On the Darknet no one knows your identity and no one knows who is behind any website. The deep web is presumably 100 times larger than what is known as the “surface web” which is what you and I surf through search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing. Most of the deep web isn’t evil in any way, it’s just content blocked from search engines for security reasons.
- As such, no one is responsible for setting rules or ensuring their adherence.
- The dark web is a section of the deep web that can be accessed only through the Tor network.
- Surface web search engines can’t access the dark web, but specialized dark web search engines can help you find what you’re looking for.
- Tor is designed to be resistant to web crawling but the number of active ones probably only number in the thousands.
The darknet, a part of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines, is often associated with illicit activities such as drug trafficking and cybercrime. However, it also serves as a platform for whistleblowers, activists, and individuals seeking privacy and anonymity. If you are curious about exploring the darknet, here’s how you can access it:
Subscribe To The Cybersecurity Insider Newsletter
Who controls the dark web?
The dark web is also unregulated, meaning that it is run and upheld by a vast network of individuals around the world. This network contains thousands of volunteers who operate proxy servers to route dark web requests.
1. Download a Tor Browser
Download The Tor Browser
To access the darknet, you will need to use a specialized browser like Tor. Tor (The Onion Router) is a free, open-source software that enables anonymous communication by directing internet traffic through a network of relays to conceal a user’s location and usage from anyone conducting network surveillance or traffic analysis.
Tor fittingly adopted an onion as their symbol, because the layers of an onion are a perfect representation of their encryption process. In most cases, you have many Google alternatives and even privacy-focused browsers to let you navigate the surface web privately. But if you have explored the dark web or plan to do so, share your experience with us in the comments. Brendan is a freelance writer and content creator from Portland, OR.
Accessing The Dark Web On IPhone:
Most such facilities really help people to communicate and plan their actions with no risk to be caught by law enforcement. Some countries that block Tor include Belarus, Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. China also blocks all Tor traffic to prevent users from bypassing the Great Firewall. It’s possible to browse the dark web without ever stumbling upon disturbing content like this. However, the more time you spend on the dark web and the deeper you go into forum sites especially, the easier it is to unwillingly encounter it. Some websites have multiple links available, which can all be verified using a PGP signature.
2. Install and Configure the Tor Browser
Once you have downloaded the Tor Browser, follow the installation instructions provided on the official website. After installing the browser, you may need to adjust the security settings to ensure your anonymity while browsing the darknet. It is recommended to disable JavaScript and avoid downloading files from unknown sources.
The users only have access to a fraction of the available data and web pages. The surface web (often referred to as the “visible web”) is the portion of the web available to the general public and indexed in the standard web search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The content of all these pages is stored on Google’s servers, but it’s mostly outdated, old content; smartphone app content; journals; court records; private social media profiles, and much more.
Can the government track you on Tor?
Although your internet traffic is encrypted on Tor, your ISP can still see that you're connected to Tor. Plus, Tor cannot protect against tracking at the entry and exit nodes of its network. Anyone who owns and operates the entry node will see your real IP address.
3. Access .onion Websites
.onion websites are only accessible through the Tor network. To visit these sites, you will need to enter their address in the Tor Browser’s address bar. These websites have URLs that consist of a random string of letters and numbers followed by the “.onion” domain extension.
What happens if you use Tor without VPN?
Is it safe to use Tor without a VPN? While using a VPN and Tor together can help prevent any of the nodes from seeing your IP address, Tor is still extremely secure on its own, making it very difficult for anyone to identify a specific Tor user.
Conclusion
Exploring the darknet can be an eye-opening experience, but it is essential to proceed with caution and adhere to ethical guidelines. Remember that illegal activities on the darknet can have severe consequences. By following the steps outlined above and using the Tor Browser responsibly, you can safely navigate this hidden side of the internet.
What can you use Tor for?
Tor is mainly a resource for people that just want a more private browser or dissidents and journalists trying to bypass their country's censorship and surveillance networks. In fact, the more you use Tor for your everyday browsing activity, the more the traffic of the people that need Tor's anonymity is obscured.
