This is the main way that search engines become aware of a certain website or web page, and is generally how sites like Google add web pages to their index. In order to properly understand how the deep web works, you first have to understand a few fundamentals of how the regular internet operates, especially as it relates to search engines. The terms “deep web” and “dark web” are commonly used interchangeably. Although this is accurate in terms of the underlying technology, there is a slight difference.
If you get a reliable vendor, you should procure the services to stay safe when accessing the dark web. You can also run a dark web scan to see if your information has been leaked on the dark web. This dark web monitoring will help you track illicit activities and minimize the risks of cyber-attacks. On the other hand, the dark web relies on anonymity and encryption to function.
Find The onion Address You Want To Access
If the VPN connection fails, the automatic kill switch will kick in, temporarily breaking your traffic. NordVPN is one of the best VPNs to combine with the Tor browser whenever you want to surf dark sites. It offers top-of-the-line security and fast speeds for a smooth browsing experience on the dark web. ActiveX and Java frameworks are susceptible to being exploited by hackers. Since you are navigating in uncharted territories with all the myriad threats today, you’ll have to disable them in your network settings to stay safe.
Surface Web Vs Deep Web Vs Dark Web
Simply put, the deep web is any part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. This includes websites that gate their content behind paywalls, password-protected websites, and even the contents of your email. The dark web, on the other hand, uses encryption software to provide even greater security. It’s simply a part of the internet that isn’t indexed by regular search engines and needs special software, like Tor, to access.
Can I Use Tor Browser To Access The Surface Web?
So, once you’ve activated your VPN and your privacy is secured, it’s time to visit Tor’s official download page. Make sure that when you download the Tor file, it’s from their official website. It’s impossible to access the dark web with a regular browser like Chrome or Safari. As you are now familiar with the three different sections within the entire world wide web, let’s take a closer look at how you can access the dark web anonymously.
If you decide to venture into the dark depths of the deep web, make sure you’ve bolstered your device’s security with powerful privacy and security tools that can defend against dark web threats. Install Norton 360 Deluxe to help secure your device, block scams, and stay private online. Download Norton 360 Deluxe to help secure your device, block scams, and stay private online.
Quick Comparison: Best Anonymous Dark Net Browsers
Also, there’s a vast amount of unsavory content on the dark web, as well as a significantly high number of hackers and scammers looming on the platform. This type of government surveillance applies mostly to countries with environments that are hostile to free speech. You can either sell or buy goods on the dark web, but both present difficulties. On top of that, the installation process of Freenet is rather easy.
Understanding and knowing how to safely access this part of the internet is an important digital skill for today’s era. Some people regard it as a more decentralized and resilient alternative to Tor. While the Tor Project relies mainly on a centralized directory of relays, I2P uses a distributed dynamic routing system, which makes it a much more robust alternative.
The Legality Of Accessing The Dark Web

NinthDecimal is the leading media and technology service provider for the WiFi industry. He was formerly the Chief Financial Officer and a principal shareholder of Apollo Solutions, Inc., which was acquired by CNET Networks. The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden, requiring a specific browser—Tor—to access, as explained below. No one really knows the size of the dark web, but most estimates put it at around 5% of the total internet.
August’s Top VPN Discounts
Just as you need the right tools to access the dark web, you also need the right protections to be able to stay safe on it. Using Tor, websites hosted on the dark web can only be viewed by visitors connected to the Tor network. Therefore, this content is inaccessible to most online users, and it is difficult to track the visitors of such websites.
Name Of Browsers

And most importantly, be patient as you’ve to sort through a lot of useless results. These search engines work best if you already know what site you’re looking for, not for general browsing. Established in 2012, the platform is a time capsule that collects snapshots of websites.
Basic online hygiene can prevent security lapses when accessing the deep web. For instance, using an unprotected public network to pay your bills might lead to cybercriminals being able to capture your payment information. Interestingly, even Facebook can be accessed as a Tor-hidden service, allowing users in countries with no legal access to its platform to visit the website safely. This will help you to remain anonymous and secure at all Tor entry and exit nodes.
A discrete online identity, which has nothing to do with your present one. Separate email, phone number, anonymous payment channel,…..the list can be long based on what you aspire to get involved with on the dark web. Even though the dark web is not for the average user, it has some good use cases. This bright side of the dark web chiefly includes whistleblowing and sensitive journalism. And the dark web (aka darknet) is still a smaller section, up to 5% of the entire internet.

This makes it nearly impossible for anyone—governments, internet providers, or hackers—to trace your browsing activity back to you. While the Tor Browser looks and feels similar to Firefox, it’s specifically designed to connect to websites that aren’t accessible via regular browsers. To access the dark web safely, it’s necessary to use a dark web browser like Tor in combination with trusted dark web directories and search engines to help you find reliable sites. You should also make sure your device is protected by strong antivirus software, and consider using a VPN to mask your activity on the dark web. The deep web is the internet portion that cannot be indexed by web search engines, such as Google or Bing.
- Additionally, you can opt for Subgraph OS as a second option to Tor.
- The deep web constitutes over 90% of online content and is inaccessible via search engines.
- Finally, one of them, Eldo Kim, confessed to using Tor and Guerrilla Mail to send bomb threats to the university authorities to postpone the exams.
- The invisible web is made up of data and information that is not indexed and cannot be searched for by using traditional search engines.
HTML Attachments: A Gateway For Malware?
That’s where dark web search engines come in — they help you discover hidden websites and make navigating this part of the internet easier. In this guide, you’ll find the top 9 dark web search engines, complete with .onion links. Each one offers unique features, such as better privacy and extensive .onion site indexing.