The Tor browser is the most popular way to access the dark web, but it’s not supported on iOS. Fortunately, there are Tor alternatives for iOS like the Onion Browser, which routes your traffic through the Tor network. Download the browser from the Onion Browser’s official site to avoid malware.
You only cross the line when you actively break the law, such as buying false identity documents in an illegal marketplace. Furthermore, when you use Tor, there is no comprehensive search engine to find dark websites. Some directories and sites mimic the search experience, but these tend to focus on niche topics. They are often outdated and certainly don’t index as broadly as Google. A 2016 paper found that of 2,723 dark websites analyzed, 57% were based around illicit content and illegal activities.
Is the Dark Web Illegal?
Users of the dark web should also realize that although their activity is technically anonymous, associating with people who are conducting illegal activities can have legal implications. Crawling is the process by which search engines scour the internet for new content and websites. Now you have a Tor browser and you can access the dark web safely on your iPhone. URLs of darknet websites are known as “Tor Hidden Services” and can be identified from regular websites.
Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency, but it’s not the safest. Bitcoin has a number of privacy issues that make it possible to link someone’s personal data to a Bitcoin transaction. Close all non-essential apps on your machine, like Netflix, Spotify, browsers, or any other app that’s connected to the web. So to improve your safety, you should absolutely get a VPN to use alongside Tor. VPNs encrypt your web traffic and hide your IP address and add a layer of protection. Here are some risks of accessing the dark web without taking proper safety measures.
Accessing the Darknet / Dark Web
All you need are the right tools and knowledge of where you’ll be navigating. The best way to think of the shape of the internet is an iceberg — what you see on the surface is only a small fraction of the actual web. Below the surface of the water lies the deep web, with the Dark Web occupying a chunk of this gargantuan mass of data. Avoids DNS leaks that may accidentally reveal your IP address.
I also included instructions on how to access the dark web, and outlined how to stay safe when browsing dark web links . Like I2P, Freenet is a self-contained network within the network that can’t be used to access sites on the public web. It can only be used to access the content uploaded to Freenet, which is a peer-to-peer distributed data store. Unlike I2P and Tor, you don’t need a server to host content.
The deep web has no shortage of scams, phishing sites, and malware designed to trick newbies. Links posted to the clear web in particular are often malicious. And because there’s very little use of HTTPS on the deep web, verifying whether or not a website is genuine using an SSL certificate is not feasible. Instead of “.com” or “.org”, deep web addresses can be distinguished by the top-level domain, “.onion“. As for how much dark web content actually constitutes illicit material?
Browse Dark Web
Not only that, but by using a VPN connection over Tor, all traffic will appear not to have come from a decentralised location, but from the location of your VPN server. 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. Privately access the same content you usually do — or go deeper.
- We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested.
- Once you have a VPN set up, simply connect to it and then visit any website on the dark web.
- Only use .onion links that come from legitimate sources like The Hidden Wiki.
- Dark web sites are so well-hidden they can’t be accessed with normal browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
Its RAM-based servers mean data is never stored and everything resets when the servers reboot. You’re further protected by an automatic kill switch, which ensures your data remains secure even if the internet connection unexpectedly drops out. ExpressVPN has even had its no-logs policy proven in real life. The Turkish government had previously seized a physical ExpressVPN server in an attempt to track down customer data — but ultimately found nothing of use in their investigation. Tor stands for “The Onion Router,” with the onion serving as a reference for the different layers of the internet.
Norton Antivirus is one of the best scanners on the market right now. You can browse the dark web without worrying about malware if you have Norton 360 installed. Use the button below to get yourself a Norton subscription. Hence, several dark web pages contain possibly harmful elements, such as child pornography and malware.
The Tor network was developed by the US government to protect intelligence communication. It helps them identify criminals and communicate with activists from oppressed regions. Dark web search engines don’t quite resemble the search engines you’re used to seeing, like Google. Plus, they’re not as efficient in helping you navigate to where you want to go. This is due to the ever-evolving nature of the dark web — search engines there simply can’t keep up with the changes, often providing irrelevant or repetitive results.
Dark web monitoring tools are similar to a search engine for the dark web. Learn how CrowdStrike can help protect your brand and data with the CrowdStrike Falcon® Intelligence Recon™ platform. The biggest differentiator between the deep and dark web is that dark web activity is made anonymous through a variety of encryption and routing techniques.
