If you’re intrigued and want a firsthand experience, follow this guide to learn how to access the deep web with an anonymizing browser. We’ll use the Tor browser for this guide, but any other browser that supports the Tor protocol will do. Simply accessing the dark web and using the Tor browser may already raise government suspicion.
What Is The Dark Web? Here’s How To Access It Safely (and What You’ll Find)
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. 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. On top of that, the installation process of Freenet is rather easy. Simply download the file, install the software, and you’re ready to use its web-based interface. The advantages of I2P are based on a much faster and more reliable network.
- “Using Forest VPN with Tor has been a game-changer for accessing the dark web safely.
- Many of the newspapers on the site are exclusively on the deep web; they will not show up on Google.
- This means that the JavaScript will be disabled by default on every website and some symbols and images will not be displayed.
- Now you know how to enter deep web safely, the key differences between deep web vs dark web, and which best deep web browsers to use.
- You don’t need special tools or a special browser like you need to access the dark web (more about that later).
On the software end, the use of Tor and other anonymized browsers is not strictly illegal. In fact, these supposed “dark web” browsers are not tethered exclusively to this portion of the internet. Many users now leverage Tor to browse both the public Internet and the deeper parts of the web privately. Locating surface web websites is possible because search engines can index the web via visible links (a process called “crawling” due to the search engine traveling the web like a spider). Being hidden doesn’t translate into being completely protected from the possibility of tracking, or, when it comes to illegal activities, of risk. However, it’s up to us to take control of our personal privacy in a world of bulk data collection, surveillance, and personalized ad tracking.
The most interesting thing about NordVPN is its built-in Onion over VPN feature. It encrypts your traffic at the entry node and changes your IP address. This means you will get a VPN’s security and enjoy the anonymity of the Tor network simultaneously. NordVPN is one of the best VPNs to combine with the Tor browser whenever you want to surf dark sites.
How To Access The Deep Web Using Tor
It also provides a safe haven for whistleblowers, journalists and those seeking free expression under oppressive regimes. Dark web sites use encryption software so their visitors and owners can remain anonymous—it’s why the dark web is home to so much illegal activity. However, this side of the internet isn’t reserved for criminals. Over 2.7 million active users browse the dark web every day, and many do so for legitimate reasons. Here’s a guide that will help you learn about the dark web, the sites that populate it, and how you can visit it safely using the added protection of a VPN and antivirus software.
Dark Web Search: The Best Dark Web Search Engines In 2025
The dark web — aka, the deep web — is the second layer of the internet, which is not indexed by search engines. Websites and pages in the deep web might include password-protected content, private forums, and personalized resources. The dark web is part of the internet that is not indexed by standard search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. It means you cannot access websites on the dark web with regular browsers like Firefox or Chrome.
More On How To Stay Safe On The Dark Web
Many people overlook the importance of regularly changing the WiFi network password. It is a relatively new provider but offers better features than most established VPNs. The provider also offers a dedicated CyberSec suite that prevents annoying ads and blocks malware and trackers. A reliable, fast, and user-friendly VPN service offering lots of customizable options for privacy geeks. Today, many organizations exist that are created only to handle these reports anonymously and effectively.
Tor Browser aims to make all users look the same, making it difficult for you to be fingerprinted based on your browser and device information. With NordVPN, click on the “shield” icon to activate Threat Protection Pro. It will provide you with extra protection by blocking malware, trackers and harmful ads as you browse the deep web.
MULTI-LAYERED ENCRYPTION
The reputation of the dark web has often been linked to criminal intent or illegal content, and “trading” sites where users can purchase illicit goods or services. However, legal parties have made use of this framework as well. The dark web refers to sites that are not indexed and only accessible via specialized web browsers. Significantly smaller than the tiny surface web, the dark web is considered a part of the deep web.
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It aims to preserve the internet’s scientific and cultural heritage. This service is a good source of statistics if you have a school project requiring research on Tor and the dark web. 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. It allows you to search for images, maps, files, videos, social media posts, and more.
Deep web content includes academic research papers, court documents, or medical records. For example, when you sign in to your healthcare provider’s portal to view test results or request prescription refills, you’re accessing the deep web. TOR (The Onion Router) is a software that makes it possible for users to communicate and browse the internet anonymously. This is achieved by directing internet traffic through a global network of servers, which conceals the user’s identity and location. The main purpose of TOR is to provide access to the dark web and bypass censorship and surveillance in countries with restricted internet access. On the other hand, the TOR browser is a web browser that uses the TOR network to offer users private and anonymous internet browsing.
Method II – VPN Over Tor
This technique is ideal for discovering content on the surface web but is often ineffective at finding deep web content. Consider turning on your VPN at this stage in the preparation process. The VPN connection will route your online activity through a different server, masking your activity from your internet service provider.
Instead, Tor uses a random set of encrypted servers known as nodes to keep users and sites anonymous. Many who access the dark web do so by first connecting to it with the Tor (an acronym for the “The Onion Router”) browser. Navy and made public in 2004, Tor is the most popular dark web browser because of its unrivaled security and privacy. When you use the Tor network, your traffic is layered in encryption and routed via a random relay, where it’s wrapped in another layer of encryption. Google doesn’t index these sites, but other search engines do, including DuckDuckGo, and there are lists — including one run by Muffett — so you can find what you’re looking for. It’s important to note that while these browsers provide anonymity and privacy, they do not guarantee complete security.
Similarly, the deep web also has countless websites that are safe to view. For most people, the deep web is the underworld of the internet. Despite the deep web’s bad reputation and terrible PR, it’s not inherently more dangerous than the surface web. Plus, people often confuse the deep web with the dark web, negatively impacting how most perceive it.
