We recommend you only visit safe dark web links to explore such as The CIA, Facebook, DuckDuckGo, and Torch. Many dark web sites offer malware as a tool for cyberattacks. Since malware lingers across the dark web, your device can easily become infected, even if you are an unsuspecting user. Tor anonymity comes with a cost since malicious hackers and criminals like to operate in the shadows. For example, perpetrators of trafficking and cyber attacks use the dark web to disguise their actions. Furthermore, it’s critical to understand that Whonix is not a stand-alone browser.
Established in 2012, the platform is a time capsule that collects snapshots of websites. These onion addresses will remain online even if the original page disappears. It also keeps the graphical copy and text of the page for better accuracy. ProtonMail is a Swiss-based email service that is very easy to use. You are not required to provide your personal information to create an account.
Step 3: Install Tails On The USB Drive
Then, simply click the operating system that you are using and download the file. The site offers downloads for macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. While an iOS version of the official Tor browser is not available, there are Tor-compatible browsers available in the App Store.
Use A Secondary Non-admin Account
Below are some trustworthy starting points and authoritative references. Accessing the Dark Web can expose you to a range of risks that might not be immediately apparent. While many visitors manage to browse hidden services without incident, staying safe requires constant vigilance. This section outlines the primary dangers and offers practical advice to help you navigate these shadows responsibly.
Government Monitoring
However, note that the site only uses non-sensitive and public data for the metrics. The Tor Metrics is a good place to get more information about the Tor project. It collects data from the public Tor network and archives historical data of the Tor ecosystem. In most cases, whistleblowers have sensitive information about the government or a company. They can be easily traced and even prosecuted if they share the information on the surface web. SecureDrop is a site that protects the privacy of journalists and whistleblowers.
In case of an attack, you can be sure that any of the data or information stored on your main computer will be safe. While this is good advice for any type of web browsing, be particularly careful not to offer up any personal details, such as your credit card info or email address. Use cryptocurrency to buy anything, and use a disposable email address for any type of communication on the dark web. Keep in mind what you’re looking for, find that information, and disconnect from the dark web. As enticing as it might be, don’t follow links to other parts of the dark web. Government cyber teams can take such websites down, arrest the owners and then use the website to track and follow users that show activity on the website.
Although I am quite scared of being tracked, watched and all the shit that sounds stupid, i’m genuinely curious about exploring the deep web. Not only that but I am scared about my private information being used and sold to companies. I’ve been reading lately on how much about ourselves isn’t actually private. Plus, in our day in age, getting to know computers a bit more ain’t a bad idea in my opinion. I no longer believe that people are paranoid because of having concerns like these. Information being sold is a real problem and it is now becoming a fear of mine.
For example, Briar is an extremely private chat app designed to help journalists communicate anonymously with sources. Signal is our Editors’ Choice for private messaging apps because it does a great job of blending privacy and social media functionality for a highly customizable chat experience. The top layer is referred to as the clear or “surface web,” which is what you’re accessing while reading this article. The clear web is made up of websites that you can get to via a search engine like Ecosia or Google. Your clear web browser activity can be logged and tracked by advertisers, governments, and your ISP if you’re not using a VPN.
Step 3: Install And Launch Tor
However, not all usage of the dark web is for illegal intent. Social networks, such as Facebook, have created dark web versions of their sites to address privacy problems related to their surface web versions. ExpressVPN had created a .onion version of its website to allow greater privacy and anonymity for Tor browser users. You don’t need special tools or a special browser like you need to access the dark web (more about that later). Anyone can access the deep web by using specialized search engines, dedicated web directories, and other sources that can help you find the data or information.
- Its main appeal is that it offers more privacy and supports legacy Firefox add-ons.
- Unfortunately, others are fake and fraudulent websites that exploit the reputation of the dark web to con people.
- Its key features include kernel hardening, application firewall, package security, filesystem encryption, meta-proxy encryption, and binary integrity.
- Experienced blogger with a strong focus on technology, currently advancing towards a career in IT Security Analysis.
- This article lists some of the best dark web websites you can visit securely.
Digital Rights And Advocacy Groups
Let’s go through the setup process for each, as well as how to use them effectively. In this setup, the VPN connection acts as a middle layer between your device and Tor, routing your internet traffic through the VPN before it reaches the Tor network. Whether you’re a journalist, a privacy advocate, or just curious, this guide will walk you through how to access the dark web safely and responsibly.
I2P can only be used to access hidden sites that are only available on the I2P network. As I mentioned previously, the dark web is quite popular with journalists, political bloggers and news publishers, and others who run the risk of imprisonment in countries like Iran and others. That alone might already raise suspicion and place you under special surveillance. Some reports say the FBI will simply label you a “criminal” once they’re aware you’re using the Tor browser.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?
Hidden Facebook is hardly the only social media client on the dark web. Believe it or not, Zuckerberg’s Facebook has a darknet version. People mostly use it for covert communication, anonymous tips submission, and stuff like that. By using Tor, and especially in combination with a VPN, your internet signal is encrypted, making it invisible to your ISP. Privacy and anonymity are the dark web’s hallmarks, thanks to a network of servers that hide users’ identities and locations. If you’ve ever checked your medical results online through a portal that required a login, you were navigating the deep web.
Never Download Files
Moreover, due to its popularity, many copycats of the Hidden Wiki exist. So don’t be surprised if you encounter different versions that claim to be genuine, and be very careful. Actually let me explain, everywhere the dark web (not deep web) is described as some notorious place that has all these absolutely mind-blowingly illegal things. Secure communication for journalists, accessing privacy-focused forums, and whistleblower submissions. Combining it with VPN and good digital hygiene improves security. Journalist in India → Uses Tor to access a whistleblowing portal → Submits information anonymously while protecting their identity.
How To Turn Off SafeSearch On Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo
It might sound weird that Google doesn’t index these pages, but it does carry some logical sense. Google’s purpose is to show the most relevant information to all of its users quickly and easily. That means that Google wants to minimize the amount of time users spend searching for certain queries. Did you know that Google only shows you a glimpse of all the websites that actually exist? The last time I checked, it’s estimated that the entire web is roughly 500 times larger than what Google returns in Google Search.
Malicious Software
Because of this, some people use it to get around government restrictions, while others use it for illegal activities like smuggling drugs and weapons. With rising online privacy concerns in the current digital age, the Tor network’s anonymity is becoming essential. It is a good way to prevent third parties from tracking online activities.
The creators assert that because their technique is so strong, even malware with root access could not determine the machine’s IP address. While accessing the dark web using Mozilla Firefox is possible, you must first adjust its settings. No one is hiding here—they’re just guaranteeing that people in censored countries can read the news without being flagged. No user names are tied to actual identities, and no moderation like one may find on Reddit.
