Stay Anonymous with the Best Dark Web VPN
Use a VPN to protect your identity and keep your browsing private when surfing the dark web.
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Access the Dark Web with a VPN in 3 Simple Steps
Surf the dark web like a pro while knowing your connection is secure.
1. Become a Ghostie.
2. Set up CyberGhost VPN.
Enjoy secure, anonymous dark web browsing at your fingertips!
Most people use a mainstream browser like Google to access the internet. These browsers index and connect to the host of networks that make up the regular (open) web. The dark web is a different set of hidden networks that aren’t indexed by regular browsers.
You need an open-source browser called The Onion Router (Tor) to access them. Tor browser sends your connection through various Tor nodes (servers) run by volunteers. Before you visit the dark web, make sure your setup is safe and encrypted. The dark web isn’t regulated and you may come in contact with malicious third parties.
What Is the Dark Web?
Why do You Need a VPN to Access the Dark Web
Tor browser doesn’t hide your IP address or online activities every step of the way. A VPN protects your privacy during those moments by encrypting your connection. Here are a few ways VPNs can help:
- Change your IP address to access the dark web when the Tor browser is banned in your country.
- Your ISP and other parties can see when you use Tor. In 2016, the US congress passed Rule 41, which allows the FBI to remotely access and seize information concealed via Tor and VPNs. CyberGhost VPN doesn’t collect any of your personal information so can’t hand over any data.
- While the dark web is often used for illegal activities, it’s also used by journalists and activists. A VPN helps conceal their identities to keep them safe.
- A VPN encrypts your connection so malicious exit nodes can’t track you.
Stop Sharing Your Data
You don’t want your personal data leaking on the dark web, but if your VPN logs your information that might happen anyway. Free and sketchy VPNs gather your personal and browsing data and sell it to make money.
CyberGhost VPN is very transparent about what data we collect and our strict no-logs policy ensures we won’t collect your private information. Countries that are part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances can force VPNs to collect and hand over customer data. Our offices in Romania don’t have to adhere to any of these treaties. Your data is always safe!
When you’re visiting the dark web, you’re exposing yourself to various malicious parties and cybercrime. You need a VPN that has the necessary measures in place to protect your connection against various forms of IP and data tracking.
Experts recommend the OpenVPN protocol because it’s secure and supports multiple platforms. CyberGhost VPN offers this popular encryption protocol as well as faster (but still secure) options like IKEv2 and WireGuard®. Reach out to our 24/7 customer support if you want to learn more.
Stay Anonymous around the Globe
What’s the point of getting a VPN for better anonymity when you’re restricted to a few servers located far away? It will be impossible to access regular websites from a specific country if the VPN has no servers there.
CyberGhost VPN only uses tamper-proof RAM-only servers. These are much more secure than HDD servers because they don’t store permanent data. We have servers in more than 100 countries, so you'll be able to connect to the surface and dark web from anywhere and not worry about finding a server where you want.
Connect wherever you need to!
Browse on Any Device
The Tor browser is currently available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. CyberGhost VPN also has dedicated apps for all these devices so you can surf the dark web however you want.
VPNs make your connection anonymous when you access the regular web too. You’re protected, either way, no matter which device you use around the house. Plus, CyberGhost VPN lets you connect as many as 7 devices simultaneously so you can easily stay secure while switching between devices.
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Stay Protected 24/7
Sometimes things happen and your connection to a VPN server drops. Your ISP could interfere or the server can somehow lose power. Whatever happens, you don’t want your browsing suddenly exposed by accident. That’s why CyberGhost VPN has an automatic kill switch that disconnects your internet connection if your device loses contact with the VPN.
Wherever you are or whatever device you’re using, the kill switch will instantly disconnect your internet if anything happens. You don’t have to worry that you’ll suddenly be left exposed, as you’re protected no matter what.
Even if your VPN prevents other forms of tracking and spying, it can still leak your IP address if your DNS settings aren’t configured correctly. A DNS leak means your browsing activity bypasses your VPN’s encryption and goes through your ISP exposed.
CyberGhost VPN uses DNS leakage protection to prevent your data from being publicly exposed outside the safety of our secure encryption. Whatever you want to do on the dark web, make sure you have peace of mind knowing your data is safe! Try it for free with our 45-day money-back guarantee.
Access Ultra-Secure NoSpy Servers
Many VPNs have a no-logs policy, but they can’t back up that promise with their hardware or infrastructure. If they’re located in a country with anti-privacy laws or use rented servers, your data can be collected, stolen or confiscated.
Our NoSpy data center is located in Romania, outside of 5/9/14 Eyes snoopers’ reach. We also fully own and maintain our own hardware servers end-to-end, while maintaining strict security protocols. That’s why we can guarantee your data won’t be logged or handed over to the authorities, ever. Put your privacy first!
Tor Browser already slows your connection speed because it has to travel through various nodes that can be far away from each other. If you use a VPN that has slow speeds and poor server infrastructure, your connection will be even slower.
Along with providing unlimited bandwidth, CyberGhost VPN offers some of the fastest speeds of any VPN on the market. Plus, our massive server network ensures you can connect to a server nearby to keep your network latency low, even when you’re traveling. No matter where you are, you’re always covered!
