Dark Web: What is it & How To Get On It

The dark web is a place on the internet where one can purchase illegal products, both innocent and dangerous. It is a place that is popular among scammers and hackers. One can purchase illegal products and get them delivered to their doorsteps, just like Amazon and eBay do.

We will discuss the pros and cons of the darkweb, and how to navigate it safely.

What Is The Dark Web?

It is not easy to access the dark web, even though it is part of the internet. Conventional search engines like Bing, Google, Yahoo, and so forth cannot be used to access it; you require a dark web browser like the Tor browser, an anonymizing browser. The Tor browser is one of the most popular, with several users.

These dark web browsers are based on a series of decentralized nodes that hide your web traffic. They also have special engines that are designed to help you in your search for those hidden sites.

Dark web websites allow their users to remain anonymous, as these websites use special encryption software. Tor browsers are used by millions of users daily; however, many users will use the dark web for legitimate purposes.

What Can You Find On The Dark Web?

The dark web is a place for those who wish to seek and purchase products and services that are banned in society. Each country has a list of legal and illegal products that are allowed and banned, respectively.

What is deemed legal in one country will be banned in another country. Thus, it is a marketplace for those who wish to seek specific products or services online. Products like drugs, weapons, counterfeit money, stolen data, malware and hacking tools, hiring hackers, fake IDs and passports, stolen social security numbers, and so forth are easily available on it.

Although the dark web is synonymous with criminal activities due to the decentralized network used, there are several others who use these browsers to search for collectibles, memorabilia, wellness products, news sites, artisanal goods, political forums, and even message boards for journalists and whistleblowers.

Surface Web vs. Deep Web vs. Dark Web

When we use the web to surf for products and information, it is called a surface web, and a deep web is similar to the surface web but requires your login credentials to access information. The darkweb is similar to the deep web but cannot be accessed with a normal web browser. It requires a special web browser, like Tor, to access it.

Although the terms ”deep web” and “dark web” are commonly used, they are both different. It has been estimated that the deep web makes up 90% of online content, while the dark web makes up only 0.01%.

While accessing a dark web, you won’t be using serval servers that are interconnected as you do using normal web browsers. Rather, it will provide extra privacy and security by keeping it internal and encrypted while using web browsers like Tor.

While a deep web covers a vast portion of the internet with contents that are password-protected emails, corporate intranets, and private databases, the dark web, on the other hand, will consist of the deep web’s hidden subnets that can be accessed only through special browsers like Tor.

Surface Web

Surface Web is your regular website that you use daily. In fact, at the time you are going through this article, you are using a surface web. We have listed below some examples of surface browsers:

• Internet browsers: Brave, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari
• Search engines: Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google, and Yahoo
• Company websites: Blogs, support FAQs, and product pages.
• Social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
• E-commerce platforms: Etsy, eBay, and Amazon.
• Entertainment websites: Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube (though certain user accounts are restricted and require subscriptions).

Deep Web

Compared to the surface web, the deep web is a bit more challenging to access. They contain specific information that requires certain permission to access them. They generally contain private information such as medical records, password details, legal documents, and financial details.

While visiting a website, if you are required to use your credentials to access it, then that website is secured by a password, paywalls, and/or encrypted networks. Although the deep web covers a large portion of the internet, it is not indexed conventionally. However, you can still access it using conventional web browsers.

You are using the deep web when you are accessing your emails, medical databases, banking portals, entertainment services, and so forth.

Dark Web

As we have already mentioned, to access the dark web, you need a special web browser like Tor. Web browsers like Tor ensure your safety and security. It conceals your location and identity when you use it to surf the dark web.

The dark web is very popular among users who wish to participate in drug trafficking, private communications, and organized political protests while remaining anonymous.

The dark web is more popular among criminals as they can use it for illicit activities like money laundering, illegal drugs and weapons, and stealing both personal and financial information from victims of internet scams and social media scams.

Advantages Of The Dark Web

There are several advantages that can be associated with the use of the dark web. Many explore these websites in order to find something that they desire.

Journalists And Whistleblowers

There are times when the truth needs to be heard when it is silenced by big corporations and the government. By remaining anonymous, these journalists and whistleblowers spread the necessary truth in society.

Concerned Citizens

Big corporations and governments will censor the mainstream media and print media about certain agendas that might embarrass them. Sometimes, the truth is withheld by these entities. Thus, the darkweb is the place to get the actual accounts of these entities.

