Did you know there’s more to the internet than what you see on your search engine results page? In fact, there’s a portion of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines. This is known as the dark web. While you can find information about it on Google, you can’t access dark web sites through standard browsers like Chrome – you’ll need a specialized browser like the Tor browser for that.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the dark web before and have questions about what it is and how it works. While some parts of the dark web are associated with illegal activity, it’s important to understand that it’s simply a collection of non-indexed websites. In this guide, we’ll explain what the dark web is, how it operates, the legal uses for it, and the potential risks you should be aware of when accessing it.
Stay Safe on the Dark Web with CyberGhost VPN
Tor helps you access the dark web by anonymizing your traffic, but it’s still vulnerable to risks. Using a VPN with dark web browsers like Tor adds an extra layer of encryption and privacy, protecting your data from surveillance while you’re scrolling .onion sites or P2P dark web networks. You can use CyberGhost VPN alongside Tor to stay safer on the dark web and keep your browsing activity private.
Dark Web Browser: What Is Tor Browser?
The Tor browser is software people use to access .onion sites. These sites form the Tor network – what most people think of when they hear about the dark web, but it’s not the only dark web network that exists. Other networks like I2P, Freenet, and GNUnet also provide dark web access. Tor makes this one easily accessible though, as it’s a free, private browser that you can download from Google.
The browser encrypts your connection and reroutes your traffic through a series of relays called nodes. These nodes are like doors your traffic has to pass through. Rather than going from the first entry door straight to the one at the end, it has to pass through several others on the way.
Tor nodes are hosted by volunteers from around the world. Each node replaces your IP address with its own IP address before relaying your connection, making it difficult to track down your real IP address or trace activity to you. Each node can only see the IP address from the previous one, and so on, so whoever manages any but the first node can’t see your actual IP address.
Tor also encrypts your traffic as it passes through each node, stopping others from spying on your activity. In theory, none except the last node (the exit node) can see which sites you’re visiting on the dark web, which is why many people use Tor to avoid online surveillance and activity tracking.
Exploring the Dark Web: What Is It?
The dark web is a part of the internet you can only access using specific browsers, such as the Tor browser. Essentially, it’s a hidden and encrypted area of the internet. The dark web is different from the regular internet (clearnet) as you know it. It’s not a massively connected series of networks run by corporations with registered domains.
It’s a collection of smaller networks run by volunteers with no public or legislative oversight that shapes how these networks may operate. Some of these networks are connected but some operate independently. The reason why these collective networks are called the “dark web” is because people can’t access or browse them the same way they can with the World Wide Web.
The dark web isn’t regulated, so it can expose you to cyber threats.s. It’s notorious for being a hotspot for illegal activity, including identity theft, fraud, and malicious software.
Surface Web vs. Deep Web vs. Dark Web: What’s the Difference?
Many people tend to confuse the dark web with the deep web, which are websites or platforms that cannot be indexed by search engine crawlers – but the dark web and the deep web are not the same thing.
Think of the internet as a large building with multiple floors, each offering different levels of access:
- The surface web is the ground floor – it’s the area everyone can freely enter, where you find websites indexed by search engines like Google. These are the websites you access every day, such as shopping sites and social media.
- Above the ground floor is the deep web, which makes up the private floors in the building. These areas are locked behind doors and require credentials or permission to access, such as your email, online banking, and subscription services. Though not accessible to everyone, they’re still part of the broader internet.
- The dark web is like a hidden basement, which you can only get to through special doors (like the Tor browser). It’s not accessible through traditional search engines and requires special software like the Tor browser. This part of the internet is intentionally hidden for privacy reasons, offering people a higher level of anonymity and freedom from surveillance or censorship.
Is the Dark Web Illegal?
The dark web’s existence isn’t illegal and it’s not illegal for anyone to use the dark web. It’s simply a part of the internet designed to prioritize anonymity. Some people use it to boost their privacy and speak freely without being monitored or identified. That’s perfectly legal in most countries.
Unfortunately, the dark web is also used for illegal activity, including the sale of illegal goods or stolen personal data to commit identity theft and fraud. It’s also been used to spread sensitive and potentially harmful information, particularly surrounding pornography, political unrest, and societal issues.
Even though the dark web helps you avoid online monitoring, that doesn’t mean the network isn’t monitored. Networks like Tor rely on volunteer-operated nodes to route your traffic. Some people claim agencies like the FBI, CIA, and NSA monitor and even own Tor nodes to expose criminal activity.
It’s incredibly important to proceed with caution. Accessing the dark web can expose you to explicit and sensitive content and an increased level of cyber attacks. It can also leave you at risk of surveillance from your ISP or law enforcement if they detect suspicious activity.
