How to access the dark web safely and anonymously

So you want to get on the dark web? Don’t worry; we don’t judge. There are plenty of perfectly legitimate reasons why you might want to access all that shady content.

As far as fun goes, there are some crucial steps to take if you want to access the dark web safely and anonymously.

Always use a VPN to access the dark web

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an essential first step before diving into the dark web. Although the Tor network anonymizes your browsing, it does not secure your connection outside of the Tor browser. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic before it enters the Tor network, making it harder to track your online activities.

A VPN also protects against DNS and WebRTC leaks that can reveal your real IP. Be sure to configure both your VPN and your browser to block these leaks. Popular VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN come with built-in leak protection.

Download Tor Browser from the official website

Tor may have had security issues in the past, but it is still the most secure and popular way to access the dark web.

Given its market leadership and the nature of the content you have access to when using it, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to find that there are a lot of bad actors out there. These people try to spoof the app and make you download the compromised version instead. Therefore, you should never download the Tor browser from a source other than the official site: torproject.org. The Tor browser is free to download and use.

Make sure Tor is always up-to-date, as outdated software can leave you open to attacks. Your browser usually updates automatically, but it’s smart to check for updates manually on a regular basis.

If you want to access Onion sites without TOR, Brave Browser also has built-in Tor functionality.

Observe safety precautions

Before diving into the dark web, it is vital to reduce your risk of attack. Hackers lurk in these corners and a careless mistake could put your system at risk.

Here are some tips to stay safe:

• Close all unnecessary applications before using Tor.
• Disable services such as file sharing or remote desktop that could be abused.
• Hide your webcam to avoid being tracked.

You can also consider using virtual machines (VMs) for an additional layer of security. Tools like VirtualBox or VMware allow you to isolate your activity in a virtual OS. That way, even if something goes wrong, your main machine remains intact.

And don’t forget to check out our Dark Web Myths Debunked article so you know what’s true and not before you visit.

Safe navigation of dark web directories

When you enter the dark web, you don’t have the luxury of Google neatly indexing the search results for you to browse. As a result, it can be difficult to find what you’re looking for; you can easily end up in a place you don’t want to be.

While the dark web has search engines like Ahmia that index some “.onion” websites, many hidden services are not indexed at all. This makes it difficult to find specific sites, increasing the likelihood that you will come across malicious or fraudulent sites. Ahmia is a reliable search engine for the Tor network that filters illegal content and provides safer browsing. However, due to the unindexed nature of much of the dark web, manual discovery is often required for many hidden services.

The dark web itself also has plenty of dark web directories. However, it is important to be cautious when browsing dark web directories such as The Hidden Wiki, which are known for hosting low-quality or malicious links, including phishing scams. Always carefully check the URLs you visit and never enter personal information unless you know the legitimacy of the site.

You should also check out our article on how to find active onion sites – we’ve listed some of the best dark web directories.

Use cryptocurrency for all your transactions

If you want to buy something from one of the many dark web marketplaces, under no circumstances use anything other than cryptocurrency. You will find that most retailers will not accept regular credit card payments.

Of course, the temptation is to use Bitcoin – it’s the most common cryptocurrency in the world and many people think it’s completely anonymous. In practice, this is not true. Issues such as address reuse, attached nodes, tracking cookies and blockchain analysis mean that someone can link your data to a transaction.

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You can use a “bitcoin mixer” to anonymize your tokens, but they are expensive and require you to trust an otherwise untraceable third party.

Opt for cryptocurrencies like Monero (XMR) or Zcash (ZEC) instead. Monero in particular is the gold standard for privacy, using advanced cryptographic techniques that completely hide your transaction history.

Close the session properly and wipe the decks

When you’re done browsing, don’t close your browser. Cached files or data may still persist on your device.

• Clear the Tor browser cache and close it properly.
• Restart your computer to ensure that no background processes from your session are still running.
• If you’re extra careful, use tools like BleachBit to safely remove temporary files.

For added protection, use full disk encryption tools like VeraCrypt to keep your data safe. Even if your device is stolen or hacked, your sensitive information will remain safe.

If you carefully follow the six tips we’ve provided, you’ll be well on your way to accessing the dark web safely, securely, and anonymously. There will also be risks, but if you stay alert you shouldn’t run into any problems.