How to access the dark web safely and anonymously

The websites and online platforms that you find via your search engine are actually only a small part of the internet. There are many more sites hidden away in a part of the internet called the deep web. Some of them—the hardest ones to access—are situated in what is known as the dark web.

These sites aren’t indexed by search engines like Google, so you can’t find them via traditional means. Instead, you have to use specific tools and processes.

This guide explores how to access the dark web safely on different devices while also covering both the benefits and risks of delving into this part of the internet.

What is the dark web?

Before we look at how to access the dark web, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of what it is, as there are many misconceptions about it.

The term “dark web” refers to all of the content and websites of the internet that are effectively hidden from users, as they are not indexed by search engines and require special software to access.

The dark web is often associated with illegal or illicit activities, and some of the people running and accessing dark web sites use them to engage in criminal acts, like selling drugs, weapons, stolen data, or explicit content.

However, there are also perfectly legal, safe sites within the dark web, like privacy-focused forums, marketplaces, and more. Even large, trusted organizations, like The New York Times and Wikipedia, have official dark web domains of their own.

Surface web vs. dark web vs. deep web: What’s the difference?

Terms like “dark web” and “deep web” are often misconstrued, but each one has a distinct meaning. An easy way to think of it is like this: picture the internet like a large iceberg, with three sections:

• Surface web: This is the part of the iceberg you can see, floating above the water. The surface or open web refers to all the content that you can find and access via search engines, like your favorite online marketplaces, news sites, and social media platforms. These sites are not hidden—they’re publicly available and indexed by search engines.
• Deep web: The deep web is the large part of the iceberg hidden below the surface. This consists of all the non-indexed websites and pages of the internet. You likely access and use the deep web daily, too. Every time you log into a service like your email account or online banking, for example, you are accessing pages guarded by paywalls, passwords, and similar security measures.
• Dark web: Lastly, the dark web. This isn’t exactly a separate layer of the deep web. Instead, it’s part of it. It is not only unindexed, but it’s also unregulated. Sites on the dark web are built on darknets, which are special, encrypted networks that can only be accessed with the use of specific darknet access tools, like the Tor Browser.

There are also distinctions between these three parts of the web in terms of their size: the surface web is said to account for around 5 to 10% of the entire internet. The deep web makes up between 90 and 95%, while the dark web is just 0.1% of all sites.

Key terms you should know

• Black web, underground internet, undernet: Alternative names for the dark web.
• Tor: Short for The Onion Router. The Tor Browser is the most popular tool for dark web access.
• .onion: A special top-level domain used for accessing dark websites.
• Hidden services: A term for the websites that make up the dark web.
• Darknet: The overlay network of the dark web, which you need specific software to access.
• Nodes: Individual devices or computers that form a decentralized network, like the dark web. Each node relays encrypted traffic, helping users of the dark web remain anonymous.
• Overlay network: A network that is built on top of an existing one, often providing extra functions. Darknet is made of overlay networks that form the foundation of the dark web.

Is it legal to access the dark web?

In a word, yes. It’s legal to access the dark web in the U.S. and most other countries. However, the truth is more complicated than that. There’s a lot of illegal content on the dark web. By some estimates, well over half of dark web content is illegal—this can include illicit marketplaces, drugs, cybercrime and hacking groups, and extremist, violent platforms.

As such, it’s important to be extremely careful when accessing the dark web, as you could inadvertently access a site containing, displaying, or linking to illicit content in some form. It’s illegal to use the dark web for any form of criminal activity, like buying stolen goods, drugs, user accounts, and so on.

Best practices for staying safe on the dark web

Given the many cyber threats present on the dark web, it’s recommended to be extra careful when you access it. You may want to set up some extra protections—like a VPN—before accessing any .onion sites and be particularly cautious about anything you share or any links you click on while browsing this hidden part of the internet.

Use a VPN with Tor

Many cybersecurity and tech experts recommend using a VPN whenever you want to access the dark web via the Tor Browser or any other specialist browser. A quality VPN like ExpressVPN will encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address, providing an extra layer of anonymity when establishing the initial Tor connection.

