the built-in anonymizing features and encryption, the Dark Net is also host of darknet sites many criminal websites, marketplaces and networks. As it utilises a similar layout and aesthetic to Google, Candle is often seen as one of the most approachable dark web search engines. Although it might look a little plain, Not Evil is an incredibly powerful dark web search engine that has indexed millions of hidden links and is one of the most in-depth options available.

Setting up I2P is involving and requires more configuration on the user’s part as contrasted with Tor. After downloading I2P, you must configure individual applications separately to work with I2P. In the case of a web browser, you have to set up your browser’s proxy settings to use the correct port. This proxy is also a potential candidate for accessing the Tor network, although we should point out that it is relatively unstable.

The regular web – everything you can access through your normal browser and a search engine. Surface or Clear Web content doesn’t require login access and can be indexed by web crawlers. Some aggregator sites are only accessible through Tor, but they tend to list sites with illegal content as well. Almost any type of illegal and legally questionable products and services can be found in the seedier corners of the web.

The dark web is a very popular platform for journalists, political bloggers and political news publishers, and in particular, those living in countries where censorship shields most of the internet. The release of Freenet in 2000 is considered by many as the start or founding of the dark web. University of Edinburgh student Ian Clarke created Freenet as a thesis project. Freenet was originally intended to provide a way to anonymously interact online, providing ways to communicate, exchange information and files, and to otherwise communicate incognito. Absolutely no one knows who’s surfing on the dark web, who is selling, who is buying or anything like that – as long as you take the correct safety and online privacy precautions.

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 comprehensive guide on how to access the dark web safely and securely.

What is the Dark Web?

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires special software to access. It is often used for illegal activities, such as buying where to get cocaine and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, it also has legitimate uses, such as providing a platform for free speech, whistleblowing, and journalism.

How to Access the Dark Web

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

Step 1: Download and Install Tor

The first step is to download and install Tor from the official website. Make sure to download the latest version to ensure that you have the most up-to-date security features.

Step 2: Launch Tor Browser

Once you have installed Tor, launch the browser and wait for it to connect to the network. This may take dark web pages a few minutes, as Tor needs to establish a secure connection through the volunteer-run servers.

Step 3: Browse the Dark Web

• Then there’s the less popular VPN over Tor, which is advised against by the official Tor Project.
• In simple terms, the Surface Web is anything that a search engine can find by crawling links and identifying content online, while the Deep Web is anything that a search engine can’t find.
• However, the undeniable fact is that most of the activities that happen on the Dark Web are related to criminal actions.
• As above, make sure you’re only visiting .onion sites you trust and don’t share any personal information.

Once you are connected to the Tor network, you can start browsing the dark web. You can use the Tor browser to access .onion websites, which are only accessible through Tor. These websites have a unique URL that ends in .onion, and they are not indexed by search engines.

Is it Safe to Access the Dark Web?