To boost your privacy while using Tor or other dark web browsers, you can try CyberGhost VPN. Our VPN encrypts your traffic to add another layer of privacy as you navigate the network. This encryption masks your traffic, which keeps it concealed from people monitoring nodes or trying to spy on your activity. Even your ISP can’t see what you’re doing if you use a VPN, keeping you safe from unwanted surveillance.
Legal Uses of the Dark Web
Many people use the dark web for browsing more anonymously or accessing websites without restrictions. Here are some legal use cases for the dark web:
Avoid Online Censorship
Governments and ISPs can see your online searches and monitor your behavior. Some countries have even tougher surveillance laws, which could force your ISP to hand over your information to the authorities.
This can lead to privacy concerns, especially for anyone trying to avoid censorship. The dark web offers a way to bypass some of these restrictions, letting people access information without the fear of being tracked. Although browsers like Tor help mask your activity, their systems aren’t flawless. For example, Tor’s exit nodes decrypt your traffic, potentially exposing your activity to whoever owns that node.
Tor also doesn’t hide the fact you’re using its network from your ISP, which could expose you to increased ISP scrutiny. ISPs often flag Tor traffic to keep an eye on people accessing the dark web. This is where using a VPN can come in handy.
A VPN protects your online activity with encryption and masks your real IP address before you connect to the Tor network, making it much harder for anyone to monitor or trace your browsing back to you. Using Tor over VPN also ensures your ISP can’t even see you’re connecting to Tor, only that you’re connected to a VPN server.
Need a safe VPN for Tor? You can download CyberGhost VPN to boost your security and privacy within the Tor network with powerful encryption that hides your traffic. Our VPN masks your activity even before you open the Tor network, stopping your ISP and outsiders from spying on you.
Communicate Privately
The dark web allows people to share sensitive information privately, without being watched. This is especially important if there’s a risk of interception or surveillance, for example, in politically sensitive situations.
The Tor network encrypts your traffic as it travels between nodes, making it difficult for anyone to track the source of the information or monitor the content being shared. This layered encryption helps ensure that sensitive communications remain more anonymous, reducing the risk of eavesdropping or surveillance.
Read News and Research
Many news websites have .onion and dark web alternatives to let people access them securely and without restrictions.
Some also publish more information there than they would on the surface web, such as broader perspectives on global events or specialized research topics. Even the CIA and social media sites like Facebook have legitimate mirror sites on the dark web.
Find Specialized Content
The dark web hosts a variety of specialized sites that offer content not readily available on the surface web. It can serve as a valuable resource for those looking for unique or hard-to-find information. This includes academic research papers, historical documents, books, and even niche media like independent films and rare publications.
What Are .onion Sites?
.onion sites are special URLs that are only accessible through the Tor browser, which is known as The Onion Router. You may have heard the term .onion when referring to dark web sites. Unlike typical websites that use .com or .org domains, these sites aren’t indexed by standard search engines.
This means you typically need to know the URL of the .oinon website you want to visit and go there directly. While some initiatives like the Hidden Wiki have tried to create link directories for popular dark web sites, you can’t just search for these websites using keywords like you would on Google.
What Are the Dangers of the Dark Web?
The dark web isn’t regulated, meaning you could come into contact with malicious third parties or content. Just about anyone can create darknet sites, and they’re free to post, share, and sell whatever they like (until the authorities find them and get involved). This can leave you vulnerable to all kinds of risks, including malware, scams, and fraud.
Malware and viruses
Cybercriminals can lure you in with malicious links and phishing attempts that can install harmful software onto your device. This can include trojans, spyware, ransomware, and other damaging software that can give cybercriminals control over your device or let them spy on your activity and information.
Identity theft and fraud
Cybercriminals often buy and sell stolen data on the dark web. If your information is exposed there, it can leave you at risk of identity theft and fraud. While this can also happen on the surface web, the likelihood of cybercriminals targeting you can be significantly higher on dark web sites due to the added anonymity. This often makes it harder for law enforcement to track illegal activity.
Marketplace scams
The dark web has many legal decentralized marketplaces, but it also hosts sites where people try to sell and exchange illegal products or run marketplace scams. Sellers may not be who they say they are, sell fake goods, or try to get sensitive information like your credit card details out of you. You also run the risk of getting in trouble with the authorities if you try to buy anything illegal.
Explicit content
Without regulation, darknet site creators are free to share content, some of which could be considered sensitive, abusive, explicit, or even illegal. You may think you’re clicking on a legitimate link but could end up on a site with harmful information. Along with being a potentially traumatizing experience, this could expose you to surveillance and investigation from law enforcement if they’re tracking your activity.
While navigating the dark web offers greater privacy, it can also expose you to risks, such as encountering cybercriminals, malicious content, and increased scrutiny from authorities.
To help protect your privacy, it’s a good idea to use a VPN with the dark web. CyberGhost VPN adds an extra layer of security by encrypting your internet connection, ensuring your online activity stays tucked away as you move through the network. This makes it much harder for anyone monitoring Tor nodes to see what you’re doing. It also encrypts your connection before you enter the Tor network, ensuring your ISP and other potential third parties can’t see that you’re accessing the dark web.