Political Protestors

Sometimes the government might take strict action against the protesters. The need to remain anonymous while simultaneously protesting against the government or big corporate decisions can only be done through the dark web.

Medical Advice

Big medical corporations are notorious for creating vaccines and medicines that have terrible and life-threatening side effects. The experts working in that field may be fully aware of such hazards that corporations totally ignore for monetary gains.

The truth of the medicine in question can only be answered by the experts who frequently come and provide the necessary test results to the public by remaining anonymous on the dark web.

Since most of the news and latest developments are held by governments and corporations, the dark web becomes a beacon of light for those in search of truth or doing research.

• By using the dark web, one can gain easy access to research publications and academic papers for free.
• Can freely surf websites using search engines without the threat of compromising privacy and security.
• Sometimes it is challenging to get news or access websites from certain countries. Thus, this geo-blocked content can be easily accessed through the dark web.
• The dark web can be used to safeguard cryptocurrency wallets and other digital assets.
• Can freely access social media without the threat of being monitored or the fear of being under surveillance or tracking.
• One can search for obscure and sensitive information on certain topics that cannot be freely accessed on the surface web.
• Can freely discuss topics privately without the threat of being under surveillance or tracking.

Disadvantages Of Dark Web

Although the dark web offers a certain degree of anonymity, safety, and security for you as a user while browsing for legitimate products, services, and topics, it can still pose a threat if you fail to follow the tips recommended below:

• The chances of interacting with a criminal are very high.
• If the law finds you guilty of accessing the dark web, you could face a heavy fine, incarceration, or even both. You cannot use the dark web to break the law by purchasing illicit products and services.
• Clicking on suspicious links can divert you to websites that you may not enjoy. You are also at risk of downloading malicious software on the electronic device you are using while browsing the dark web.
• The dark web is also teeming with viruses that can be downloaded, and you could fall victim to an internet scam.
• Law enforcement agencies frequently use the dark web to catch criminals. You may not even realize that you are interacting with an undercover law enforcement office out there to gather information on criminals. Since they are also using the dark web, they too work anonymously.
• The dark web is cluttered with hackers. You can seek their service for a price. However, these hackers can also hack into the system that you are using and gather all the information they want.
• Several dark web websites have a device called the “RAT” that can gain access to the camera of the electronic device that you are using. They might use this to snoop on you.

How To Access The Dark Web Safely?

You can safely navigate the dark web website by following certain precautions that we have mentioned below:

Tor Browser

Tor, or “The Onion Router” browser, was first developed by the US Naval Research Lab with the intention of developing an anonymous network that would facilitate anonymous users to interact with each other. As of today, this browser has gained popularity and is used by millions for privacy and security reasons.

Compared to conventional browsers like Google and Yahoo, which route traffic directly from your electronic device for browsing, Tor, on the other hand, uses decentralized nodes or encrypted servers to keep the website and you anonymous.

Dark Web Search Engine

Now that you have Tor downloaded, you will need a dedicated search engine that will allow you to surf the net efficiently. To search for a specific topic or site, you will need to ensure you use the following search engine:

DuckDcukGo

Tor has a popular search engine called DuckDuckGo. It allows users to surf dark-net websites while keeping their identities safe and secure. Since it does not track its users, it is the main selling point of this search engine.

Torch

It feels familiar to the Google search engine and is easy to use. However, care must be taken to avoid clicking on links with which you are not familiar.

Ahmia.fi

This search engine will allow you access to the darkweb through conventional browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Firefox. However, you will still require a Tor browser to navigate through Ahmia.fi.

You must remember that a search engine is quite different from a browser. A browser allows you to connect to the internet, and the search engine will allow you to search for specific sites or topics.

Dark Web Websites

Every domain name will have.com,.gov,.org, and.edu while searching sites on conventional browsers like Firefox, Microsoft, and so forth. However, when using dark web websites, the domain ends in .onion.

Another striking difference is that if you wish to access the National Geography website, you can simply type National Geography, and the desired result will populate. However, the site name of the dark web website is made up of a string of alphanumerical characters that have .onion as its domain after it. Thus, it is not quite easy to memorize certain websites.

Sometimes these sites close down for reasons ranging from law enforcement agencies closing them down due to the sale of illegal products and services offered there. There are times when the site owners simply get bored and take it down themselves. Thus, it is challenging to keep track of which dark web websites are active and which are not.

