We have all read about stories on the internet of shady dealings and occurrences on the dark web. There are movies, novels, TV shows that allude to the dark web, but what exactly is the dark web? Investigative Journalist Brian Harrod shows you how to visit websites on the dark web? And importantly, tells you what are the best dark web websites?
It is better to have a brief understanding of its operation and terminology before you jump into conclusion on what exactly the dark web offers.
The dark web has advanced and has a growing operator base.
Many have been scared by crazy tales about services that are accessible through dark web links.
There was a dark net site offering the services of a hitman.
The site was called Besa Mafia, but instead of offering a hitman’s services as promised, the site was a mere phishing attempt on its users’ personal details and financial assets.
The surface web has more content that can be tracked and the dark web has anonymity that can attract criminal activities.
But since it is hard to track it also valuable to journalists, political activists and other in need of privacy.
For several years now, The TOR Onion network has been in the limelight.
There has been widespread applause for the simple and free use of the layout of the TOR browser.
But many still think Google gives them access to all of the content available online.
With the use of everyday search engines, we can only reach the surface of what’s really online.
To browse through the deepest layers of the digital world, you need to connect to the Dark Web.
Contrary to popular belief, surfing through the Dark Web (or Darknet) is not only legal, but also a great way to stay anonymous online.
It provides access to many resources not readily available to the general public, like discounted electronics, various forums, and secret social media platforms, where you can't be put in "Facebook Jail" for your comments.
But it’s crucial to remember that the Dark Web comes with many dangers for those who don’t know how to use it.
You can access the depth of the TOR networks quickly and easily without putting yourself at risk, if you are careful.
The dark web, also referred to as the darknet, is an encrypted portion of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires specific configuration or authorization to access.
Although the dark web is sometimes portrayed as a domain frequented by criminal elements, it is also used by people who require privacy for entirely legal reasons, such as the exchange of proprietary business information, whistle blower protection, investigative journalism or communication by political activists.
Information may be exchanged through an encrypted peer-to-peer (P2P) network connection or by using an overlay network, such as the Tor browser.
The anonymity that these networks provide has contributed to the dark web's reputation for housing illegal activity.
What is the difference between the dark web vs. the deep web?
The terms "dark web" and "deep web" are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Rather, the dark web is a small, less accessible part of the deep web.
Both the dark and deep web share one thing in common: Neither can be found in search engine results.
The difference between them primarily lies in how their content is accessed. Deep web pages can be accessed by anyone with a standard web browser who knows the URL.
Dark web pages, in contrast, require special software with the correct decryption key, as well as access rights and knowledge of where to find the content.
There isn’t a single mechanism with which the the risks of the dark web can be limited.
The dark web's anonymity not only encourages illegal activities, it keeps many law enforcement agencies largely unaware of its existence, because the TOR (The Onion Router) Network itself is vast and the basic technology hinders any identification.
Unlike visible criminal activity on the street, the anonymous nature of the dark web and inherent jurisdictional issues limit the ability of law enforcement to investigate and stop criminal activity.
However, newer methodologies, like the use of “honeypot traps.” websites that purport to criminal enterprises, but run by law enforcement agencies have provided high profile penalties and helped suppress illegal marketplace owners.
It is not illegal to access the dark web. In fact, some uses are perfectly legal and support the value of the “dark web.”, thus causing the TOR network to grow exponentially.
But, given its anonymous nature, the dark web is also used for illicit and even illegal purposes. These include the buying and selling of illegal drugs, weapons, passwords, and stolen identities, as well as the trading of illegal pornography and other potentially harmful materials.
The truth is that the ups and downs of dark web are time tested, but still the whole TOR Network system is evolving as an enhanced web platform.
Newer .onion domains will surely replace existing concepts to bring the dark web to a whole new level in the near future.
The current scenario is that security in dark web is purely the visitor’s responsibility to become educated about the dangers.
There is no pre written script to save you.
One useful tip is to stay away from illegal markets to avoid end up in hand cuffs or being scammed.
The dark web is part of the internet that isn't visible to search engines and requires the use of an anonymizing browser called TOR (The Onion Router) to be accessed.
The World Wide Web (WWW), much like real life, is so massive that it would take you a lifetime to traverse every nook and cranny.
