Using a VPN alongside Tor adds an extra layer of security by hiding your IP address from Tor entry nodes and encrypting your traffic. This prevents anyone—including your ISP—from knowing that you’re using the Tor network. The Deep Web includes unindexed content like private databases and password-protected sites accessible with standard browsers. If you engage in illegal activities or access illegal content that could implicate you in a criminal offense, you may face serious legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. Law enforcement agencies in many countries monitor the dark web to combat illegal activities.
How Do I Get The Tor Browser?
Click on “Safest.” As you’ll see, JavaScript and a few other features will be automatically disabled on all sites. But again, your ISP won’t be able to see any of the content you’re reading or what you are sending and receiving through the Tor network. The dark web is a decentralized web, which means that the data is stored on many different servers around the world. It has been estimated that a large percentage of dark web traffic is related to illegal pornography that includes underage victims. There are a number of services and tools available on the dark web, many of which can be used for nefarious purposes. Those who access the dark web do so via the Tor (The Onion Router) browser.
Step-by-Step Guide: How To Access The Dark Web Using Tor Browser
There are several whistleblower sites, including a dark web version of Wikileaks. Pirate Bay, a BitTorrent site that law enforcement officials have repeatedly shut down, is alive and well there. The terms “deep web” and “dark web” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Deep web refers to anything on the internet that is not indexed by and, therefore, accessible via a search engine like Google. Deep web content includes anything behind a paywall or requires sign-in credentials.
- What’s more, law enforcement agencies monitor dark web activities.
- For example, randomly clicking a link can land you in extreme content, such as child pornography, which is a serious criminal offense to access.
- It’s something built into the password management services offered by Apple and Google as well, so you don’t need to trawl through data leaks manually yourself.
- However, while visiting the dark web itself isn’t against the law, engaging in illegal activities there is.
- These URLs are usually very long, consisting of a random jumble of letters and numbers.
Major Risks When Accessing The Dark Web
ExpressVPN is slightly expensive but a trustworthy provider for risk-free dark web browsing. You’ll also enjoy its Smart DNS support, 24/7 live chat service, the Keys password manager, and a lot more. Feel free to grab its 49% discount thanks to 3 free months for the annual plan. While you can visit the obscure part of the internet without a VPN, it’s better to go with one. Here are our favorite choices that work well and support Tor Over VPN perfectly.
Next, select a dark web search engine like DuckDuckGo that can help you find dark web websites that cannot be indexed by traditional surface web search engines, such as Google or Bing. 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.
In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to access the dark web in complete privacy and cover a few more important factors to consider before starting. The so-called surface web is readily accessible to all of us and thereby, less interesting. Well, relying on Tor to keep you anonymous online is a good recipe for disaster – we’ll see why soon. Furthermore, the dark web’s reputation often attracts curious individuals who are unaware of the potential risks. Casual exploration can lead to exposure to malware, scams, or illegal content, any of which could have severe consequences, both digitally and legally. Onion sites are websites on the dark web that use the ‘.onion’ top-level domain.
Ahmia is considered one of the safest because it filters out illegal content and has strong moderation. Haystak is used to search dark web marketplaces, leaked databases, and darknet forums, often by cybersecurity experts. Using Tor is especially helpful in countries where authoritarian governments censor the internet, preventing citizens from accessing news outside their country. This guide will teach you how to install the Tor Browser in Windows easily so you can access the Dark Web or browse the web anonymously.
Maintaining Long-Term Security
Plus, it backs all first-time purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free. I review privacy tools like hardware security keys, password managers, private messaging apps and ad-blocking software. I also report on online scams and offer advice to families and individuals about staying safe on the internet. Before joining PCMag, I wrote about tech and video games for CNN, Fanbyte, Mashable, The New York Times, and TechRadar.
Quick Comparison: Best Anonymous Dark Net Browsers
However, navigating this hidden digital landscape in 2025 presents heightened security risks, from advanced cyber threats to targeted surveillance. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions to safely explore the Dark Web using Tor, helping you stay protected, informed, and anonymous. One of the significant challenges in navigating the dark web is discovering and accessing these onion services.
Dark Web Access Guide: How To Enter The Dark Web Safely
This is where Tor websites are located, deemed the ‘dark web,’ and can only be accessed by an anonymous browser. For this reason, users should be cautious when using their browsers. If you are curious about accessing the deep web, you are likely already using it daily through pending website redesigns, blog posts under review, and pages accessed during online banking. These pages are hidden for various reasons and do not threaten your computer or safety. Tor Browser offers the best anonymous web browsing available today, but that anonymity is not perfect.
Invisible Internet Project
The most notorious marketplace to date was Silk Road, an online black market for drugs, which was shut down by the FBI in 2013. Despite this, similar markets have continued to emerge, fueling the Dark Web’s reputation as a haven for illegal trade. Journalists, whistleblowers, and activists often use the Dark Web to communicate securely and share information that could be censored or lead to dangerous consequences if exposed.
Step-by-Step Guide To Safe Browsing
All in all, it is not illegal to access the dark web, but it can create issues for you. If you don’t take the necessary measures, many unsavory activities can expose you to unnecessary risks. The anonymity provided by onion routing comes at the cost of slowing your internet considerably. As such, we do not recommend using Tor if you want to do data-intensive activities like streaming in HD, gaming, torrenting, or making video calls. In some countries, such as China and North Korea, the government uses heavy online censorship and blocks many dark web websites. This is where an Onion website, like the Tor browser, comes in handy.
Before we unpack the dark web’s threats, let’s explore how and why users access these sites. The reputation of the dark web has often been linked to criminal intent or illegal content, and “trading” sites where users can purchase illicit goods or services. In case you’re wondering how to access the deep web, chances are you already use it daily. The term “deep web” refers to all web pages that that are unidentifiable by search engines.
It’s ideal for journalists, activists, or anyone who needs to browse without leaving digital footprints. And yes, it also works perfectly for those who just want to explore the dark web with peace of mind. Navigate to the Tor Project’s Download page, select Download for Windows, and then double-click the downloaded .exe file to install the browser. Gannicus Oliver is an experienced tech journalist (he loves writing on emerging techs and digital privacy issues) and an online business consultant. In his free time, Gannicus enjoys uncovering thrilling adventures and traveling around the world. Since their deadline wasn’t met for the closer of the sites a month later, the Impact team ascended to the dark web, where they started to publish the data.
