Exploring the Dark Web: How to Access and Navigate Safely

The websites you visit on a daily basis make up a small portion of the entire internet. The deep web exists beyond this “surface web,” and the dark web exists within it. The FBI discovered and exploited vulnerabilities in the TOR network.

**Accessing the dark web** has garnered a reputation for being a mysterious and dangerous place on the internet. While it is true that the dark web is home to illicit activities, it also serves as a platform for whistleblowers, activists, and individuals seeking anonymity online.

Accessing The Darknet / Dark Web

What is the Dark Web?

Now more than ever before, our credit and identities are at risk from cybercriminals, thieves, and hackers. In this highly digital age, it is near impossible to erase all information online about yourself, but you can do a lot to remove online information and minimize your risk of identity theft or worse. Six databases that were owned by Friend Finder Networks, Inc. suffered a massive data breach in 2016, which cost 412 million users their accounts. In 2021, the average American spent over 8 hours on the internet daily. This screen time includes everything from streaming video, scrolling social media, and browsing the web.

How To Stay Safe On The Dark Web

This involves passing internet traffic through the Tor network first, and then through the VPN. It’s a less recommended configuration, though it does offer protection against exit nodes run by those with malicious intent. While connected through NordVPN, your internet traffic is protected using AES 256-bit encryption.

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines like Google. It requires special software, such as Tor, to access. This anonymity network encrypts your traffic and bounces it through a series of relays to protect your identity.

Stolen Data

While there’s no official Tor browser app for the iPhone, the Tor Project, which manages the Tor network used to access the dark web, recommends the Onion Browser. However, if you want to try an alternative, we’d recommend OrNet Browser, which boasts granular security control features. While it is possible to use iPhone’s Lockdown Mode for extra security while browsing the dark web, we don’t necessarily recommend this. It will impact your device’s performance and your VPN and other Tor apps may not function properly with Lockdown Mode enabled.

How to Access the Dark Web

To access the dark web, you first need to download and install the Tor browser. Once installed, you can start exploring hidden services and websites by entering .onion URLs. It’s important to note that while browsing the dark web, you should exercise caution and refrain from clicking on unknown links or downloading suspicious files.

• And it supports the privacy needs of users for certain legal activities such as the exchange of proprietary business information.
• However, it’s a whole different service to the Tor network and I2P.
• Hidden Facebook is hardly the only social media client on the dark web.
• Surfshark works well with streaming platforms and is able to access geo-restricted content from the likes of Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and Disney+.
• Please refer to our article on LockBit 3.0 ransomware case study, where we determine how ransomware is distributed and what must be done to prevent it.

Stay safe while **browsing the dark web** by using a VPN to further protect your online privacy. Avoid sharing personal information or engaging in illegal activities.

Remember, the dark web can be a fascinating place to explore, but it is crucial to navigate it safely and responsibly. By taking the necessary precautions and being mindful of your online actions, you can make the most of your experience on the dark web.