How to Access the Dark Web Safely and what You’ll See?
The World Wide Web is far broader than the sites and pages that standard browsers and conventional search engines can navigate. Wikipedia, Google, and many millions of websites are just the tip of the iceberg. The links returned by Google and other search engines when you enter a query are referred to as the ‘surface web,’ while all other, non-searchable material is known as the ‘deep web’ or ‘invisible web.’
The Deep Web is encrypted and constitutes the majority of the internet which contains data that does not even appear in search engines. Medical records, official statements, financial records, and other information are kept private. Things get shady – and even dangerous – in the depths of the dark web. The Dark Web is the vast bulk of the internet that is shielded from public view.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a secret network of internet pages that can only be accessed via a sophisticated web browser, Tor. Tor is an abbreviation standing for the Onion Router. It is used to keep internet interaction secret and confidential, which can be useful in both legitimate and illegitimate applications. Although some people use it to avoid official censorship, it has also been used for extremely illegal activity.
How to Access the Dark Web Safely?
Get the TOR browser and launch it.
The Tor Browser is the most convenient way to connect to Tor. It is completely free to download and install. Tor Browser, which is based on Firefox, allows you to use both the visible and dark web. Any of the traffic is routed across the Tor Network by default. Be sure to just download the Tor Browser from the official website to avoid installing viruses or malware on your computer.
Consider purchasing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are servers that allow you to connect to the internet. These servers assist in masking the roots and can simulate locations from all over the world.
Although TOR conceals your identity, it does not conceal your location.
Getting Into the Dark Web
It’s a little different when you’re on the dark web. Tor secret services are darknet websites that can be differentiated from regular websites by their URLs.
Dark web addresses are characterized by the top-level domain, “.onion,” rather than “.com” or “.org.”
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused private search engine that doesn’t monitor anything you do online. With this, you can access Dark Web Wiki.
Register for a confidential email address.
Now that you’re all set, it’s time to create an untraceable email address. Gmail is unthinkable, and you’ll need a secure email address to sign up for many onion websites.
Here are a few options to get you started:
RiseUp, ProtonMail, TORbox, Bitmessage etc.
Onion Routing
Onion routing is a method of anonymization used on the Dark Web. When a user requests a page, the data is sent to the user through different and ever-changing routes. There are so-called mixes on these routes, which basically represent the stations that transfer through the info.
Thus, information is forwarded from a sender to a recipient through multiple transmitters and receivers that act as proxy servers and virtual networks (VPNs), rather than from a sender to a recipient as has been the case with HTTP connection. A requested website is, in a sense, disassembled and reassembled by the recipient.
The intermediate stations encrypt and decrypt data. They are often referred to as network nodes. This encryption and decryption process is known as onion routing since the knowledge route can be graphically represented as an onion. To track data traffic during onion routing, the observer will need to know all nodes, but these routes are usually updated on a regular basis.
Tor Network
Tor is a network that builds on the concept of onion routing and incorporates some technical aspects. To establish an anonymous link between two contact users, one must first download and install a client known as an onion proxy. The onion proxy is a tool that links to the Tor network. As a first move, the client downloads digitally signed directory data.
The directory data is asymmetrically encrypted so that the client receives actual data. In a subsequent step, the onion proxy chooses a path through the Tor network. The nodes that are meant to transmit information are chosen at random. Typically, this connection is forwarded to up to three nodes while information is exchanged between the client and the server in the network.
The Hidden Wiki
The Hidden Wiki refers to censorship-resistant wikis that operate as Tor hidden services and that everyone can edit privately after registering on the web. The main page of this site is a list of links to other onion domains. As a result, the dark web wiki can also be visited using the TOR browser.
The dark web wiki was first identified in 2007, at 6sxoyfb3h2nvok2d.onion. However, later in 2011, a full-fledged website containing several of the discovered links was unveiled. Until August 2013, the site was hosted on the domain ‘Freedom Hosting.’ The dark web wiki and its kpvz7ki2v5agwt35.onion domain were hacked in March 2014 and diverted to a new domain called “Doxbin.”
Hidden wiki is hosted on onion domains that can only be accessed via TOR or a TOR gateway. The Hidden Wiki provides access to all hidden and secret/illegal activities such as money laundering, contract killing, and cyber-attacks for hire, contraband chemicals, and bomb-making.
To access the Dark Web Hidden Wiki, enter the following URL into Tor: http://zqktlwiuavvvqqt4ybvgvi7tyo4hjl5xgfuvpdf6otjiycgwqbym2qad.onion/wiki/index.php/MainPage.
Types of the Threats on the Dark Web: How Risky is It to Navigate?
Exploring the dark web can be risky.
You should avoid certain stuff on the dark web. Here are a few examples:
Viruses: Some websites can infect your devices with viruses, and there are numerous types of viruses to be aware of. Never download something from a website you do not trust.
Hackers: Hackers are people who break into computers to steal information. On the dark web, you can find hacker sites. You could pay computer hackers to engage in criminal activities. Unsurprisingly, most of these individuals will be able to hack your computer.
Hijacking of a webcam: A dark web website can attempt to install a remote administration tool, also known as a ‘Rat’ on your computer. This will result in someone hijacking your webcam, allowing them to see what you’re up to through your device’s camera lens. It’s a valid idea to cover your webcam with paper or tape when you’re not using it.
What can You Do on the Dark Web?
According to estimates, search engines or URLs only accesses 1 to 5% of all content. As a result, the Deep and Dark Webs will be far greater than the Internet we use today. The Dark Web Wiki network, like the open web, offers a wide range of operations, from forum interaction to exploring online marketplaces.
However, illicit products and services are still accessible on the dark web. We firmly warn all of our readers to be cautious and stop engaging in illicit activity on the dark web and elsewhere at all costs.