What Is the Dark Web (Dark Net): Everything You Need to Know

What’s the dark web?

The dark web is the name for content on the internet that is hidden on purpose and can only be reached with special software like Tor Browser. The dark web is part of the deep web, which is all of the content on the internet that search engines don’t know about.

The darknet is a part of the internet where dark web content lives. Search engines don’t index the darknet, and you can only get to it with a browser like Tor or by setting up your network in a certain way. That’s why it’s called the “dark” web. To get to the dark web, you need to use software that keeps you anonymous.

The dark web is meant to keep people’s identities secret by encrypting communications and sending online content through many web servers. People often think of the dark web as a place where criminals can do whatever they want, but that’s not always the case. The darknet is just a place on the web where you can be anonymous. It can be used in bad ways or in good ways.

Dark web history

People often say that the dark web began when Freenet came out in 2000. The Freenet was the thesis project of Ian Clarke, a student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. It was meant to be a way for people to talk, share files, and interact online while staying anonymous.

When the Tor network was built by researchers with help from the US Naval Research Laboratory and made public in 2002, the dark web grew a lot. At the time, the Internet was still young, so it was easy to find people but not easy to hide. The Tor network was made so that political dissidents and American intelligence agents all over the world could talk to each other safely.

Later, the code that makes Tor work was made available under a free license, and a non-profit group called the Tor Project was made. When the Tor Browser came out in 2008, it was easy for anyone to use the dark web.

What’s the difference between the dark web and the deep web?

The deep web differs from the dark web in that it refers to websites and web pages that are not indexed by search engines, such as login pages and payment portals. The black web, on the other hand, refers to websites and web pages that are indexed by search engines. The dark web, on the other hand, is built on darknets, which are specialized online networks that can only be accessed through the use of specialized software and methods.

The term “deep web” refers to any content that can only be accessed by paying a fee, filling out an authentication form, logging in, or using a password. Email, online banking accounts, private social media accounts, and subscription services are all examples of content that may be found on the deep web and are accessible to the typical person using the internet. You probably don’t want your email history to be easily accessible on the public web so that anyone can look it up.

The dark web is part of the deep web, but it is built on darknets, which are networks that sit on top of the internet but can’t be accessed without special tools or software like Tor. Tor, which stands for “The Onion Router,” is a piece of software that helps keep your identity secret. You can use the Tor network through the Tor Browser.

Tor Browser is different from other web browsers because it uses onion routing, which encrypts and sends traffic through multiple servers all over the world to hide your IP address and make browsing private. On the Tor network, all domain names end with the top-level domain.onion. The Tor network’s many layers of encryption are like the many layers of an onion.

Surface web vs. deep web vs. dark web

To sum up, here are some of the main ways the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web are different:

The fastest way to get to the dark web is to download and install Tor Browser. This will route your traffic through the Tor network and give you access to the dark web. You can type in any URL you want on Tor, even.onion domains on the dark web.

How to access the darknet safely

(Please check your countries law before trying to access dark web, this tutorial is only for an information purpose and we do not promote or suggest to do anything which is illegal in your country)

The Tor network is the safest way to get to the dark web. For extra safety, connect to a VPN first, then use Tor. This is called Tor-over-VPN. Many internet service providers (ISPs) and governments may be suspicious of Tor use. A VPN will hide your internet activity and keep anyone from knowing that you’re using Tor.

Connect to a VPN you can trust.

With a VPN, you can hide your IP address and encrypt your internet connection. Even though both a VPN and Tor encrypt your connection, they are not the same thing. With a VPN, your ISP and anyone else won’t be able to find out that you downloaded and are using Tor Browser.

Get the Tor Browser and install it.

Tor Browser is a free browser that sends your traffic through the encrypted Tor network. You should only download Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website because third-party downloads that are not authorized may come with malware.

Tor Browser lets you look around on the dark web.

You can use Tor Browser to get to the dark web’s.onion sites. Since the dark web is mostly unregulated, you should never go to a dark website without first making sure it is real.

Keep safe your identity

There aren’t always scams on the dark web, but there are a lot of them. When you want to talk to someone or buy something on the dark web, use an encrypted, anonymous email address and a cryptocurrency wallet to pay.

Install strong security software on your device before you go to the dark web to keep it safe.

What’s the size of the dark web?

The dark web might look big, but it’s not that big. Researchers from Recorded Future thought that there were more than 55,000 onion domains, but that only 8,400 of them were active. This is about 15% of all onion domains. This means that there are only about 0.005% as many live dark web sites as there are on the surface web.

Domains on the dark web tend to come and go, which makes sense since some of these sites might be selling illegal or questionable goods and services.

The Tor Project says that only 1.5% of the 2 million people who use Tor every day go to dark, or hidden, websites. One estimate says that a shocking 78% of the information on the dark web is in English. Most dark web sites are also in English.

Is the dark web used to do wrong things?

Yes, a lot of bad things happen on the dark web. In darknet marketplaces, you can buy and sell illegal drugs, malware, and content that is against the law. Some sites on the dark web sell dangerous chemicals and weapons.

Some hackers offer phishing as a service and (Paas) ransomware as a service (RaaS), which means that cybercriminals can “rent” a strain of ransomware from its creator in exchange for a fee or a share of their ransom payments. Others sell software exploits that other cybercriminals can use to infect victims with malware and steal personal information.

The Silk Road, which opened in 2011 and was basically an Amazon-like market for illegal drugs, was the most well-known dark web market. The FBI shut down the Silk Road in 2013, and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, is now in prison for two lives.

On the dark web, there are a lot of frauds and scams, like offers that sound too good to be true or fake services that ask for money up front. Hackers sell access to email accounts, social media profiles, and other information that can be used to steal identities.

Many internet security software keeps your information from going to the dark web.  This type of software programs will let you know right away if and when your data is put up for sale on a known dark web marketplace. It does this by keeping an eye on those marketplaces. So, you can change your passwords and keep your accounts safe before someone uses your information against you.

Is there danger on the dark web?

Since there are no rules for the dark web, it is a more dangerous place to hang out than the surface web. On the dark web, malware and scams are spread out like landmines. And since many sites on the dark web look strange, it’s harder to tell which ones are safe and which ones aren’t, making it easier to get scammed.

People who go to the dark web often know that they can take advantage of the sketchy reputation of the place and the services it offers. Some dark web marketplaces have reviews from users, but not all of them do. Cybercriminals can easily pull off scams when authorities or other users don’t set rules.

Is it illegal to access the dark web?

Accessing the dark web is not always legal in every country. In the US, it is legal to visit the dark web, but if you use Tor without a VPN, your ISP and the government may keep an eye on you. And while it may be legal to visit the dark web, it is definitely not legal to use it to do something illegal.

The main purpose of the dark web is to let people browse anonymously. Some people use this anonymity to do bad things, but activists and whistleblowers need the dark web’s privacy protections very much. People who live in countries where free speech is limited or outlawed and want to share information or organiZe without getting in trouble can use dark web domains to do so.

So, is it wrong to use the dark web? On its own, no, but depending on where you are, getting to it might be. Before you go to the dark web, use Tor, or a VPN, you should always check the laws in your country.

Can you be tracked on the dark web?

On the dark web, it’s hard to keep track of what people do online. When you use Tor, which sends your internet traffic through many different “relay nodes,” your online activity is hidden because you’re browsing anonymously. Tor also has privacy add-ons, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to track users on the dark web. If you log into personal accounts on the dark web or visit websites with tracking scripts, your activity could be tracked.