Curious about the dark web? You’re not alone! Many people are delving into its vast potential. This guide answers all your questions about what the dark web is and how you can browse its hidden contents.
Content
- What Is the Dark Web?
- Is the Deep Web Illegal?
- What Happens If You Go on the Dark Web?
- How to Access the Dark Web
What Is the Dark Web?
To answer “What is the dark web?” we need to first clarify our concept of the surface web. The webpage in which you are reading this guide can open directly in a browser once you type the URL. It’s easy to find on Google and other search engines, as Google’s web crawlers, called Googlebots, index these pages.
Conversely, the dark web is a hidden part of the Internet that you can’t access with regular web browsers or search engines. Such websites are marked by an .onion top-level domain (the last part of a domain appearing after the dot symbol) that you can only visit using special software, with Tor being the most popular example.
When you try to open a dark web webpage, such as DuckDuckGo’s Onion link, on a Chrome/Firefox browser, you will receive a This site can’t be reached error.
People often confuse the “dark web” with the “deep web,” but they are different. The deep web can have Onion links, but it mostly has web pages that you cannot find in search engines. They’re either restricted by a paywall, IP addresses, or user login credentials.
You can still visit these hidden pages with a regular browser, like Google Chrome, after due authorization. For example, a banking website that needs your login details or a company’s Intranet that can be accessed from home.
Think of the visible web as the tip of an iceberg above the water surface. The deep web is the big part underwater. Finally, the dark web resembles ice sheets that almost reach the ocean floor as their contents are deeply buried.
Image source: DALL-E 3
Like the regular web, the dark web is decentralized, and it’s hard to know who created it. Some of its origins lie in “Freenet,” which was popular for sharing small posts in the late 90s and early 2000s. Freenet used peer-to-peer networks to host content. Today, these onion links use a similar overlay network: darknet.
Some people believe that the dark web makes up 99% of the Internet, but that’s not true. It is actually less than 0.01% of the Internet. However, the deep web may be 90% or more of it, as it includes many websites behind paywalls, forums, and company networks. It also has the global databases of schools and colleges, militaries, and governments.
FYI: use one of these deep web search engines to find the content that you can’t with a Google search.
Is the Deep Web Illegal?
Now that we know the differences between the deep and dark web, it’s clear that visiting the deep web isn’t illegal. We should all be able to access our online bank accounts freely. But the real question is whether visiting the dark web is illegal. And that’s where things get a bit dicey.
What is known as the dark web today got a bad reputation early on, as it was used for criminal activity, like the “Silk Road,” a drug-selling site that the FBI shut down in 2013. Even today, there are many darknet marketplaces, and it’s illegal to visit them or use their services.
Despite a sordid past, not everything on this network is illegal. It used to host several whistleblowers, like the Wikileaks contributors. Currently, investigative journalists, human rights activists, ethical hackers, and free speech and privacy advocates have all started using the dark web.
Good to know: check out several safe and useful dark web websites that Google won’t let you find.
What Happens If You Go on the Dark Web?
Accessing the dark web is much like using regular websites. As long as you avoid illegal content, which is hard to find unless you search for it, you’ll be fine. Some of the things you can access are:
- Sending anonymous emails: there are many good onion email services that let you send messages online secretly. The emails go through many anonymous servers, so they can’t be traced back to you. Unlike temporary email services, these accounts are free and last forever. OnionMail is a good example of such a service, which you can access at pflujznptk5lmuf6xwadfqy6nffykdvahfbljh7liljailjbxrgvhfid.onion.
- Accessing social media sites: many social media sites have an
.onionlink to help users outside a regular browser. For example, Facebook has a dark web link available at facebookwkhpilnemxj7asaniu7vnjjbiltxjqhye3mhbshg7kx5tfyd.onion. - Access applications: there are websites like DarkPad that host useful dark web applications such as Torch, Dread, Signal, and Mastodon. You can find it at darkpad66z2t5f7ktywictzg5rcblsw2x4zsz3jg4lh3pgx2ervuvfyd.onion.
- Investigative journalism: independent journalists can use websites like ProPublica to access information they can’t on the mainstream media. You can find the ProPublica homepage at p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion.
- Browse scientific articles: many scientific research publications require access to a university, alumnus network or hefty paywalls. The dark web is a resource leveler, as you can find all the information with a few quick searches.
- Cryptocurrency trading: want to buy cryptocurrency using cash from a local dealer near you or PayPal balance? The dark web has you covered. You can always check seller reputation depending on the number of trades. Bitcoins or Monero are the preferred means to transact online on the dark web.
The dark web is usually safe to use. But don’t share your financial or personal information, as there are people who want to steal it. Also, avoid clicking on ads or downloading programs, as they may contain malware or DDoS botnets and other security threats.
Tip: use one of these dark web scanners if you feel your data is compromised and leaked to this network.
How to Access the Dark Web
To access the dark web, download and install the official Tor browser on your device. It’s currently available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android (via Google Play). If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, use Tor browser and VPN, an alternative application.
Most people can use the Tor browser right away, but some countries block or censor Tor. For those, Tor has many alternative mirror sites and a way to send you an installation link through Gmail.
After you install Tor, use its address bar like any regular browser. Just copy and paste any onion links, such as the examples given above, and the site will open.
When you use Tor to visit regular websites, like .COM or .NET, you may see an onion available message in the top right. If you see this, just click on it to visit the .onion version of the site. This doesn’t always work, as not all sites have .onion links, so it’s better to try the next method.
Just like other web browsers, you need a search engine for Tor. You can use Google, but DuckDuckGo has a built-in feature, Onionize, that will find onion links for your searches.
The first thing to search for is ”The Hidden Wiki.” It has a big list of onion websites in different languages and categories. The link changes often, so it’s best to search for it using DuckDuckGo.
You’ll find many entries for “The Hidden Wiki,” and each link will lead you to more websites and search engines. Keep looking, and you’ll find what you need.
While Tor masks your IP address, it is not entirely secure for dark web surfing. First, your ISP knows you’re using Tor, so that defeats the purpose of anonymity. Also, since each server in Tor is under private ownership, that has its own security risks.
Always make it a habit to use a Tor browser together with a secure VPN service for the best privacy.
If you’ve followed all the steps so far, you know what the dark web is and can access it like a pro to find anything you need.
Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe
Sayak Boral –
Staff Writer
Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.
Leave a comment