Types Of Threats On The Dark Web

When accessing and browsing dark web websites, you should take precautions, as there are several hackers online and also the presence of law enforcement officers. Any miscalculated step can have terrible consequences for you.

Malicious Softwares

What you search for and what you download by clicking on the link should be done cautiously. Downloading malicious software can compromise your identity, and you can be a future target of identity theft or even internet scams. Thus, care must be taken to avoid accidentally downloading such software or clicking on certain links.

Government Monitering

As we have already mentioned, law enforcement officers undercover target certain websites on the dark web and monitor them very closely. Although such platforms can be used to voice their opinions or gather a crowd for protest, you, as a user, must exercise extreme caution.

Scams

The internet scams are a dime a dozen. While buying any goods, products, or services through the dark web website, you must use caution. The dark web is a breeding ground for scammers and hackers. They can rip you off by offering a fake deal on goods and services for a certain amount of money. After the transaction is complete, these con artists will disappear into thin air.

It can be a stressful experience since you cannot approach the law enforcement agency to recover your stolen financial funds as you are breaking the law by buying illegal goods and services on the dark web.

Tips For Navigating The Dark Web

There is little difference between surfing on the surface web and the dark web. The only difference is that you need to take extra precautions while surfing the dark web.

Exercise Caution

Even though the dark web is much safer from a privacy and anonymity point of view, you should still exercise caution. Just like the surface web, the dark net is riddled with social media scams and other internet scams.

While you intend to go on the dark web, here is a list of precautions that you must take to ensure that you do not fall prey to any malicious intent.

• Avoid sharing sensitive details that you may not even share with your loved ones. Criminals mostly use the dark web. The SSL certificate that assures authenticity on a surface web will hold little ground on a dark web. It is extremely challenging to decipher if the dark web website is genuine or not. 
• You require a recommendation from someone to use the dark web. Seek multiple sources to confirm the URL if you fail to get any recommendations from someone you trust.
• Refrain from clicking on links; they may have offensive material or malicious software that you don’t want to download.
• Although the dark web offers security, privacy, and anonymity, it is best to refrain from doing something that you would not dare to do in real life.

Use Of VPN

If your basic wish is to remain anonymous, then it is worth trying a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN will effectively mask your location by changing your IP address. It also encrypts data sent and received, providing an additional level of anonymity. These VPNs will also ensure that any hackers eavesdropping on your WiFi network will fail to intercept any data that you send or receive while using it.

Browse The Web More Safely

You must invest in good anti-virus software. Such software will not only stop any malicious apps from downloading but will also effectively quarantine them. Ensure that you also have your firewall activated while browsing the internet. There are some software programs available online that will browse through the entire internet service to check if your data is floating on the dark web or not.

FAQs About The Dark Web

There may be a few questions that may arise in your mind regarding the dark web. We have a few frequently asked questions that will help you ease your mind.

There are several reasons why anyone may use the dark web. On the negative side, it can be used to buy illegal drugs, weapons, and services.

On the positive side, it can be used as a voice for common people who wish to protest but wish to remain anonymous. Activists and whistleblowers can circumvent government censorship and spread the message by using this platform.

Genuine art collectors, memorabilia, and other one-of-a-kind or rare objects can be found online through dark web websites.

As long as you buy goods and services that are legal in your country, you can use the dark web websites and purchase them. However, it is different if you were to use illegal drugs, weapons, pornography, counterfeit currencies, stolen data, stolen financial data, social security numbers, and so forth.

The researchers of the US Department of Defense and Naval Research Lab created an encrypted network with the aim of supporting anonymous communication and protecting the sensitive data of government spies. Their work finally created a non-profit network called the Tor Network.

If your sensitive information seems to appear on the dark web, then change the passwords for all your accounts. If possible, try using a multi-factor authentication feature on your electronic devices, like smartphones, computers, tablets, and so forth.

Immediately check your financial accounts and check for any illegal activities in your credit report statement. Request that the financial institutions freeze your account until the investigation is complete.

Final Thoughts

Care must be taken while buying goods and services on dark web websites. You can easily fall victim to an online scam if you are not careful. As there is no way to check if the website is genuine or not, you need to be careful. Also, avoid sharing sensitive information that you would not share with your close ones.