(Tiny Tips) – Dark Web Safely – So you want to get into the dark web? Don’t worry; we don’t judge. There may be many perfectly legitimate reasons for you to want to access all this questionable content.
All kidding aside, if you want to know how to access the dark web safely and anonymously, keep reading. If you want to access the dark web, you need to take some key steps.
How to Access the Dark Web Safely and Anonymously
Always use a VPN to access the dark web
We won’t go into detail about what the dark web is or how it works. Arguably, too many users think they are safe from the prying eyes of ISPs and governments simply because the dark web uses onion routing technology.
That is not true. Even if you use the Tor browser, anyone with enough time and expertise (like the FBI!) can track your traffic.
Remember, Tor Browser fell victim to an IP leak in April 2018. Nicknamed “TorMoil,” the vulnerability allows a user’s operating system to completely bypass the Tor browser to connect to a remote host. macOS and Linux users are most at risk.
Therefore, you should also use a VPN when connecting to the dark web. It encrypts your network traffic, ensuring that even if last year’s problems happen again, they won’t be discovered by snoopers.
We recommend using ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.
Download Tor browser from the official website
Although Tor has had security issues in the past, it remains the safest and most popular way to access the dark web.
Given its market leadership and the type of content you can access when using it, it’s no surprise that there are many bad actors out there. These people try to trick the app and force you to download a compromised version.
Therefore, you should not download Tor Browser from any source other than the official website. You can find it at torproject.org. The browser is free to download and use.
You also need to make sure your dark web browser is always updated. Otherwise there is a risk of security issues. If you want to learn more, check out our list of tips for using Tor safely.
Take safety precautions
Therefore, before opening Tor Browser, you should close all other applications on your computer, stop unnecessary services from running, and cover your webcam with a piece of paper.
Be sure to check out our article on debunking dark web myths so you know what’s true and what’s false before you visit.
Install TAILS
Amnesiac Incognito Live System (TAILS) is a unique Debian-based Linux distribution that leaves no trace of user activity on your computer, nor of the operating system itself. The operating system is free to use and boots live from a USB stick or DVD.
TAILS cannot store cookies or files on your hard drive without direct request. You also don’t run the risk of your browser dumping “pageout” data to your hard drive (most browsers do this for speed and efficiency reasons).
The dark web is a haunt for hackers, cybercriminals, malware creators, and other nasty types, and you really don’t want these people anywhere near your computer.
Unfortunately, the nature of the dark web means you’re likely to encounter them at some point. Ideally, you want to make your target as small as possible by reducing the number of attack vectors it can use.
Additionally, TAILS comes pre-installed with the Tor Browser; once you’re up and running, you don’t have to worry about extra steps.
All network traffic on your TAILS computer is automatically routed through Tor. If the operating system detects non-anonymous connections, it automatically blocks them.
Yes, TAILS also has built-in productivity tools like a word processor and email client, so you can do more than just browse the web on the fly. You can download TAILS from tails.boum.org.
Know where you want to go
When you visit the dark web, you don’t enjoy the opportunity for Google to properly index search results for you to search. Therefore, finding what you want can be difficult. It’s easy to get stuck in a place you don’t really want to be.
Therefore, we recommend using one of the many directory sites to decide which pages you want to visit, before you open the door.
The dark web itself also has many dark website directories. One of the best places to start, for both new and experienced users, is the hidden wiki. You can access it by pasting the following link into Tor Browser:
You should also read our article on how to find active onion sites – we’ve listed some of the best darknet directories.
Use cryptocurrencies for all transactions
If you want to buy something on one of the many darknet markets, you should definitely not use anything other than cryptocurrency. In fact, you’ll find that most sellers don’t accept regular credit card payments.
Of course, it’s tempting to use Bitcoin – it’s the world’s most widely used cryptocurrency and many believe it’s completely anonymous. In fact, this is not the case. Issues such as address reuse, connecting nodes, tracking cookies, and blockchain analysis mean it’s very possible someone could link your personal information to a transaction.
You can use a “Bitcoin mixer” to anonymize your coins, but these are expensive and require you to trust an otherwise untraceable third party.
Instead, you should use privacy-focused coins. The two most common ones are Monero and Zcash.
Close everything
Once you’ve browsed the dark web, don’t be lazy. Make sure to close all browser windows and anything else that may be connected.
If you used TAILS, exit the operating system and restart in the usual interface. If you’re using Windows or macOS, we recommend restarting your computer.
Stay safe on the dark web
If you follow our seven tips carefully, you’ll be well on your way to accessing the dark web safely and anonymously. There are risks, but as long as you stay vigilant, you shouldn’t have any problems.