Accessing the dark web can be a tempting proposition for individuals seeking anonymity and privacy online. However, it is important to understand the risks and realities associated with delving into this hidden corner of the internet.
Daniel Moore and Thomas Rid, researchers at King’s College in London, classified the contents of 2,723 live dark websites over a five-week period in 2015 and found that 57% hosted illicit material. This material ranges from the sales of drugs and counterfeit money to hacked credentials for banking accounts and streaming services. You can also find services offering to perform cybersecurity hacks like DDOS and botnet attacks all the way up to corporate and governmental espionage.
Keeping yourself (and your data) off the dark web
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web refers to the part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google. It is often associated with illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, weapon sales, and cybercrime.
Is it illegal to browse the dark web?
How to Access the Dark Web
- It also gives legal authorities the additional tools they need to apprehend the perpetrators of unethical activities.
- Still, for those willing to put up with the inconvenience, the dark web provides a memorable glimpse at the seamy underbelly of the human experience – without the risk of skulking around in a dark alley.
- However, it’s not the same as using a virtual private network (VPN) — the two have different security protocols and encryption methods.
- If the surface web is the visible part of an iceberg above water, the deep web is the part submerged beneath – much larger but hidden from plain view.
- The deep part of the deep web simply refers to the fact that you need passwords or other authentication to unlock it.
- If you use your bank’s website, the page that shows you your bank balance is part of the Deep Web.
- Download a special browser like Tor or I2P
- Connect to the network
- Start browsing onion websites
Can my ISP see that I am accessing the dark web?
Social engineering schemes are the most commonly used hacking method. While hackers sometimes use highly sophisticated methods to obtain your private information, sometimes it’s as simple as exploiting human error. To put this size difference in a different perspective, this means that when someone is searching on the Internet, they are only accessing 0.03% — or one in 3,000 — of the pages available to them. With the issue of anonymous transactions solved, illegal sales on the dark web surged. Cryptocurrency, a form of digital currency that facilitates transactions anonymously, was the answer to this persisting problem. Though different forms of cryptocurrency had been in development since the 1990’s, none stuck until 2009, when one called Bitcoin was released.
Risks of Accessing the Dark Web
The dark web has many legitimate use purposes and contains legitimate content, including dark web mirrors of popular websites and services such as BBC News and Facebook. Despite this, many people prefer not to advertise to their Internet Service Provider that they are accessing the dark web. There’s plenty of illegal content, products, and services available on the dark web. Anonymity doesn’t make carrying out illegal acts any more permissible, so be cautious about making purchases or downloading content. Proton VPN makes it easy to safely gain access to the dark web by connecting users to the Tor Network in a single click.
- Malware: Many websites on the dark web are infected with malware that can compromise your device.
- Illegal Activities: Engaging in illegal activities on the dark web can have serious legal repercussions.
- Scams: There are many scams on the dark web designed to steal your personal information or money.
You can’t just look up some Dark web page in your regular search engine and dive head first into the darkness. You need a specialized browser and either a specialized search engine or direct knowledge of an address to reach Dark web pages. The Deep web (also known as the Invisible web or the Hidden web) is the part of the World Wide Web that is not visible to standard search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo. While no one knows the exact amount, the total amount of content on the Deep web is believed to be many times as great as that of the Surface web. We’ve often seen estimates that the Deep web is 10 to 20 times as large as the Surface web. The Dark Web remains an intriguing yet mysterious realm that captures the curiosity of many.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of the rest consists of websites that cannot be reached using standard internet protocols. Those hard-to-access websites are collectively known as the Dark web. You can access the Dark web safely, but just diving in blindly is a bad idea. This is like going spelunking without the proper equipment — you’re likely to get hurt, possibly very badly. We’re going to get you oriented for this journey as fast as possible, then give you the tools you need to get down to the Dark web and look around for yourself. By following these steps and exercising caution, you can explore the Dark Web securely and anonymously, allowing you to delve into a hidden world that offers both intrigue and potential risks.
Is it illegal to access the dark web?
This makes Brave much more convenient for casual trips into the darkness than the Tor browser. It is also one of the top recommendations in our list of secure browsers. Reportedly, an attacker has been adding thousands of compromised nodes to the Tor network since January 2020.
Accessing the dark web itself is not illegal, but engaging in illegal activities while on the dark web is.
Can I be traced while using the dark web?
While using tools like Tor can help mask your IP address, it is still possible for law enforcement agencies to trace your activity on the dark web.
Should I access the dark web?
It is important to weigh the risks and benefits before accessing the dark web. If you are not well-versed in online security and privacy measures, it may be best to steer clear of this hidden corner of the internet.
