The darknet, often referred to as the “dark web,” is a mysterious part of the internet that is not easily accessible through traditional search engines like Google or Bing. It is a hidden network of websites and online services that are not indexed by standard search engines and require special software or configurations to access. So, how do you access the darknet?
Should You Use A VPN And Tor?
One of the interesting catches of the Tor browser is that unless you have the exact name of the website and correct browser configuration, you will not be able to access anything on it. Tor’s search engine does not act like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. The premise of this story dates back to the 1990s when the US military began to look for a way to route secure, anonymous, and untraceable communication through a public network. Paul Syverson, David Goldschlag, and Michael Reed were the three mathematicians at the Naval Research Laboratory who began working on the concept of onion routing. The Dark Web, also referred to as darknet, is unexplored territory of the internet that cannot be accessed by using common browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
What is the dark side of the deep web?
The Dark Web Is a Hidden Section of the Deep Web
There is a portion of the deep web known as the "dark web." The dark web is purposefully concealed, and it can only be accessed with sophisticated tools. Tor, which stands for The Onion Router, is the most well-known of them.
Hypothetically speaking, Google may be aware of well over 200 trillion individual pages (these are obviously NOT all indexed in the search engine). It might sound weird that Google doesn’t index these pages, but it does carry some logical sense. Google’s purpose is to show the most relevant information to all of its users quickly and easily. That means that Google wants to minimize the amount of time users spend searching for certain queries. Did you know that Google only shows you a glimpse of all the websites that actually exist?
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1. Download a Tor Browser
To access the darknet, you will need a special browser called Tor. Tor stands for The Onion Router, and it helps users browse anonymously by routing their internet traffic through a series of servers around the world. This makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.
What is the service that lets you browse anonymously?
Web surfing on a privacy-friendly browser such as Tor, Opera, or Brave. Avoiding Google and using anonymous search engines like DuckDuckGo and Startpage instead.
2. Install and Configure Tor
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Once you have downloaded the Tor browser, install it on your computer or mobile device. Follow the instructions provided to set up and configure the browser. You may need to adjust some settings to ensure that your connection is secure and anonymous.
- If you are new to the deep web, this guide will help you on your way.
- As we wrap up this exploration into the Dark Web, it’s important to take a moment and reiterate the crucial nature of safety and anonymity when venturing into this realm.
- But many dark web sites are also dangerous, and their content can be downright illegal.
- If you are interested in gaining knowledge on the cybersecurity domain, check out this Ethical Hacking Certification from Intellipaat.
- Whenever threat actors manage to get insider help, they can quickly receive your MFA codes sent to the phone in their control to access your accounts.
This is why the only reason you should be using a VPN to access the dark web is because your dark web browser of choice is blocked either by your country or your local network. Any other reason to use a VPN to access the dark web is most likely routed in illegal activity and there are no consumer rights on the dark web. In today’s digital age, the internet has become an integral part of our lives. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of accessing the dark web using Tor Browser, ensuring your safety and anonymity every step of the way.
3. Access .onion Websites
The darknet is home to websites with addresses that end in “.onion” instead of “.com” or “.org.” These websites are only accessible through the Tor browser. To visit a .onion website, simply enter the address into the Tor browser’s address bar and hit Enter.
4. Use Caution
The Internet is more complex by the hour, with nearly two billion websites and growing, the average user accesses only about ten percent of this massive resource. Now you’ve got your VPN and Tor Browser, you’re ready to access the dark web on your phone. You can find the Tor Browser in the App Store, or just click this URL here. After installing it on your phone, fire it up and connect to the server. Keep these updated, including Tor and your anti-malware and VPN software. Now that you have your VPN, you can proceed to download and install Tor from the official Tor website.
It’s important to exercise caution when exploring the darknet, as it is known for hosting illegal activities such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, and other illicit practices. Be mindful of the content you encounter and avoid engaging in any illegal activities yourself.
In conclusion, accessing the darknet requires using specialized software like the Tor browser. By following these steps and exercising caution, you can explore the hidden depths of the internet and discover a whole new world of online content.
What is the difference between the dark web and the deep web?
Access: Despite not being indexed by search engines, the Deep Web is accessible via traditional web browsers — i.e. you can access a Gmail page using Firefox, Chrome, etc. The Dark Web, on the other hand, is only accessible via special browsers that use Tor to protect anonymity.