There are several benefits to using a VPN with Tor, including:

• Hiding your activity: Once you’re connected to Tor, your ISP won’t be able to see the sites you visit because of the way the dark web works. However, if you don’t use a VPN, it can see your initial connection and will know that you’re accessing the Tor network. If you prefer to keep that information private, a VPN will help.
• Privacy protection: The sites you visit on the dark web aren’t able to track your IP address or location. However, the Tor entry node—the first relay you connect to when connecting to Tor—can see your IP. While Tor has “Guard Nodes” to prevent some profiling attacks, it’s not impossible that bad actors could use compromised nodes to capture user data. A VPN will hide your address from the node.

However, note that a VPN is not a definitive or comprehensive form of protection. It won’t guard you against all of the many threats that exist on the dark web, from phishing scams to malware and malicious sites. It offers some protection, but you still have to be wary and sensible when browsing the dark web.

Avoid logging into personal accounts

Do not log into any of your personal accounts—such as social media platforms, email inboxes, or bank accounts—when exploring the dark web. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, it could jeopardize your anonymity if you submit any kind of personal information during a dark web browsing session. Secondly, there are many malicious, fake, and phishing sites on the dark web, which might look like sites you trust but are actually designed to steal your data.

It’s best, therefore, to keep your dark web browsing and your usual online activities separate. You can use burner emails (temporary, disposable addresses that won’t reveal your details) and make up new usernames and passwords for any profiles you create there.

Recognize and avoid phishing links

A phishing website or link is one that appears legitimate but is actually a trick designed to make you hand over your personal information to hackers and other bad actors. Often, these sites are made to look just like real, trusted platforms, such as banks, social media sites, or email providers.

The victim types in their information, thinking they’re accessing a site that they know and trust, but they’re actually giving away their data. There are a lot of these sites across the dark web, which is why you have to be extra careful. The easiest way to avoid falling victim to them is to simply not provide any personal data when browsing the dark web. Remain anonymous at all times.

Configure Tor before you begin

Take a look at your Tor Browser settings before you start your first dark web browsing session. It has a range of settings you can configure to help with security and privacy. Disabling JavaScript, ActiveX, and Flash plugins, for example, will help to strengthen your privacy, though this may also cause some sites to run poorly.

Don’t buy anything

Another sensible general rule to follow on the dark web is to not buy anything there. There are simply too many risks, such as honeypot sites set up by governments waiting for you to submit your info and fake marketplaces and scam sellers who won’t actually send you the items you buy.

Use strong anti-malware software

Given the prevalence of malware across the dark web, it’s vital to have antivirus software installed and active on your device when accessing it. That will help you detect and block any threats in real time.

Be very wary of downloads

As a general rule, never download anything at all from the dark web. There are all sorts of threats on the dark web, and it’s all but impossible to verify whether a file is legitimate, so you’re likely to inadvertently download malware to your device.

What does the dark web look like?

The dark web looks a lot more bare-bones than the surface web. Sites often have simple black or dark-themed backgrounds and minimal design elements. Many dark websites use basic HTML, with few or no images. The focus is on functionality and anonymity.

URLs look different on the dark web, too—they’re typically long, random strings of characters ending in “.onion.” And they can only be navigated through directories or hidden wiki-style listings rather than search engines. Trust and secrecy are emphasized, so you’ll often see security notices, encryption guides, and user reputation scores prominently displayed.

How to access the dark web on your device

As explained earlier, you won’t be able to access the dark web the same way you would the surface web. You can’t type dark web addresses into your usual browser or search for them via Google. Instead, you have to use a specialist browser, designed to navigate the dark web. Tor is the most popular one.

The following sections will explain how to access the dark web on different devices. However, remember to be cautious when accessing this hidden part of the internet. For added protection, it’s best to use a VPN like ExpressVPN to encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address while establishing the initial Tor connection.

On desktop and laptop

Let’s look at two popular browsers you can use to access the dark web on desktop computers and laptops.

Using the Tor Browser

1. Download the Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website.
2. Open the .exe file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the browser.
3. Open the Tor Browser once installed. Click the Connect button in the Tor Browser and wait for the connection to establish.
4. Once the connection is set up, you can begin your dark web browsing session.