How to Surf the Dark Web with a VPN
You can technically connect to Tor and then the dark web (.onion sites) using a regular browser, but you shouldn’t. A regular browser would expose your location and other data. This guide assumes you don’t want to do that and just want to connect the regular way, via Tor browser.
Follow these steps to access the dark web with CyberGhost VPN:
1. Sign up for and install CyberGhost VPN on your device.
2. Open the app, select a server, and wait for the connection to establish.
3. Download and install the Tor browser app on your device.
4. Open Tor browser and enter the .onion URL of the website you want to visit. Make sure to only use URLs from trusted sources.
5. Happy dark web surfing!
Using this method, AKA Tor-over-VPN, your connection will be encrypted by CyberGhost VPN first before entering the Tor network. That means your ISP (and others) won’t be able to see that you’re using Tor or spy on your browsing activity. Your ISP only sees that your traffic is encrypted by a VPN.
What Are the Dangers of Accessing the Dark Web?
Threat | Solution |
---|---|
The entry node can see your real IP address before it's changed and sent to the next node. | A VPN hides your real IP address. Even if someone managed to track your IP, they would only discover the VPN server's IP. |
If your setup isn't configured correctly, your connection might leak DNS information that can be used to track you down. | CyberGhost VPN provides DNS leak protection. |
The dark web is rife with malware, viruses, and malicious people. | Be careful not to click on random links or download anything on the dark web. Never reveal your personal identity to strangers. |
Is the Dark Web Monitored?
You should always assume that agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA are constantly monitoring the dark web. Many dark web users claim these agencies have mapped the Tor network and even own many Tor nodes themselves.
Accessing the dark web is entirely legal, but accessing illegal websites and partaking in illicit activities is punishable by law. Many people have been caught and arrested over the years for illegal activities on the dark web. No system is perfect and criminals slip up from time to time or get targeted by exploits that reveal their true identities.
FAQ
You can only access the dark web using Tor, but you can (and should) visit the dark web with a VPN turned on. CyberGhost VPN encrypts your data using powerful encryption and hides your IP address. That way, your ISP can’t see you’re browsing the dark web and third parties can’t track down your real identity.
It’s completely legal to access the dark web and there are many legitimate sites on the dark web, including news publications. Anything that would be illegal in real life/the open web is still illegal on the dark web, though, and you can get caught.
Authorities are constantly monitoring the dark web and have managed to arrest people in the past. Make sure to use CyberGhost VPN if you want to be anonymous while visiting the dark web, especially if you’re using free Wi-Fi. Don’t use a proxy either as it won’t hide anything from your ISP.
The US government originally created onion routing in the late 1990s to have an anonymous, encrypted network in cases of disaster. It was also meant to be used by those who needed to communicate out of countries that have internet restrictions/monitoring.
In the early 2000s, Tor became a non-profit organization and the dark web was made available to the public. Use CyberGhost VPN to protect your connection and identity on the dark web. We have server in 100 countries around the world, along with secure encryption and fast speeds.
It would be nearly impossible to track you down if you use a trustworthy VPN while accessing the dark web. CyberGhost VPN has a robust no-logs policy which ensures we don’t collect your personal data or browsing history.
We also have RAM-only NoSpy servers located in Romania, outside the Eyes jurisdictions. We can’t be forced to hand anything over to any authorities. Neither your ISP nor the government will be able to see what you’re doing online when the VPN is turned on either.
DuckDuckGo has nothing to do with the dark web. It’s a privacy browser that doesn’t contain various trackers and cookies that monitor your online activities. Your browsing isn’t entirely anonymous on DuckDuckGo, though, as websites and third parties can still track your IP address. Use CyberGhost VPN to encrypt your connection and hide your real IP if you want to be anonymous while using DuckDuckGo.
The only recommended browser for accessing the dark web is The Onion Router (Tor) browser. That’s because Tor is the only browser that can connect to the hidden .onion sites that make up the dark web.
Use CyberGhost VPN when you visit the dark web to protect your connection and privacy from hackers, the authorities, and your ISP. Reach out to our 24/7 customer support to find out more about how a VPN keeps you anonymous on the dark web.
A free VPN will sell your personal information and browsing data to make money. If you access the dark web using a free VPN, you’re putting your anonymity at risk. Free VPNs also limit your speeds considerably, which will be frustrating on the dark web since it’s already slowed down with Tor. CyberGhost VPN uses secure RAM-only servers, doesn’t collect your data, and offers incredibly fast speeds. Try it out with our 45-day money-back guarantee to see for yourself.
Don't Take Our Word for It! See What Our Satisfied Customers Have to Say:
With a first-class fleet of servers in 100 countries, we give you blazing-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. No more buffering, ISP throttling, or proxy errors with our VPN connection.
*Please note: we sometimes pay expert sites to refer customers to us.
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Everything You Need in a VPN
- VPN servers in 100 countries worldwide
- Iron-clad encryption
- DNS and IP leak protection
- Automatic Kill Switch
- OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard® protocols
- Strict No-Logs policy
- Unlimited bandwidth and traffic
- Fast VPN speeds
- Up to 7 devices protected simultaneously
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS & more
- 24/7 live Customer Support service
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Up to 7 devices protected simultaneously
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS & more
- 24/7 live Customer Support service
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- VPN servers in 100 countries worldwide
- Iron-clad encryption