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What Is the Dark Web and Tor browser How to Access It?
What Is the Dark Web and How to Access It?
What happens on the dark web today?
Because privacy and anonymity are the hallmarks of the dark web, it’s easy to assume that everything that happens there is illegal. And while plenty of cybercrime does take place, the dark web is used legally as well.
Some people simply prefer not to share any information online and use Tor to access normal websites outside the dark web, or to visit dark web news websites and forums.
Dark web browsers
The standard dark web browser is Tor Browser, which directs your browser traffic through the Tor network so you can reach the darknet. As your traffic passes through Tor, it’s encrypted and bounced between at least three relay points, known as nodes. This helps obscure the origin of the data (and makes it hard for anyone to find your IP address). But as a result, Tor Browser will feel much slower than a normal web browser.
Dark web search engines
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. DuckDuckGo is a popular privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track you across the web when you use it. DuckDuckGo’s dark web search engine indexes pages on the dark web, but you’ll need to open it with Tor Browser.
Other dark web search engines include Not Evil, Torch, Haystack, and Ahmia. The subreddit r/deepweb is a good starting point for asking more experienced users about how to search the dark web and deep web for the content you want. Lastly, The Hidden Wiki is a collection of dark web links — but the links may not work and may lead to dangerous websites.
Dark web websites
Dark websites can be visited only with a suitable dark web browser, and most dark web URLs are strings of seemingly random letters and numbers — nothing like the easy-to-remember web addresses on the surface web.
The Hidden Wiki is a surface website offering a collection of dark web links — but the links don’t always work, and they may not be safe. Use it to get an idea of what sort of dark websites you may be interested in visiting. But before visiting any sites on the dark web, get comprehensive cybersecurity software to protect yourself from any threats you may encounter.
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines and is only accessible through specialized software, configurations, or authorization. It exists on overlay networks, such as Tor (The Onion Router), which provide users with anonymity and privacy.
The dark web is often associated with illegal activities due to its anonymity, making it a haven for illicit transactions and communication. While not everything on the dark web is illegal, it does host numerous marketplaces for drugs, firearms, stolen data, hacking services, counterfeit money, and other illegal goods and services.
It is important to note that the dark web is a small fraction of the entire internet, and the vast majority of online content is accessible through regular search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
It is crucial to exercise caution and understand the potential legal and security risks associated with accessing the dark web. Law enforcement agencies worldwide actively monitor the dark web for criminal activities, and accessing certain content or engaging in illegal activities can have severe legal consequences.
For legitimate users, the dark web can also provide a way to bypass censorship and access information or services in regions with restricted internet access. However, regardless of the intent, using the dark web requires a good understanding of digital security and privacy measures to protect one's identity and data.
What is Tor?
TOR, short for The Onion Router, is a free and open-source software designed to enhance online privacy and anonymity. It is a network of virtual tunnels that allows users to browse the internet while obfuscating their IP address and encrypting their internet traffic, making it difficult for anyone, including internet service providers, websites, or even governments, to track or monitor their online activities.
Here's how TOR works:
Onion Routing: The name "Onion Router" comes from its method of routing internet traffic. When you use TOR, your data is encrypted and passed through a series of volunteer-operated servers known as "nodes" or "relays." Each relay decrypts a layer of encryption, revealing the next node in the circuit. The process is akin to peeling the layers of an onion, hence the term "onion routing."
Anonymity: As your data passes through these relays, each relay only knows the IP address of the previous and next nodes in the circuit, ensuring that no single relay knows both the source and destination of the data. This layered approach helps to maintain user anonymity and privacy.
Accessing the Dark Web: TOR is often associated with accessing the dark web, as it is the most common way to do so. By using the TOR browser, users can access websites with the ".onion" domain extension, which are only accessible through the TOR network. These hidden services allow individuals to host websites anonymously, which sometimes leads to illicit activities.
While TOR provides a higher degree of privacy and anonymity compared to regular internet browsing, it is not completely foolproof. It's essential to be aware of the potential risks and limitations when using TOR. For example, malicious exit nodes (the final relay in a TOR circuit) could attempt to intercept or modify unencrypted data, compromising user privacy. Additionally, using TOR does not guarantee protection from malware or other security threats.
TOR is a valuable tool for journalists, activists, whistleblowers, and individuals seeking to access the internet in restrictive environments. However, like any technology, it should be used responsibly and ethically. Engaging in illegal activities on the dark web using TOR can have serious legal consequences.
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