According to the latest count, there are over 1.7 billion websites on the Internet. But this Internet, as huge as it might seem, is just the tip of the iceberg. All the websites you’ve ever visited, from social networks and online stores to meme pages and business sites, are part of what we call the surface Web – the part of the Web that’s indexed by search engines and open to use for everyone.
Beyond that, there is the deep Web – this part of the Web is not entirely hidden, but it’s not open to public view because there are no links to its contents. The deep Web includes things like legal, financial, and medical records, purchase history, data from your social media, and email accounts. You can’t pull up this kind of private information by doing a simple Google search, but you can find it on the deep Web. Then, there’s the dark Web. Although the terms deep and dark Web are used interchangeably, they’re not the same thing. While the deep Web consists mostly of harmless private records, the dark Web (which accounts for just 0.01% of the Internet) is associated with dangerous or illegal practices such as stolen records, drug trafficking, and selling counterfeit goods. The dark Web is hidden and cannot be accessed through browsers like Firefox and Chrome; you need a special browser, such as The Onion Router (TOR), which provides more anonymity. The websites on the dark Web end in .onion instead of .com, .org., and the usual domains.
Why do people access the dark Web?
Although the dark Web is associated with criminal activities, that’s not always the case. For example, someone can use the dark Web because they want complete anonymity (for example, when the government limits free press), or because they want to access hidden services. Even businesses may choose to access the dark Web to see if their client records have been leaked and put up for sale.
Five ways you can protect yourself while on the dark Web
Although the dark Web isn’t just a place for illegal activity, it is more dangerous than the open Web because hackers are harder to investigate, and they tend to engage with victims more than on the surface Web. With these five tips, you can safely browse the dark Web and avoid falling victim to online criminals.
1. Use a VPN
To access the dark Web, most people use the TOR browser, which does provide anonymity. However, TOR alone is not completely bulletproof. People can still find you so, to be extra safe, you should also use a VPN to securely encrypt your data and protect your IP address. VPN boosts your connection’s security and anonymity so that you don’t fall victim to data breaches. Even if TOR is superior to regular browsers in terms of anonymity, without VPN, you’re making it easier for cybercriminals to access your personal data and even install viruses on your device.
2. Have a clear goal in mind
Normally, when we use the open Web, we tend to get distracted and let ourselves explore multiple websites along the way, jumping from website to website. That can be dangerous because we can end up clicking suspicious links or infecting our devices with malware. On the dark Web, however, the danger is even greater, and it’s really not the place to experiment and randomly browse. First of all, the websites on the dark Web are hidden – the dark Web doesn’t have a ranking system, like Google. You need to know exactly the website address to get there, and the address may change regularly for security purposes. Plus, the URL is often a mix of random letters of numbers, so you won’t know what the website is about just by looking at the address. There are websites like the Hidden Wiki, where you can see a list of websites on the dark Web, but be careful on what you click. To avoid bad surprises, enter the dark Web with a clear goal in mind, and, if you can, access that site from a different device from what you normally use.
3. Keep all your apps updated
Before you go on the dark Web, make sure all your software is up to date:
- TOR browser
- VPN
- Antivirus
Delaying an update for a few days might not sound like the end of the world, but cybercriminals move fast, and you don’t want to risk your security just because you didn’t want to click on that “Update Now” button.
4. Don’t use your real email address
This is pretty much self-explanatory but, if you need an email address when using the dark Web, don’t give them your real one. TOR was designed to keep you anonymous, so if you use your real email, then you’re giving your identity away. To maintain privacy, create a separate email address, one that doesn’t include your first name, last name, or any other detail that might point back to you and, of course, create a strong password for it.
5. Be extra careful of suspicious websites
Not all websites on the dark Web are about child pornography or illegal arms dealing. In fact, even the BBC has a TOR mirror on the dark Web, so that journalists in oppressed countries can have access to impartial news. Facebook also has a mirror, which may not be free from data collection, but it allows you to speak freely. There’s even a version of DuckDuckGo on the dark Web. That being said, there are A LOT of suspicious websites there too, and many of them revolve around illegal activities, so be extra careful where you go and what you share there.
The dark Web is a fascinating place, but it can also become dangerous if you don’t know how to use it. To avoid having your personal information stolen or infecting your device with malware, educate yourself on the best browsing practices, use a VPN, and make sure all your software is up to date.