Using Brave browser (with Tor)

1. Visit the official Brave browser website. Click Get Brave to access the download page, then download and install the Brave browser.
2. Open the .exe file. The installation process will then complete on its own. Wait for it to finish. You can follow the progress in the installation window.
3. When the installation ends, Brave will open automatically. Click the three horizontal lines icon in the top right. Then select New private window with Tor. Alternatively, you can just press the Alt, Shift, and N keys together.
4. Wait for the Tor connection to establish. You can follow the progress via the connection bar in the top left. Once the “Tor connected successfully” message appears, you can begin your browsing session.

On mobile devices

It’s perfectly possible to connect to the dark web on mobile, too. In fact, there’s an Android version of the Tor Browser and trusted browser apps on the App Store, too. Again, remember that it’s best to safeguard your dark web browsing sessions with the added protection of a VPN before using any of these browsers.

How to access the dark web on Android

1. Open the Google Play Store and type in Tor. Find and click on the Tor Browser app and click Install.
2. Open the browser and click Connect. Wait for the connection to complete, and then you can begin browsing the dark web by accessing .onion addresses.

How to access the dark web on iOS

1. 1. Open the App Store, find the Onion Browser app, and click the Get or Download button to install it.
   2. Open the app and click Next.
   3. You’ll then be prompted to download Orbot. You need this to continue, so tap on Get Orbot.
   4. Tap on Install to set up Orbot.
   5. Tap Start to establish a secure connection via Orbot.
   6. Once you see that Orbot is connected, you can return to the Onion Browser app and start exploring the dark web.

Advantages and disadvantages of the dark web

There are ups and downs to using the dark web. Here’s a closer look at reasons to use it, as well as some of the serious dangers.

Benefits of using the dark web

• Anonymous: The way the dark web works—by rerouting user traffic via a vast network of nodes—means that you’re effectively anonymous once you’ve made the initial connection and started exploring dark web sites. You can engage with other users or access platforms without being tracked, seen, or censored.
• Access to unique content: The sites of the dark web contain content and opportunities that you might not be able to find on the surface web. A lot of this is illegal in nature, but some is of interest and use to law-abiding citizens, like anonymous forums and research communities.
• Specific use cases: The dark web has very specific use cases that can appeal to certain groups of people. Whistleblowers may be able to use it, for example, to share important information with journalists without fear of reprisals.

Major risks and downsides

• Illegal activities: As mentioned earlier, some of the content on the dark web is illegal. Even if you have no intention to participate in illegal activities while exploring the dark web, you could be exposed to illicit content if you click the wrong link or visit a site you aren’t familiar with.
• Scams and viruses: Scams, viruses, and malicious sites are everywhere around the dark web, and they’re not controlled or blocked in the same way they would be on the surface web. It’s easy for new users, in particular, to end up on the wrong sites and fall victim to phishing scams or other tricks.
• No regulation: The dark web is devoid of any regulation, which is why there is so much illegal content there. You aren’t protected if you make a mistake or submit your info on the wrong site of the dark web, so you could face serious consequences if you visit the wrong site or make a bad choice. And even if you don’t hit anything illegal by mistake, online trolling is really common—people feel safely anonymous on the dark web and aren’t afraid of social backlash, so behavioral standards can be pretty poor.
• Complex navigation: Finding your way around the dark web can be quite tricky. It’s not the same as browsing the surface web—you need specific browsers just to access it, and finding safe, legitimate sites to visit is a challenge.
• Slow speeds: There is a massive encryption and routing overhead when you use the dark web, and this means that sites load extremely slowly.

Common dark web threats

There are numerous threats lurking in the dark web, including some very dangerous scams and malware that could wreak havoc on the lives of unsuspecting users. Here are some examples of threats to watch out for:

Malware and phishing

You have to be very careful about clicking links or downloading files from the dark web, as many contain malware, which could give bad actors backdoor access to your device or let them steal your data remotely. There are numerous phishing sites, too, as explained earlier, designed to fool users into giving up their personal data.

Scams and fake marketplaces

As well as phishing scams, a multitude of other scams operate across the dark web. There are many fake marketplaces and platforms that might offer to sell you goods or services but actually take your money without providing anything in return. Since the dark web is unregulated, there’s almost nothing scam victims can do to seek justice or compensation.

