For example, some of our favorite social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, have set up mirror sites on the dark web for people who don’t want to be watched by the government. Some users looking for how to access the dark web can do that simply because they want to check whether their personal data is for sale. Many hackers sell their services either individually or as a part of groups. Such groups include xDedic, hackforum, Trojanforge, Mazafaka, dark0de and the TheRealDeal darknet market. Some have been known to track and extort apparent pedophiles. Cyber crimes and hacking services for financial institutions and banks have also been offered over the dark web.
In companies, sometimes, especially when multiple employees handle social media accounts, the same generic password is used across multiple accounts. This means that if a hacker figures out one easy password, they can use that password to hack other accounts that use the same password. Although the dark web is known for harboring illegal activity,just because you can access the dark web doesn’t necessarily mean you can access all of its sites. The dark web is frequently characterized as a hotbed for illegal activity. While it does attract criminals who sell drugs or are human traffickers, online illegal activity isn’t restricted to just the dark web. First, since Google doesn’t index for dark web sites, you can’t find any by using a search engine.
Company
This platform lets users submit documents without revealing their identities. However, it’s also a hotspot for hackers and shady third parties. Enable two-step authentication on all online accounts even social media.
Malicious software, also known as malware, is a critical concern and can affect unsuspecting users. Even simply browsing the dark web out of curiosity can expose you to such threats, like phishing malware or keyloggers. While an endpoint security program can identify such threats if they end up on your computer, it’s ideal to avoid them altogether. The short answer is no, it’s not illegal to browse the dark web.
Take Action Against Identity Theft
Take a look at our overview of the most trustworthy, fast, and safe VPN services. You could try to look up some tech-related websites on the Hidden Wiki or DuckDuckGo . However, do keep in mind that there are many useful tech websites on the surface web already. Chances are, whatever questions you have have been discussed on there already, so you won’t have to search for pages on the dark web. They are cheap and so worth it even for normal web browsing.
- They may also be law enforcement masquerading as criminals in an attempt to catch people who are up to no good.
- Not only does Tor’s encryption system keep your activity anonymous, it keeps host websites hidden too.
- You could consider the clear or surface web the “top” and visible layer of the internet, easily accessible using a browser such as Safari, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
Deep Web Radio is the perfect place to find good music while browsing the Dark Web, ensuring access to over 20 different channels depending on your favorite genre. The benefit of using Deep Web Radio is that you don’t have to use the clearnet while exploring the Dark Web. Facebook’s onion site works exactly like its clearnet page, allowing you to communicate with your friends and family without anonymity. This means that Facebook, your friends, family, ISP, and governmental organizations can see what you like, comment on, and post.
Monitor The Dark Web
For those who may be a little faint of heart – we have listed down more than 160 updated Tor websites for you. However, Tor is not the only browser you can use to access the Dark Web. With the right configuration and setup, we can also use Firefox, Opera, or Whonix to access the Dark Web. Facebook – This is a version of Facebook on the dark web developed to help people in repressive regimes access it. Sci-Hub – Allows you to access a collection of scientific papers by researchers and experts in various fields.
He was charged with money laundering, computer hacking, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics. “Onion routing” – the core principle that enables Tor to retain its users’ anonymity – was developed and funded in the mid-1990s by the U.S. federal government. It only knowns the location of the immediately preceding and following nodes. This encrypted data is transmitted through a series of network nodes known as an onion router. So when the last layer is decrypted, the message arrives at its destination. Onion is a pseudo-top-level domain name designating an anonymous onion service.
Congratulations, you now have the Tor browser and can access the dark web. Of course, if you try to visit these websites as you would normally on the surface web, you’ll only get an error message telling you that the server couldn’t be found. For instance, journalists and whistleblowers often use a dark web website called SecureDrop to safely meet and exchange information away from repressive governments and corporations. So, refrain from sharing too much information online, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and avoid answering questions on memes that often mimic security questions.
Dark Web Services
Instead, you will need a special .onion search engine like Tor to access dark web websites. Criminal forums and marketplaces exist on the dark web and are only accessible with specific network configurations and browsers. Unlike standard web pages that collect user data, privacy and anonymity are always paramount on dark websites.
