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Are you curious about the mysterious world of the Deep Web? Unlike the Surface Web that we use every day, the Deep Web is a hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. While it is often associated with illegal activities, it also contains valuable resources and information that cannot be found on the Surface Web.
So we do not recommend you do this if you just want to visit the dark web once or twice. Moreover, a VPN will help to protect your traffic before it reaches the first server within the Tor network, protecting you from any malicious Tor server owners. Like other parts of the internet, the dark web has scams and third parties trying to steal your data through phishing. Internet traffic is protected using 256-bit AES encryption, together with a SHA384 hash and 4096-bit RSA keys for OpenVPN and IKEv2. The company enforces a strict no-logs policy and is based in Switzerland, which has some of the world’s strongest privacy laws.
Method 1: Use A VPN & The Tor Browser
What is the Deep Web?
Can you just download Tor?
The safest and simplest way to download Tor Browser is from the official Tor Project website at https://www.torproject.org/download. Your connection to the site will be secured using HTTPS, which makes it much harder for somebody to tamper with.
The Deep Web refers to any website or web page that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. This means that these websites are not easily accessible through a regular browser and require special tools to access them. The Deep Web is estimated to be much larger than the Surface Web, making up the majority of the internet.
What Percentage Of The Internet Is Dark Web
This makes guessing passwords across your accounts harder for hackers. Next, you’ll need the correct credentials to log into an account you own or a subscription to a paywalled website. Mark contributions as unhelpful if you find them irrelevant or not valuable to the article. Although we are not promoting to buy illegal products and other goods, we can’t help but acknowledge certain instances in which such purchases could be justifiable. But when you are using the VPN before the Tor Browser then you will not be detected by ISP provider as well as other government agencies.
Those who access the dark web do so via the Tor (The Onion Router) browser. 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.
Best VPNs To Access The Dark Web Safely In 2024
How to Access the Deep Web
- The reason why the deep net provides this level of privacy for website hosts is that the .onion address that you use to access the website obfuscates the actual IP address of the server.
- Put simply, the deep web is all of the information stored online that isn’t indexed by search engines.
- VPN software helps to mask your origin and may imitate locations from many other places in the world.
- But lurking beneath lies the expansive, mysterious “deep web” or“dark net” – the gigantic submerged part that remains invisible to standard searches.
- These activities may involve purchasing or selling illegal goods, participating in fraudulent schemes, or engaging in cybercrime.
Due to the value of the private data that is stored on the deep web, it is vital that it is always secured extremely well using encryption. The dark web provides a confidential path to transfer data packets without declaring the sender’s identity. But as this platform became a revenue generator for malicious actors, it transformed into a web of illegal activities. Illicit activities on the Dark Web span a broad spectrum, from selling stolen personal data to arms trafficking and drug dealing. Using a VPN also reduces hackers’ chances of exploiting your system.
To access the Deep Web, you will need to use a specialized browser such as Tor (The Onion Router). Tor allows users to browse anonymously and access websites with a .onion domain, which are only accessible through the Tor network. To start exploring the Deep Web, follow these steps:
- Download the Tor Browser: Visit the official Tor Project website and download the Tor Browser for your operating system.
- Install the Tor Browser: Follow the installation instructions to set up the Tor Browser on your computer.
- Connect to the Tor Network: Open the Tor Browser and connect to the Tor network to start browsing anonymously.
- Explore .onion Sites: Once connected, you can visit websites with a .onion domain to access the Deep Web.
This is not what you want when also using the Tor network, as the two in conjunction will be painfully slow. Let’s take a closer look at the best VPNs you can use to safely access the dark web. To find out if your information is leaked on the Dark Web — you can rely on Aura’s identity theft protection service. Despite its menacing name, the Dark Web is not illegal per se, nor is it unlawful to access it. However, the undeniable fact is that most of the activities that happen on the Dark Web are related to criminal actions. Lots of criminal activity happens on the Dark Web because it offers the anonymity that enables hackers and scammers to go undetected — but only up to a certain point.
It’s important to note that while the Deep Web provides access to a wealth of information and resources, there are also risks involved. Be cautious when browsing the Deep Web and avoid engaging in illegal activities or sharing personal information.
What if my phone number is on the dark web?
If your phone number is in the wrong hands, your identity and sensitive information could follow. Scammers and hackers could use your number to access your cloud accounts, which might hold private photos and details about you. They could then threaten to reveal your identity or information unless you pay a ransom.
By following these steps, you can begin your journey into the hidden depths of the internet and discover a whole new world of content that is not available on the Surface Web. Happy exploring!
Is Tor illegal?
Are Tor browsers legal? Yes, using the Tor Browser is perfectly legal in most countries. It's used by many legitimate users, including journalists, activists, and law enforcement agencies, for various purposes. However, just like any other tool, it can be used both for legal and illegal activities.
What is an onion VPN?
With the Onion Over VPN feature, you relay your data to the Onion network through a secure VPN server, ensuring that your safety even if the network is compromised. Keep in mind that certain websites may block connections from the Onion network.