The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through traditional web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also has legitimate uses. To access the dark web, you need to use a special browser called Tor. In this article, we will explore what the dark web is, how to access it, and some dark web links to help you get started.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. It is often used for illegal activities, such as buying and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, it also has legitimate uses, such as providing a platform for free speech, whistleblowing, and journalism. The dark web is often confused with the deep web, which is simply the part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. The deep web includes academic databases, corporate intranets, and other websites that require authentication to access.
Some sites are completely legit (like domain services), and some (like whistleblowing tools) might be censored in your country. Why would a website built around connection, sharing, and personal information sharing use the dark web? One case is that many countries block users from accessing Facebook. By having a dark web version of the site, Facebook gives its users other ways to access the social network, no matter their country.
- The dark web is commonly a place where individuals can operate under the guise of anonymity.
- The Tor network and other networks that use onion routing emerged to protect online communications; not to support criminal actions.
- If you browse the dark web using the Tor Browser, your IP address will be hidden from the sites you visit.
- The Onion Router (hence the Tor acronym) uses three layers of encryption and a specific internet traffic routing mechanism to ensure complete anonymity.
How to Access the Dark Web
To access the dark web, you need to use a special browser called Tor. Tor stands for “The Onion Router” and it works by routing your internet connection through a series of volunteer-run servers around the world. This makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity. To download Tor, go to the official website (https://www.torproject.org/) and follow the instructions.
That’s why people who try Aura’s Dark Web Scanner are shocked to see how much of their sensitive information is exposed just by running a scan of their email address. In October 2021, law enforcers in nine countries carried out Operation Dark HunTOR, in which Europol simultaneously arrested 150 alleged suspects in Europe and the US. Because this offering is so extensive and affordable, the Dark Web is the ideal breeding ground for criminals. Even more of a threat, hackers looking to make a lot of money and profit off people and companies around the world have found a way to do it — fast and at scale. While personal information may seem invaluable to you, cybercriminals trade personal information for a mere few dollars on the black markets that exist on the Dark Web.
Once you have installed Tor, you can access the dark web by typing in a .onion URL. These URLs are unique to the dark web and can only be accessed through Tor. It is important to note that the dark web can be dangerous, so only visit websites that you trust.
TOR, as of now has a strong user base even though it has only 3 percent of market share. Furthermore, events leading to disgraceful incidents are also on the rise in TOR. Lately, federal authorities are tracing more and more e-commerce platforms in the dark net. If the situation continues, more sellers will be forced to leave TOR networks. You can’t find these webpages with the use of search engines, such as Bing and Google.
Dark Web Links
Here are some dark web links to help you get started:
Onion-link-checking
- The Hidden Wiki: This is a directory of dark web links, including marketplaces, forums, and blogs.
- DuckDuckGo: This is a search engine that respects your privacy.
- Facebook: Yes, Facebook has a dark web version of its website.
- ProPublica: This is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
Typosquatting is even easier on onion sites than the surface web due to the way that onion domains work. Onion domains are hashes, so they typically contain many characters that appear entirely random to a human user. For example, the onion domain 7rmath4ro2of2a42.onion does not correspond in any visual sense to the site that it loads, a news site called SoylentNews. This makes it hard for a Tor user to distinguish between a real onion domain and a typosquat.
FAQs
Tor Kittenz
Is the dark web illegal?
Financial Services
No, the dark web itself is not illegal. However, some activities that take place on the dark web are illegal.
Can I access the dark web on my phone?
Yes, you can access the dark web on your phone using the Tor browser. However, it is not recommended due to security concerns.
Can I get viruses from the dark web?
Yes, there is a higher risk of getting viruses from the dark web due to the lack of regulation and security.
Can I use my credit card on the dark web?
It is not recommended to use your credit card on the dark web due to the risk of fraud and identity theft.
Is the dark web anonymous?
Yes, the dark web provides a high level of anonymity due to the use of the Tor network. However, it is not 100% anonymous.
