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Although the entire dark web is part of the deep web, it isn’t true in reverse. Simply put, the deep web is any part of the Net that is not indexed by search engines. This includes websites that gate their content behind paywalls, password-protected websites and even the contents of your email. The dark web, on the other hand, uses encryption software to provide even greater security. And if you are visiting deep web sites such as your online credit card portal, use a virtual private network, or VPN.
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The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also has legitimate uses. So, how do people get on the dark web? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
How much of the Internet is the dark web?
The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden, requiring a specific browser—Tor—to access, as explained below. No one really knows the size of the dark web, but most estimates put it at around 5% of the total internet.
Step 1: Download a Dark Web Browser
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The first step to accessing the dark web is to download a dark web browser. The most popular dark web browser is the Tor browser, which you can download for free from the official Tor Project website. The Tor browser works by bouncing your internet connection through a series of relays, making it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.
Step 2: Create a New Identity
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Once you have downloaded the Tor browser, the next step is to create a new identity. This is because the dark web is all about anonymity, and you don’t want to use your real identity. To create a new identity, simply click on the “New Identity” button in the Tor browser. This will generate a new circuit for your browsing session, effectively creating a new identity.
What emails are not safe to open?
- THE AUTHORITY EMAIL. The most common phishing email is impersonating your bank, the IRS or some authority figure.
- THE “ACCOUNT VERIFICATION” EMAIL.
- THE TYPO EMAIL.
- THE ZIP FILE, PDF OR INVOICE ATTACHMENT.
The deep web fulfills a range of needs, from allowing people to host and access digital content away from the prying eyes of authoritarian governments, to facilitating a range of illegal activities. VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
Step 3: Access the Dark Web
There are a variety of private and encrypted email services, instructions for installing an anonymous operating system and advanced tips for the privacy-conscious. Learn about the warning signs of password cracking, how hackers get passwords, and how to protect your online accounts from cyberattacks. Cyber hygiene refers to cybersecurity best practices that everyone who actively uses the internet should be implementing to keep themselves and their data protected from common cyber threats. One of the best ways you can keep yourself and your information protected is by using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts.
Should I be worried if my email is on the dark web?
If your email address is circulating on the Dark Web, it's almost certainly due to a data breach. The problem is that the average internet user doesn't use the Dark Web — and therefore doesn't know if their data is compromised.
Now that you have a dark web browser and a new identity, you can start accessing the dark web. To do this, you need to know the onion URLs of the websites you want to visit. Onion URLs are unique to the dark web and are not accessible through regular web browsers. You can find onion URLs by doing a search on the dark web or by asking someone who is already familiar with the dark web.
FAQs
- Is it illegal to access the dark web? No, it is not illegal to access the dark web. However, many of the activities that take place on the dark web are illegal, so it’s important to be cautious and to only visit websites that you trust.
- Can I use my regular web browser to access the dark web? No, you cannot use your regular web browser to access the dark web. You need to use a dark web browser like the Tor browser.
- Is the dark web dangerous? The dark web can be dangerous if you’re not careful. It’s important to only visit websites that you trust and to never give out any personal information.
- Can I get in trouble for accessing the dark web? It’s possible to get in trouble for accessing the dark web if you engage in illegal activities. However, simply accessing the dark web is not illegal.
The technology to create the Dark Web was initiallycreated and is still funded by the U.S. military researchers since the mid 1990s. And the reasonwas, it was to allow spies and intelligence agencies to anonymously send and receive messages. Given its anonymous nature, the dark web is also used for illicit and even illegal purposes. These include the buying and selling of illegal drugs, weapons, passwords, and stolen identities, as well as the trading of illegal pornography and other potentially harmful materials. Several sites hosting illegal material have been discovered by government agencies and shut down in recent years, including Silk Road, AlphaBay, and Hansa. The dark web’s anonymity has also led to cybersecurity threats and various data breaches over the last few decades.
Always exercise extreme caution when using publicly posted onion URLs. If you can’t get a personal recommendation from someone you trust, verify the URL from multiple different sources. Obviously, finding these .onion websites is the first challenge, as they won’t show up in Google search results. You can’t just Google “Silk Road” and hope to land on the dark website.
- You can see why this ecosystem would be so attractive to those involved in criminal activity.
- MFA protects you in the event that someone is able to gain access to your login credentials since it requires a second method of authentication before they’re able to successfully log in.
- You could certainly go much deeper into the topic, but we hope the information provided here has given you a basic understanding of what the deep web/dark web are, how they function and why they exist.
- Impreza rents servers, registers domains, and hosts email similar to sites like GoDaddy.
- Again – results consist of only indexed content by that search engine.
In conclusion, accessing the dark web is not as difficult as it may seem. All you need is a dark web browser like the Tor browser and some onion URLs. However, it’s important to be cautious and to only visit websites that you trust. The dark web can be a dangerous place, so it’s important to protect yourself and your personal information.
Should I be worried if my SSN is on the dark web?
If your SSN ends up on the dark web, you can become a prime candidate for attempted identity theft and fraud. Scammers can purchase your SSN on the dark web and use it to open new accounts and credit cards, apply for loans, activate medical insurance, or claim benefits in your name.
