How Do You Get to the Dark Web?

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The internet’s searchable and unsearchable areas can be divided into three main buckets. The dark web is infamous for illicit underground dark web marketplaces selling contraband across international borders. The Silk Road rose to notoriety in 2011 after a longform article was featured on the then popular site, Gawker. The Silk Road was eventually shuttered by law enforcement agents in 2013. But since the bust, several more dark web markets have appeared in its wake, each seeming more competent then the last.

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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. In this article, we will explore how to access the Dark Web safely and anonymously.

What is the Dark Web?

The Dark Web is a collection of websites that are not indexed by search engines and are only accessible through specialized software. These websites are often used for illegal activities, such as buying and selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. However, there are also many legitimate uses for the Dark Web, such as whistleblowing, activism, and journalism.

How to Access the Dark Web

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To access the Dark Web, you will need to use a specialized browser called Tor. Tor is a free software that allows you to browse the internet anonymously. It works by routing your internet connection through a series of volunteer-operated servers, which makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.

To get started, you will need to download and install the Tor browser on your computer. Once you have installed Tor, you can simply open the browser and start browsing the Dark Web. However, it is important to note that the Dark Web can be a dangerous place, and you should always take precautions to protect your privacy and security.

• In 2013, the popular site for selling drugs and weapons, among other illegal goods, was shut down in a sting by the FBI.
• Another major safeguard to utilize is Two-Factor Authentication (also known as Multi-Factor Authentication) that utilizes a different medium to verify your identity, such as texting a code to your phone.
• Credit card and social security numbers are routinely purchased, as are passwords for e-mail accounts—sometimes en masse.
• This is like going spelunking without the proper equipment — you’re likely to get hurt, possibly very badly.
• The latter includes internal networks for governments, educational facilities, and corporations.

Use a VPN

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One of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself on the Dark Web is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a different location, which makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity. There are many VPN providers to choose from, but it is important to choose a reputable one that does not keep logs of your online activity.

IT professionals are well-versed in how to monitor and manage a company’s network and can work with you to build a comprehensive protection plan through sound maintenance and prevention practices. Weak passwords are one of the easiest ways that a hacker can break into your network and install ransomware. Consider strengthening your passwords and protecting where they’re stored to better leverage your cyber security infrastructure. Even if you never go on the dark web, your personal information could still be floating around on it. As a cyber security company, we have found more times than not, new clients often have old and current passwords sitting on the dark web, waiting to be found.

Use a Secure Email Provider

Because Tor servers keep users and publishers completely anonymous, there’s no way to regulate or control the content, products, and services being offered inside the dark web. If you want to visit the deep web — even if it’s just to check out your dental bill or the balance in your online bank account —equip your device with trusted security software and keep it up to date. In order to properly understand how the deep web works, you first have to understand a few fundamentals of how the regular internet operates, especially as it relates to search engines. That’s not to say that the entire deep web consists of these difficult-to-find websites.

Another important step is to use a secure email provider. Many email providers, such as Gmail and Yahoo, collect data on their users and share it with third parties. To protect your privacy, it is best to use a secure email provider that does not collect any data on its users.

Use a Password Manager

It is also important to use a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. This will help to protect your accounts from hackers and prevent them from gaining access to your personal information.

Or your organization recently got hit by data breach and you want to look into it yourself. On the dark web, secure file uploads and transfers are commonplace since the onion network offers multiple levels of encryption for your files and connection. File transfer services are used mostly by journalists and informants to share sensitive information-containing files. The Tor browser’s layered encryption system makes tracking the identity and location of users impossible. People can share files, talk, and blog anonymously in a highly encrypted environment. Moreover, VPN is a good alternative to using the darknet for privacy.

Be Careful What You Click On

Finally, it is important to be careful what you click on when browsing the Dark Web. Many websites on the Dark Web are malicious and can infect your computer with malware or steal your personal information. To protect yourself, it is best to avoid clicking on links or downloading files from unknown sources.

Conclusion

The Dark Web can be a dangerous place, but it also has many legitimate uses. To access the Dark Web safely and anonymously, you will need to use a specialized browser called Tor and take precautions to protect your privacy and security. By using a VPN, a secure email provider, a password manager, and being careful what you click on, you can browse the Dark Web with confidence.