To compound that fact, by the time you were halfway done, so much more content would have been created and updated that you’d have to start all over again.
All of this is well known, but how many of you are aware that the content you usually encounter on the web is barely the tip of a massive iceberg of information?
Imagine a real iceberg – The top protrudes above the water and is visible, yet the real bulk of the iceberg is below that, unseen.
The WWW is similar, in which the regular sites we visit are the top of that iceberg. This includes common sites such as Wikipedia, Google, and even the millions of blogs that come and go daily.
Beneath the water lurks the deep and dark, hidden from view for various reasons, the Dark Web.
Less nefarious is the information that skims the surface of the Dark Web, in a zone called the Deep Web. That belongs to large corporates or governments and is never exposed to the public, such as medical records, government reports, financial records, and such. These are kept away from search engines and behind powerful firewalls to protect them.
It’s truly in the depths of the Dark Web that things get more shady – and oftentimes dangerous.
In the case of the Deep Web, since personal records, government documents and such are not meant for public view in the first place, those are understandably kept safe.
The Dark Web is slightly more complicated. This part of the WWW is often run on networks of private servers, allowing communication only via specific means. This enables a high degree of anonymity and makes it difficult for authorities to shut down.
Despite its current usage as a browser that is often used to access parts of the Dark Web, TOR (aka. the Dark Web browser) was originally developed to help safeguard US Intelligence online communications.
Today, it is one of the few ways to access .onion websites, which are located on the Dark Web.
TOR is a variant of the popular Firefox web browser, modified to allow users to browse the web anonymously.
The browser is designed to block or advise against user attempts to do things that might reveal their identity, such as resizing the dimensions of the browser window, for example.
While you’re waiting for TOR to download, take the time to stick a piece of dark tape over your webcam lens.
You never know what might happen.
And also – check out the following introduction video by TOR.
Consider using a VPN service
The term “virtual private network” (VPN) might sound intimidating, but they’re easier to use than you might think.
These servers mask your origin and may emulate locations from many other places in the world. Data that passes through VPN tunnels is also encrypted.
Although TOR masks your identity, it does not hide your location.
VPN software protects your information by masking your device’s IP address. The software encrypts your data and routes it through secure networks to servers in far away states or other countries. A VPN hides your online identity, allowing you to browse the internet anonymously.
VPN stands for virtual private network. In basic terms, a VPN provides an encrypted server and hides your IP address from corporations, government agencies and would-be hackers.
A VPN protects your identity even if you are using public or shared Wi-Fi, and your data will be kept private from any prying internet eyes.
A VPN circumvents your personal ISP, instead of sending your internet connection to a hosted server.
With servers located all over the world, users then have the ability to “relocate” themselves and access the internet from nearly anywhere.
Encryption adds an extra layer of security, particularly for businesses that are frequently utilizing remote access. It can also be a helpful tool for travel, gaming and streaming.
While a VPN is a great tool to help separate your location (and in many ways, you) from your data, it doesn’t obscure everything about you.
If you take a Facebook quiz or like a post on Instagram, the app you are using while connected to the VPN is still able to use your behavior to tailor in-app ads and content.
They might not know where you are browsing from, but they will still know what you are doing on their apps.
Similarly, if cookies are enabled on your computer, companies can follow you while you are on their site—and after.
Your full data isn’t obscured with a VPN alone.
Combining a VPN’s protection with TOR, an open-source tool that allows you to browse the web anonymously, and other security measures are necessary for a fuller security.
Looking
for some accompanying music while you’re exploring the dark web links
in this article? You’re in luck because the dark web has its own digital radio station.
With Deep Web Radio you can choose between all kinds of music streams
to listen to via TOR (The Onion Router) Browser.
There are different channels, all with different music genres being played.
All .onion website URLs are now shifted towards the Onion v3 protocol. That means many of the existing Dark Web Websites will no longer be accessible unless you know the new v3 .onion address.
There are various reasons for the change, including better code and improved security.
To
see if the URL you’re trying to access is v2 or v3, the most telling
sign is the length of the URL. v3 .onion addresses are 56 characters in
length. The older v2 URLs are only 16 characters in length.
Getting
to know new v3 .Onion URLs is very important as Tor client updates in
October 2021 will render all v2 addresses obsolete.
