ZDNET tested the best VPNs available based on speed, number of servers, security features, price, and more. ExpressVPN is our pick for the best VPN overall, thanks to its fast and reliable connection and the wide range of platforms it works on. However, today’s most popular search engines — including Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo — only index a portion of the internet. A secure VPN server slows down your browsing much less than the Tor Browser and also opens access to geo-blocked local content around the globe.
Unlike the clear/surface web, where Google and safe search engines index all the relevant search results and present only the best to the users, the dark web doesn’t have that luxury. For this reason, users should be cautious when using their browsers. The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that can be accessed through limited resources. Moreover, you need to be more cautious while accessing it, as without proper safety, you can fall into the wrong hands and face serious consequences. Following are important tips you need to remember while visiting this dark part of the web. The VPN provides data encryption and routes your data through remote servers to help mask your IP address and location.
Is It Illegal To Enter The Dark Web?
While this isn’t an issue for most of the trip (since each relay only has access to the previous and next relays in the network), it is an issue with the exit node. Because of the relaying of data through the onion nodes, and the encrypting and decrypting taking place at each node, your internet connection will slow considerably. This means the Tor Browser is not recommended for streaming video, playing games, or downloading large files.
What’s The Difference Between Tor Over VPN And VPN Over Tor?
- Because of the dark web’s association with illicit activity, your use of Tor may be tracked by your ISP, drawing unwanted scrutiny to your browsing behavior.
- This is an excellent way for Dark Web users to provide additional privacy protection when accessing the Dark Web.
- You also can try using the Onion Browser Button extension which is available on Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and other Chromium browsers.
- If you want a free VPN that’s low-key but still packs serious stealth, Hide.me is one of the best free VPNs we tested to access the dark web safely.
Whether you’re a journalist, an activist, or simply curious, take the necessary precautions to remain secure. You might think the dark web is a place of pure mystery, but really, it’s a realm of both intrigue and utility. Whether you’re curious or cautious, accessing it on your phone is not as daunting as it seems. The right tools, like Forest VPN, can help you explore safely and securely. Let’s unpack the steps and safety measures you’ll need for this expedition.
Naval Research Lab as a system of decentralized, anonymous nodes to enable anonymous online communication. The technology behind this anonymous connection is known as “onion routing,” which utilizes a layered approach to obscure data and protect users’ locations on the network. There are many different ways to access the dark web, but navigating it can be tricky and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. A VPN will give you an extra layer of protection and anonymity, making it much safer to explore the dark web.
The dark web allows people to access and share all sorts of illegal and explicit material without judgment or censorship. For built-in Tor over VPN functionality, NordVPN operates specialized servers that automatically route you through the Tor network. You don’t even need to use Tor Browser, but keep in mind other browsers can still pass identifying information through the network. Alternatively, there’s IPVanish who claim to be the world’s number one VPN for Tor and comes highly recommended, you can save 60% on the annual plan here. NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for the dark web with no restrictions for a month—great if you want to try this no-log provider’s Onion over VPN servers for yourself.
What Are The Best VPNs To Access The Dark Web With Tor?
It’s a solid option if you want extra privacy without installing Tor, though for full anonymity, we still recommend combining both. Hide.me’s free plan gives you 10GB of data per month, which might sound small, but for most dark web sessions (especially text-based browsing), it’s more than enough. We used it to jump onto various .onion marketplaces, forums, and directories, and it kept everything clean without any IP or DNS leaks, and no surprise disconnections. While Tor is an open-source project, your activity can still be traced back to your IP address. The best way to prevent your browsing activity from alerting authorities is to avoid sites with illegal activity altogether — another reason to only visit sites you’ve researched and trust.
Connect And Browse
- In addition, it is known that this method is used by actors to increase anonymity.
- It offers some protection, but you still have to be wary and sensible when browsing the dark web.
- The dark web has also been used for other nefarious activities, such as the sharing of child pornography and the planning of terrorist attacks.
- Traffic is relayed through three nodes each time it passes through the Tor network.
- To reduce the risk of these threats, it’s highly recommended to disable JavaScript when browsing dark web sites.
You can also read our in-depth guide to using Tor if you want to know more about using the web anonymously and sending messages securely. Tor Browser already comes with HTTPS-Only mode, NoScript, and other patches to protect your privacy and security. No matter what you do online, there’s always at least some risk of being tracked — especially on the dark web. While no method guarantees complete anonymity, you can minimize the chances of being tracked with the right precautions.
The advantages of I2P are based on a much faster and more reliable network. Additionally, I2P doesn’t rely on hidden directories that serve as a resource for .onion domains. Click on “Safest.” As you’ll see, JavaScript and a few other features will be automatically disabled on all sites.
Can I Use Normal Search Engines On Tor Browser?
Setting up the Tor and VPN separately is recommended if this is a concern. If you want privacy and anonymity, NordVPN accepts payment in Bitcoin. Moreover, it offers a 24/7 customer support service and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Some people would argue about its reliability because they claim it’s watched. Still, download the Tor browser from its official website only and nowhere else so your computer doesn’t get any spyware or malware. KEY TAKEAWAYS Tor does provide some level of protection, but it will never provide enough data encry…
Major Risks When Browsing The Dark Web
Moreover, the “safest” settings will cause a significantly slower internet connection. Both methods improve your online security and anonymity compared to not using a VPN. The only challenge is that your speed is slowed because of the limited bandwidth caused by the many nodes your traffic passes through. ExpressVPN is a top-notch VPN service with features like super-fast speeds on most servers, its onion site, and robust security, making it easy to browse the onion web pages.
Proton VPN
By some estimates, well over half of dark web content is illegal. This can include illicit marketplaces, drugs, cybercrime and hacking groups, and extremist, violent platforms. The Dark Web refers specifically to websites that exist behind multiple layers of encryption and cannot be found by using traditional search engines or visited by using traditional web browsers. No, simply accessing the dark web is not illegal in most countries. However, engaging in illegal activities on the dark web is against the law.
VPN-over-Tor (Limits And Niche Uses)
The anonymity of the dark web makes it a fertile ground for coordinating cyberattacks and sharing illicit services without detection. These services are used to obfuscate the origins of cryptocurrency transactions, making it harder to trace them. Users can mix their digital currencies to break the connection between the sender and the receiver. This infects a user’s device and essentially blocks them out of it until they pay a “ransom,” usually in the form of cryptocurrency (so it’s harder to track and recover). Users could accidentally fall victim to ransomware just by clicking the wrong link or downloading a file on the dark web. If you’re in the U.S., you can make use of helpful tools like ExpressVPN’s Identity Defender to inform you if and when any of your data ends up on the dark web.
A virtual machine is a file that behaves like your computer while virtually borrowing a dedicated amount of CPU storage and memory from it. It runs in a different environment and is partitioned from the rest of the host system. Therefore, activities within the virtual machine in no way impact your computer. If you get a malware attack, it will remain on the virtual machine and won’t harm your whole device. In addition, due to the notorious nature of the dark web, ISPs tend to track, monitor, and throttle the traffic of anyone who tries to access it.
VPNs also guard against DNS and WebRTC leaks, which can expose your real IP. Be sure to configure both your VPN and browser to block these leaks. Popular VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN come with built-in leak protection. There are lots of perfectly legitimate reasons you might want to access all that shady content. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best.
