You can choose 256-bit for maximum protection or 128-bit if you want a faster connection. These both use SHA256 for authentication and 2,048-bit RSA keys. There are multiple protocol options available and protection against IPv6 leaks and DNS leaks.
Do I Need A VPN If I Access The Dark Web On My Phone?
The dark web, an even more puzzling sublayer, exists within this hidden world. It’s designed as an environment to elude detection, where site owners and visitors hide their identities. And while the dark web isn’t synonymous with illicit activities, it’s undeniably the breeding ground for the internet’s black markets, hacker forums, malware vendors, and other illegal activity.

Services such as Tumblers are also available on the dark web to help hide transactions. However, Bitcoin’s relevance in the digital world has also made it a scam target. Due to its anonymity, carding, fraud, and counterfeiting businesses are thriving on the dark web. Carding refers to the theft and illegal use of credit card information, and the dark web offers a platform for criminals to sell and buy such information. Law enforcement agencies frequently target sites that distribute child pornography. For Example, In May 2021, authorities in Germany brought down Boystown, a child pornography network with more than 400,000 registered users.
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It is considered a go-to site for malware purchasing, providing keyloggers, trojans, and other Malware as a Service products. Russian Market has consistently remained one of the most popular and valuable data stores on the dark web. Its affordability and reliability have earned it a loyal customer base.
It protects your identity, hides your location, and gives you access to .onion sites that are not available on the regular web. That’s why it’s the go-to choice for journalists, activists… and, of course, curious internet users. If you’re researching how to access the deep web, you’ll definitely come across Tor. And that’s no coincidence—it’s the most popular and trusted browser for exploring this hidden part of the internet. Within this network, the dark web represents an even more secluded sector, where access not only requires knowledge but also specific protection measures.
How To Get On The Dark Web Safely (Extensive Tutorial)
It also has 10 simultaneous connections, support for all devices, and server obfuscation that works in China. We love it because of its simplicity, which, as you saw, lets you visit the dark web in seconds. NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol is more than secure, with a certified no-logging policy that guarantees no logging and storing of your sensitive data. These websites will now work without issues, as the VPN hides the exit node and makes your traffic look inconspicuous. In practice, we found very little use of VPN Over Tor and saw no significant advantages. During this process, your ISP can still see that you’re using Tor because the entry node is now fully visible.
Archetyp Market is an online darknet marketplace, founded in late 2021. This infects a user’s device and essentially blocks them out of it until they pay a “ransom,” usually in the form of cryptocurrency (so it’s harder to track and recover). Users could accidentally fall victim to ransomware just by clicking the wrong link or downloading a file on the dark web. Before we look at how to access the dark web, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of what it is, as there are many misconceptions about it.
Stand Up For Privacy And Freedom Online
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. While visiting any of the sites you find on those Wiki sites, do not maximize your browser, as it can help identify you by your monitor resolution. Copy your desired onion URL and paste it into the address bar at the top of the screen to begin searching on the dark web. Alternatively, if the website has turned the onion URL into a link, you can click on that in the Tor browser, and it will automatically open the dark website. When the Tor Browser is launched, you will be brought to a purple homepage with a search field for the DuckDuckGo search engine in the center of the screen.

Regular browsers like Firefox and Chrome can’t access this concealed portion of the internet, because they are not designed to find websites listed using The Onion Router hidden service protocol. Many dark internet users favor Tor which uses a network architecture originally developed by the U.S. Naval Research Lab as a system of decentralized, anonymous nodes to enable anonymous online communication.
Risks Of Accessing The Dark Web:
- If your device is infected with malware, read our guide to remove malware from your computer.
- Contrary to a widespread misconception, the dark web is a tiny part of the web.
- We pay our bills online, check our bank statements, communicate via email, find information, and maintain a presence on social media.
- Even commerce sites that may have existed for a year or more can suddenly disappear if the owners decide to cash in and flee with the escrow money they’re holding on behalf of customers.
- For instance, your email inbox, online banking account, or a company’s internal database resides in the deep web.
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for the dark web with no restrictions for a month—great if you want to try this no-log provider’s Onion over VPN servers for yourself. The easiest way to access Tor is through a special browser known as the Tor Browser. You might want to hide your Tor Browser download using a VPN and your existing browser’s private/incognito mode. Our rigorous research and testing have revealed revealing truths and busted myths.
The Deep Web includes unindexed content like private databases and password-protected sites accessible with standard browsers. The dark web marketplaces thrive on the demand for illegal services and extreme content. Your accidental visit to such sites can contribute to the perception of the demand, encouraging criminals to continue or expand their operations.
Configure Tor For Privacy
While some competing darknet softwares are similar to Tor browsers, they typically exist for different purposes. For example, the network dn42 exists to help users form connections and networks rather than to preserve user anonymity. If you get a reliable vendor, you should procure the services to stay safe when accessing the dark web.

This part of the internet is notorious for illegal activities, facilitated by the anonymity it offers. Crimes range from data theft and selling illegal goods for cryptocurrencies to human trafficking and more severe offenses. Other dark web search engines worth investigating are Ahmia, Torch, NotEvil, and the Onion URL Directory—just type out some keywords for what you’re looking for. Some of these sites can be found through regular web browsers, but you’ll then need to switch over to Tor once you’ve got the onion links you want to follow. It is crucial for users of the mega darknet to protect themselves with adequate security measures. This includes using strong, unique passwords and regularly updating security software.
The internet providers and websites can still see that you’re using Tor, as Tor node IPs are public. Many turn to the dark to grab such medications with their private and secure networks. The dark web has several convenient uses, which are not all basic.

How To Remain Safe While Using The Dark Web – Essential Tips
People use it for various legitimate reasons, such as bypassing censorship in restrictive countries. The dark web hosts various types of illegal content, such as stolen data, child exploitation material, and prohibited items. As an average Internet user, you may accidentally stumble upon such content.
Dangerous And Disturbing Services And Items
No standard web browsers can be used to access dark web content. Journalists and whistleblowers, including Edward Snowden himself, often use the dark web and Tor to exchange sensitive information. For instance, the Ashley Madison data dump was posted to a site only accessible to Tor users.