We’ve clarified how to go on the dark web anonymously with the help of a VPN. A VPN is a confusing factor for many because there are two ways to use it with Tor. It might be because of the poorly maintained site or Tor’s slow speed because of the way it works. Either way, some sites take up to a minute or more to load, so don’t fret.
Use A VPN For Secure Browsing
The Hidden Wiki is a directory hosted on the clear net (also called the “surface web”) that contains a list of .onion links for many of the best dark web websites. You’ll know you’re on the dark web when the URLs end in “.onion” — these addresses only work inside the Tor network. The Tor Onion Browser is essential for accessing the dark web, designed for user anonymity.
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In 2008, the first Tor Browser was released, making it easier for any internet users to access the dark web. In 2002 the dark web began to grow significantly when researchers backed by the U.S. Journalists in overly restrictive countries also appreciate the anonymity of the dark web. Absolutely no one knows who’s surfing on the dark web, who is selling, who is buying or anything like that – as long as you take the correct safety and online privacy precautions.
Step 2: Install Hyphanet
The only challenge is that your speed is slowed because of the limited bandwidth caused by the many nodes your traffic passes through. The VPN provides data encryption and routes your data through remote servers to help mask your IP address and location. Thus, it successfully prevents anyone from snooping during your activity.
How Many People Use Dark Web
But you have to keep your fingers crossed that it remains there and hope the party holding your data (the school or hospital records department) keeps it according to the GDPR standards. If you live in the EU and want to know what data your provider has collected about you, the GDPR gives you the right to request a full report. However, it is often prohibited for ISPs to sell your data to third parties. During that period, on top of the risk of accidental disclosure and theft, governments and the police could ask ISPs to share data. With all this data, your ISP could create a very accurate profile of you and link it to your IP address. This is one of the reasons why it is always good to hide your IP address.
It’s important to note that while the dark web itself is not illegal, certain activities conducted on it may be in violation of the law. Staying safe on the unregulated dark web requires vigilance, and its seedy reputation, fostered by controversy like that surrounding Silk Road, is well-earned. Only access the dark web with both a VPN and the Tor Browser active. Avoid altering any security settings in Tor that could reduce your protection.
First, Install A Reliable VPN
So, instead of “facebook.com”, the URL can look like “12ls834mfdg8.onion”. We check all comments within 48 hours to ensure they’re real and not offensive. Although the dark web is a small portion of the internet, experts estimate it to account for 5% of all internet content (Spiceworks, 2025)2.
For example, you can use Signal as your daily messaging app– it has end-to-end encryption and collects minimal data unlike many other messaging apps. You can use a VPN if you’re in a country that restricts or heavily monitors Tor usage. You can also use it if you don’t want your network administrator or ISP to be aware of your Tor usage.
Where Can I Find Safe Onion Links?
If you exercise due caution and use a combination of the Tor browser and common sense in which sites you access on the dark web, yes, the dark web is safe to use. You may be targeted by law enforcement, exploited by hackers, or threatened by criminals using the dark web for nefarious purposes. However, because it’s almost completely anonymous, there are a lot of illegal images, information, products, and services on the dark web.
Tor is a browser engineered for extra security and privacy, and can be used to navigate the normal, surface web as well as the dark web. It blocks trackers, prevents user fingerprinting, encrypts data, and reroutes your browsing so no one can see where in the world you are. Experienced blogger with a strong focus on technology, currently advancing towards a career in IT Security Analysis. I possess a keen interest in exploring and understanding the intricacies of malware, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), and various cybersecurity challenges. My dedication to continuous learning fuels my passion for delving into the complexities of the cyber world. We already went through VPNs, anonymizing web browsers, and disposable operating systems, so I won’t bother reminding you about those.
#1 Install A VPN
However, unlike Facebook, the DWSN requires users to remain anonymous and not reveal personal information to protect privacy. This can lead to incrimination for other activities later in life. China, for example, uses the “Great Firewall” to restrict access to popular sites and prevent citizens from evading government restrictions. There is a significant risk that the government can target you for visiting a dark website, as many Tor-based sites have been taken over by police authorities worldwide. Even if a person does not make any purchases on illegal marketplaces like the Silk Road, custom software used by law officials can analyze activity and identify user identities. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy to ensure user privacy and employs 256-bit AES encryption.
Given the prevalence of malware across the dark web, it’s vital to have antivirus software installed and active on your device when accessing it. However, note that a VPN is not a definitive or comprehensive form of protection. It won’t guard you against all of the many threats that exist on the dark web, from phishing scams to malware and malicious sites. It offers some protection, but you still have to be wary and sensible when browsing the dark web. It’s legal to access the dark web in the U.S. and most other countries.
How Do I Keep Myself Safe When On The Dark Web?
- Sections of the dark web are often closed down too, as part of police operations.
- We don’t want to leave you with the impression that everything on the dark web is nefarious or illegal.
- We can conclude that this portion of the internet can be dangerous but again, you’re in control and decide which websites you want to visit.
- Download and install a virtual machine program such as VirtualBox.2.
- The deep web is made up of content that search engines such as Google do not index.
DuckDuckGo offers an .onion version of its search engine, while Sci-Hub offers access to millions of scientific articles and papers. Library Genesis offers a search engine for collections of books on such topics as computers, business, technology, and more. These are only a few of the .onion search engines that are available. This is why I strongly advise anyone visiting the dark web to exercise the greatest of caution during their dark online travels. Check out my article for more information about the dark web and how to access it while staying safe.
