Finally, you may also need a VPN for censorship when accessing the dark web. Countries with harsh internet policies, like China, restrict the Tor project website or other web pages where you can download the software. That means there’s no way to start accessing the dark web unless you first connect to a VPN. Proton VPN heads up the end of our list as a fantastic VPN that doesn’t quite match the specialized dark web features of the higher-ranked VPNs we recommend. PIA’s DNS-based MACE filtering blocks known malicious IP addresses that distribute malware or host phishing sites.
Can My ISP See If I’m Using Tor?
It’s not uncommon to find free VPN providers selling their users’ details to various businesses and organizations. This can compromise your privacy and defeat the purpose of using a VPN. Another user-friendly VPN service that works seamlessly well with the dark web and has several useful features. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of the best VPNs to browse the dark web safely. Here’s a quick list of our top VPN services to use with dark web and what differentiates them from others.
CyberGhost
This makes it extremely trustworthy, especially because of its favorable reputation among its users. We also like its 10 simultaneous connections – 2 more than ExpressVPN. These features are complemented by WireGuard support, on top of which, it supports OpenVPN. We like this provider’s ease of use and even great streaming capabilities for a free provider.
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- We already know of one necessary component needed for this – Tor.
- Using Tor alone isn’t safe, as there are still concerns regarding your anonymity and privacy.
- Even if your VPN prevents other forms of tracking and spying, it can still leak your IP address if your DNS settings aren’t configured correctly.
- This service has maintained the same low price for over a decade and has been built from the ground up to provide maximum privacy.
What Are The Dangers Of Accessing The Dark Web?
Unlimited simultaneous connections mean that a single Surfshark account can protect the devices of all your friends and family members. Surfing the dark web is both easy and secure if you have ExpressVPN. Just connect to a location of your choice on the ExpressVPN app and then launch the Tor browser.
Choose The Best Plan For You
Although they are somewhat similar, Tor and VPN are distinctly different. For lots more detail about this subject, take a look at our Tor vs. VPN guide. Technically, there are ways to access the dark web other than through Tor, including a process that uses reverse proxies.
Surfshark
It works by first using a VPN and connecting to Tor afterward, hence its name. Select your platform, click on it, and Tor will download in seconds. This time, you should do it, as you’re already hidden by NordVPN’s encryption. Once the app is installed, simply open it up and sign in with the credentials you provided during registration. The dashboard should open properly, indicating you’re ready to connect to any VPN server.
In the early 2000s, Tor became a non-profit organization and the dark web was made available to the public. Use CyberGhost VPN to protect your connection and identity on the dark web. We have server in 100 countries around the world, along with secure encryption and fast speeds.
Quick Guide: How To Set Up A Dark Web VPN In 3 Easy Steps
However, there are instances in which Tor nodes are compromised, which means their data can be accessed and stolen. You can use a free version as long as it’s from a reliable VPN provider. Remember that many free VPNs on mobile app stores aren’t designed with security and privacy in mind. CyberGhost’s UI may take new users some getting used to because some features are tucked away in unintuitive places. For example, smart rules and privacy options aren’t on the settings page — you have to click the CyberGhost icon to find them at the bottom left.
It’s really free and offers uncapped bandwidth, spot-on security, and a welcoming no-logging policy. Having the tools at your disposal but not knowing how to use them feels… incomplete?! To complete the final piece of the puzzle, let’s explain how to use these tools.
Despite this, many people prefer not to advertise to their Internet Service Provider that they are accessing the dark web. The company may not have a large server network and access to much in the way of geo-restricted streaming content, but it does have plenty going for it in terms of privacy. You can sign up for the service completely anonymously, use a cryptographically signed installer, and double up on encryption using MultiHop servers. Proton VPN has decent connection speeds and has tools for giving long-distance connections a bump. Its VPN Accelerator distributes the CPU load between multiple processes in OpenVPN, and modifies the servers’ Linux stacks to shorten the normal packet processing path.
Keeping your VPN and Tor Browser updated ensures you benefit from the latest security patches. Outdated software can have vulnerabilities that may put you at risk. Files on the dark web may contain malware, and it’s best to avoid downloading from unknown sources. The silver lining is that VPNs work on iPhones so you can mitigate the risk by connecting to one beforehand.
This guide explores how to access the dark web safely on different devices while also covering both the benefits and risks of delving into this part of the internet. Throw in its premium security features and super-fast speeds, and it’s easy to see why it’s my top choice. Tails is better suited for users looking for quick, easy access to the dark web with minimal setup. Tails is a live operating system that you can start on almost any computer from a USB stick. It aims to preserve your privacy and anonymity by forcing all internet connections through the Tor network and leaves no trace on the machine unless explicitly asked.
Free and sketchy VPNs gather your personal and browsing data and sell it to make money. Only access the dark web with both a VPN and the Tor Browser active. Avoid altering any security settings in Tor that could reduce your protection.
PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, which is a member of the SIGINT Seniors Europe international intelligence-sharing alliance. Although PrivateVPN has what sounds like a true no-logs policy, it has yet to be independently audited. It will still be able to get the job done if you’re interested in dark web browsing. Let’s take a closer look at the best VPNs you can use to safely access the dark web. NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free day trial if you sign up at this page .
The Hidden Wiki & Co
NordVPN has a huge worldwide network of RAM-only servers and high standards of both privacy and security. It makes visiting the dark web easy, with dedicated Onion Over VPN servers that connect you to the Tor network via the VPN. This negates the need to download, install, and run the Tor browser separately, and lets you access the Tor network without your ISP knowing. There are numerous phishing sites, too, as explained earlier, designed to fool users into giving up their personal data. However, note that a VPN is not a definitive or comprehensive form of protection.
