To ensure my private data was hidden with PIA, I connected to a server in France and ran a DNS leak test to check if my real IP address leaked on PIA’s servers. I was glad that my DNS test only detected the IP address for PIA’s encrypted VPN server, confirming I was anonymous on the Dark Web. You can download dedicated ExpressVPN apps for virtually any device, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. If you want to extend its protection to every device you own, you can also download ExpressVPN’s firmware for your router and connect all the devices on the network.
It’s important to be careful as some of these apps can be malicious and end up infecting your device with a virus. Again, the first and most important step is to download and set up a VPN on your iPhone. NordVPN works just as well on an iPhone and we have no hesitation in recommending it to access the dark web. Overall, the process of accessing the dark web on Android shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes. If the Tor browser doesn’t work for some reason, you can try alternative applications like Orbot and Orfox.
Invisible Internet Project
That’s one reason why law-abiding citizens might value the privacy of Tor and other dark web browsers. Here are a few tips and tools to help stay safe when using Tor and other browsers. There’s a lot more to consider, but this should give you an idea of some of the issues — good and bad — to consider.
Otherwise, you can click “Connect” to begin browsing Tor immediately. The dark web is the home of many criminal activities — from the use of stolen or fake documents to drug and weapon dealing. What’s more, it’s a network that includes assassins for hire, child pornography, and even live streams of murders. If you accidentally end up on one of those pages, you may face legal charges, should someone find out.
Although it is not forbidden to browse the dark web, your actions on it are your responsibility. As I said, you can access the dark web only through a specialized browser. On iPhone, you’ll need to download Onion Browser which is a browser like Tor but for iOS. To access the dark web on your iPhone I highly recommend these two tools. For example, the CIA and the New York Times have created a version of their site in .onion (.onion links at the end of this article).
How To Access the Deep Web?
The term deep web is often confused with the terms dark web and darknet. In reality, they are three different, albeit overlapping, concepts. EncyclopediaGlossaryThe Glossary contains several hundred definitions of terms that you might come across in our articles and blogs, or on other information security sites.
- Internet providers and websites can detect when Tor is being used because Tor node IPs are public.
- Tor users in the USA in particular may want to use a VPN, which will be faster and more reliable.
- Mohit is a legal and public policy researcher whose work focuses largely on technology regulation.
- When using a VPN for the dark web, your ISP will not be able to see that you are connected to a Tor node, only an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server.
- Then there are pages on the border between the surface web and the deep web.
If you would like to learn more about TAILS, check out our article on how to access the dark web safely. There are good uses for some free VPNs, but using the Dark Web isn’t one. While premium VPNs offer anonymity and encryption, free VPNs may pose a risk to your security — some providers intentionally violate your privacy by selling your data to make money. Once connected, no one will know that you’re using the Dark Web to access your favorite onion sites.
Install NordVPN
This ensures none of your data is stored, so it also can’t be shared. Plus, it runs Private DNS, meaning it routes all of your dark web traffic safely through its own encrypted DNS servers. This way, no one can intercept or see your activity on the dark web. For example, the deep web includes private profiles on social networks and other resources, e-mails, corporate websites, password-protected documents, paid content, and so on. Meanwhile, online content that does get indexed by search engines is called the surface web . The dark web is still a confusing and mysterious place.
Moreover, VPN is a good alternative to using the darknet for privacy. Both VPN and the dark web can be used to navigate around censorship, whether corporate or government. However, reliable VPN services don’t force users to browse at a snail’s pace to get secure online. Even though most Tor network-enabled browsers have features that protect users, it is not enough.
Many dark web sites are perfectly legal and safe to use, and in many cases are better for your privacy than clear web sites. Always exercise extreme caution when using publicly posted onion URLs. If you can’t get a personal recommendation from someone you trust, verify the URL from multiple different sources.
The Tor project has developed a native app for Android users. It can be found on the Play Store and allows you to access different .onion links and explore the Tor network. Always use a VPN to add another layer of encryption and protection to your internet traffic. A good antivirus scanner will also help keep your device virus-free when venturing out to more dangerous parts of the internet. Don’t click on suspicious links and most certainly don’t reveal any information to anyone else you may come across while navigating the dark web.
Enter The Dark Web
The project was created and designed in order to circumvent internet censorship and allow the expression of free speech and ideas. Freenet had the technology that provided encryption and anonymity which allowed secure and anonymous file sharing across the network. After a while, the Tor project was created and was initially funded by the US mIlitary to create a secure and anonymous way of communication in case of an unforeseen emergency. All of this information is handled through Google’s own privacy policy, and you are able to delete any info from your monitoring profile or simply stop monitoring completely. Again, if you have an active Google One subscription, you will have access to dark web monitoring as it rolls out within the next few weeks on your smartphone and other devices.