Is My Information on the Dark Web?
Just like goods, cybercriminals can sell your information on the dark web for financial gain. Whoever gets their hands on it can use your sensitive information to commit identity theft and fraud, especially if that includes your name, address, social security number, emails, and banking information.
Although dark web scams that aim to steal your information are common, many of these can occur on the surface web too. Phishing links, ransomware attacks, data breaches, and malware can all expose your information – and it may end up for sale on the dark web without you knowing. So, how can you find out?
The best way is to use a dark web scanner, which identifies your details and tells you if your credentials are exposed. If they are, make sure you take steps to protect your information. This includes changing your passwords, adding two-factor authentication to your accounts, and monitoring your banking accounts. It’s also a good idea to check your device for malware and spyware.
How to Stay Safe on the Dark Web
Exercising your right to online privacy and freedom can also expose you to scams, fraud, and illicit activity. So how can you stay safe while navigating the dark web? Here are our top tips:
- Be wary of links and sites: Think twice before clicking through to a darknet site or on a link. Phishing links and malicious software are common on the dark web, and it could only take one click to hand over your information to a cybercriminal. Stick to known sites you can trust with dedicated .onion links.
- Don’t overshare your information: Be careful about which information you share, including names, email addresses, home addresses, and credit card information. Only provide information to sites and people you know are trustworthy and legitimate, and try to limit identifiable information wherever possible.
- Use different email addresses: Set up different email addresses to use on the dark web, and use separate accounts for home, work, or sensitive activity like online banking. Use accounts with email domains that are hard to identify you as the owner. This will make it tougher to track you down, and ensure that if anyone does get access to your emails, they can’t steal sensitive information.
- Strengthen your passwords: Use different passwords across your accounts and make sure they’re hard to guess. If a password is leaked, a cybercriminal can only use it to access one account, not everything else.
- Use a VPN: A Tor VPN adds another layer of encryption to your traffic and masks your IP address, making it even harder to find out who you are or what you’re doing online. This limits the information cybercriminals can steal from or about you. For it to work, it’s important to connect to a VPN server before you connect to Tor.
Surfing the Dark Web Freely and Safely
The dark web often gets bad press, but it’s used for legitimate purposes too. Many people use it to boost their online privacy and surf sites without being watched. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the threat of illicit behavior though. It’s easy to fall victim to scams, fraud, and malware on the dark web. You can also be tracked at the entry and exit Tor nodes as your IP address and traffic is visible to others.
That’s where a VPN can help. You can download CyberGhost VPN to mask your IP address before it enters the Tor network and secure your activity with powerful encryption. Anyone snooping can only see you’re using a VPN, not your real IP address or the fact that you’re using Tor. Even with a VPN, staying vigilant against malicious links and sites is still important!
FAQ
The dark web only makes up about 0.01% of the internet. Around 90% of the internet is the deep web, which is content hidden behind authentication and login pages, such as your social media accounts, banking accounts, intranets, and subscription services. The other roughly 9% are public websites like blogs, forums, video-sharing platforms, and news sites.
The dark web makes it harder to track you and monitor your online activity, but it’s not impossible. As an example, Tor nodes are often monitored by cybercriminals. Authorities have also been known to manage Tor nodes in an attempt to monitor people’s activity. The best way to avoid dark web surveillance is with a VPN. CyberGhost VPN encrypts your data as it moves through the network. Anyone watching can only detect VPN traffic, not what you’re doing.
The dark web refers to a part of the internet that can’t be accessed by regular browsers and isn’t indexed by regular search engines. Traffic to these sites is usually encrypted. For example, if you’re using the Tor browser, it will encrypt your data and send your connection through three or more “relays” or “nodes” (servers run by volunteers) before you reach the .onion site you want to visit.
No, the dark web is legal to use, though it’s frequently used for illicit purposes, such as selling illegal goods and stolen data. Using the dark web is frowned upon in certain countries, such as those with intense surveillance laws. Some ISPs also monitor the use of Tor as people use it to access the dark web. Even though it isn’t illegal to visit the dark web, it can expose you to unwanted surveillance.
Parts of the dark web are perfectly safe, though not all. It isn’t regulated which can expose you to malicious third parties and criminal activity, including scams, fraud, illegal purchases, and malware.
Tor works by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address. It directs your traffic through a series of nodes, changing your IP address at each node. This makes it difficult to trace your activity and expose your identity. Many internet users use Tor over VPN for additional protection, as Tor can still leave you vulnerable at the entry and exit nodes. Some nodes are also monitored by malicious actors waiting to steal your information. A VPN encrypts your connection before it enters the network, stopping others from peeking in on your activity and data.
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