The deep web, often shrouded in mystery and misconceptions, is a part of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines. While it is often associated with illicit activities, there are also legitimate reasons for wanting to explore this hidden corner of the internet.
VPNs are often recommended as protection in such cases, but Whited disagrees. Indeed, Facebook, The New York Times and now even the CIA have sites on the dark web, hosting “onion” versions of their pages that can be accessed via the Tor browser. The spy agency is hoping to securely and anonymously collect tips, though its entire website, including job listings, are available on the onion service.
Understanding the Deep Web
Some Useful Sites To Browse On The Dark Web
Before delving into how to access the deep web, it’s important to understand what it actually is. The deep web consists of websites that are not indexed by search engines and require specific software or configurations to access. This includes password-protected sites, non-indexed content, and other information that is not easily accessible through a simple Google search.
How to do a dark web scan?
- Go to one.google.com.
- Under “Dark web report,” click Try now.
- Click Run scan.
For instance, your Facebook posts are unindexed and won’t be found via a web browser. Your email inbox, online banking and Google Drive folders are undiscoverable via a web browser. It’s the parts of your internet activity that aren’t hidden per se, but can’t be accessed by others online. Perhaps the most notable dark web search engine is DuckDuckGo, which features as the default option when first booting up the Tor Browser and can also be used on the ‘vanilla’ internet.
Dark Web Search Engines
Accessing the Deep Web
If you’re interested in exploring the deep web, here are some steps you can take:
What’s The Difference Between Tor Over VPN And VPN Over Tor?
- Some people use the terms ‘dark web’ and ‘deep web’ interchangeably; however, significant portions of the deep web are completely legal and safe to use.
- Through the dark web, users in places of high censorship can also access information and news.
- To make its journalism more accessible to readers around the world, the New York Times launched its onion service in 2017.
- Delaware Life uses a third-party vendor, Pension Benefit Information (PBI), for analysis and research services.
1. Use a Secure Browser
To access the deep web, you’ll need a secure browser such as Tor (The Onion Router). Tor allows users to browse anonymously and access websites with the .onion domain, which are only accessible through the Tor network.
Whether you’re navigating the surface web, the deep web, or the dark web, you must start by protecting your devices with anti-malware protection. This will prevent any unwanted software being installed on your device. Use anti-malware software that is up to date and of a high quality, and perform regular scans on your device. But we also know from Moore and Rid’s research that the majority of sites on the dark web are used for illegal activity.
Zero Accountability
While Tor masks your IP address, it is not entirely secure for dark web surfing. Firstly, your ISP knows you’re using Tor, so that defeats the purpose of anonymity. Also, since each server in Tor is under private ownership, you never know who’s behind the relays your data is traveling through. In this tutorial, we’ll show how to access and browse the dark web. Since many of these pages are inaccessible from Chrome, Firefox and other Internet browsers, you simply cannot hyperlink to them. The so-called “surface web,” which is what the vast majority of people access and browse on a daily basis, accounts for just 4 percent of the total content stored online.
What’s it like to be on the dark web?
The term dark web refers to encrypted online content that is not indexed by conventional search engines. Accessing the dark web can only be done using specific browsers, such as TOR Browser. There is a great deal of privacy and anonymity that comes with using the dark web compared to traditional websites.
2. Install a VPN
For added security and anonymity, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in conjunction with Tor. A VPN encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address, making it more difficult for third parties to track your online activity.
Which country has most dark web users?
Created in 2008, the Tor browser is widely used around the world. As of September 2023, more than two million people in Germany used Tor daily. As of September 2023, Germany had more than 50 percent of Tor users, while the United States ranked second, with around 13 percent.
3. Exercise Caution
While there are legitimate uses for the deep web, it is also home to illegal activities and malicious actors. Exercise caution when exploring this hidden part of the internet and be mindful of the potential risks involved.
Even completing a transaction is no guarantee that the goods will arrive. Many need to cross international borders, and customs officials are cracking down on suspicious packages. The dark web news site Deep.Dot.Web teems with stories of buyers who have been arrested or jailed for attempted purchases. The dark web has flourished thanks to bitcoin, the crypto-currency that enables two parties to conduct a trusted transaction without knowing each other’s identity. “Bitcoin has been a major factor in the growth of the dark web, and the dark web has been a big factor in the growth of bitcoin,” says Tiquet. All this activity, this vision of a bustling marketplace, might make you think that navigating the dark web is easy.
By following these steps and taking necessary precautions, you can safely explore the deep web and uncover hidden gems not found on the surface web. Remember to use good judgment and stay informed about the risks associated with accessing the deep web.
Can police find you on Tor?
Traffic Analysis:
Another way that agencies can track down users on the TOR network is through traffic analysis. This involves analyzing the flow of data through the TOR network to try and identify the location of the user.