Monitoring for leaked personal data

A lot of the user data that gets stolen or leaked from big platforms ends up on the dark web, where users buy, sell, and exchange it among themselves. Your username and password information for online bank accounts, streaming sites, and other platforms may wind up on the dark web, for example, giving total strangers access to your details and accounts.

If you’re in the U.S., you can make use of helpful tools like ExpressVPN’s Identity Defender to inform you if and when any of your data ends up on the dark web. This will allow you to take action right away and reduce the risk of any further damage to your data or identity.

Ransomware on the dark web

One of the worst threats of the dark web is ransomware. This infects a user’s device and essentially blocks them out of it until they pay a “ransom,” usually in the form of cryptocurrency (so it’s harder to track and recover). Users could accidentally fall victim to ransomware just by clicking the wrong link or downloading a file on the dark web.

Government monitoring

Some governments actively monitor dark web activity through various methods, like analyzing internet traffic patterns or using high-end surveillance software. Governments also often set up “honeypot” sites on the dark web, which mimic illegal services and wait for users to enter their info. Of course, this sort of site poses no risk to legitimate dark web users, but it’s worth knowing that your usage of the dark web in general might draw attention to you.

Non-governmental surveillance

Aside from government agencies, other entities, including corporations and hackers, could potentially monitor and track your movements across the dark web. Again, they can use various tools and technologies for this, like tracking tools or social engineering techniques. This is another reason it’s best to use a VPN and be careful on the dark web to preserve anonymity.

Emotional distress

Given the amount of illegal and unsettling content on the dark web, there is always a risk that you might encounter something that could disturb you. Even if you’re only attempting to visit legitimate sites, one wrong click could expose you to content you would rather not see. To minimize the risk, research and verify sites before visiting them.

Popular dark web search engines and sites

One of the challenges of exploring the dark web is that you can’t just use a search engine and type in what you’re after like you would on the surface web. Instead, you often have to consult directories to find lists of legitimate sites and visit and access them that way or use special dark web-friendly search engines. Let’s take a look at some options.

Popular .onion directories

• Torch: Torch is one of the most popular search engines on the dark web, with a large index of .onion sites. This engine is also committed to protecting its users’ online privacy, as it doesn’t log any search history or user data.
• Not Evil: If you want to avoid the darker sides of the dark web, try Not Evil. As the name suggests, this search engine focuses on clean, safe websites without any illegal content. It’s ad-free, too.
• DuckDuckGo: DuckDuckGo is a search engine you can use both on the surface web and the dark web. It’s known for its privacy-focused design, as it doesn’t track user activities and can help you find .onion sites.
• Ahmia: Like DuckDuckGo, Ahmia works as both a surface and dark web search engine. It aims to make the dark web safer for users by not sharing links to harmful, fake, or illicit sites.
• The Hidden Wiki: This is a famous .onion directory, with some similarities to Wikipedia. It provides an index-like list of dark web .onion links to visit, but note that they’re not all safe, so you have to be cautious when clicking any.

Examples of legal and useful dark web content

• ProPublica: ProPublica is a non-profit investigative journalism company, committed to transparent, public-serving reporting. It covers a vast range of topics, and its .onion site is highly optimized for a pleasant user experience.
• Riseup: Riseup is a communication platform for activists, allowing them to chat securely with one another without fear of being watched or punished. It’s available on the surface web, too, but the dark web version offers superior anonymity.
• Hidden Answers: Hidden Answers is a question-and-answer platform where users can ask questions and get answers from the community. You might feel more comfortable asking something here that you wouldn’t want to ask on a more public forum, such as questions related to your personal relationships or identity. Do note, however, that this site also contains discussion of illegal topics, so you have to be careful.

How to navigate .onion links safely

When navigating .onion links, make sure you supplement your security and privacy with the use of a VPN, firewall, and strong antivirus software, just in case any malicious files end up on your device. It’s also best to only use trusted directories or search engines that show safe links, like Not Evil, to reduce your risk of ending up on fake, malicious sites. And remember—never click any links you don’t trust.