The “black web” or “dark web” is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, but it also hosts legitimate content and services. In this article, we will guide you through the process of accessing the black web safely and securely.
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What is the Black Web?
The black web, also known as the darknet, is a collection of websites that are not indexed by search engines and are only accessible through special software. These websites are hosted on servers that are specifically configured to allow access only through the Tor network, a decentralized network that allows users to browse the internet anonymously.
Deep web refers to anything on the internet that is not indexed by and, therefore, accessible via a search engine like Google. Deep web content includes anything behind a paywall or requires sign-in credentials. It also includes any content that its owners have blocked web crawlers from indexing. The dark web is part of the internet dark web onions that isn’t visible to search engines and requires the use of an anonymizing browser called Tor to be accessed. The concept of the Dark Web isn’t vastly different from the Surface Web. There are message boards (e.g. 8chan, nntpchan), places you can buy things (e.g. Alphabay, Hansa), and blogs (e.g. OnionNews, Deep Web Radio).
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Why Access the Black Web?
- Although the deep web is not unlawful in and of itself, some sites may participate in criminal activity.
- And while plenty of cybercrime does take place, the dark web is used legally as well.
- Tor’s search engine does not act like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
- Aura’s team works with you to create a remediation plan to secure your credit cards, bank accounts, and IDs to prevent identity theft or fraud.
There are several reasons why someone might want to access the black web. For example, journalists and activists use it to communicate securely and anonymously. Whistleblowers also use it to share sensitive information without fear of retribution. Additionally, the black web hosts a variety of content and services that are not available on the surface web, such as forums for discussing controversial topics and marketplaces for buying and selling illegal goods.
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How to Access the Black Web
One thing to keep in mind is if you’re using a live operating system, you don’t want to use a VPN at the same time. However, while the illegal side is a relatively small part of the dark web, it’s best to stay away from that side altogether. This ranges from selling drugs and malware to human trafficking and how to buy stolen credit cards on the dark web child pornography. At most, your ISP will see that you’re connecting to the internet through a VPN tunnel. Now, using the Tor Network (even for browsing regular sites) is rather slow. Some, like Facebook’s .onion site, I don’t recommend unless you created your account there (instead of at Facebook.com).
Accessing the black web requires the use of the Tor browser, which can be downloaded from the official Tor Project website. The Tor browser works by routing your internet connection through a series of volunteer-run servers, which makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity. Once you have installed the Tor browser, you can access the black web by visiting websites with the .onion top-level domain.
How big is the internet in GB?
In 2020, the amount of data on the internet hit 64 zetabytes. A zetabyte is about a trillion gigabytes. One way to estimate the size of the Internet is to look at the amount of information created, captured, copied, and consumed on the web.
Notorious ransomware groups are the ones that use onion.ly links most often. This is because when a victim’s computer is infected by ransomware, attackers demand ransom through dark websites. Therefore, they provide onion.ly links so victims can access dark websites with regular browsers. Please refer to our article on LockBit 3.0 ransomware case study, where we determine how ransomware is distributed and what must be done to prevent it. The onion.ly domain is a proxy server domain address provided by Tor2Web.
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That’s because free providers usually sell this information to earn money, not caring about keeping you anonymous online. Not to mention their lackluster performance and limited monthly bandwidth that will, in conjunction with Tor, severely decrease connection speeds. For one, free providers aren’t as secure and they often fail in bringing the highest level of encryption to the table.
Step 1: Download and Install the Tor Browser
To get started, visit the Tor Project website and download the Tor browser for your operating system. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the prompts to install the browser.
Step 2: Connect to the Tor Network
Once the Tor browser is installed, open it and click “Connect” to connect to the Tor network. This process may take a few minutes, as your connection is being routed through multiple servers.
Step 3: Access the Black Web
Once you are connected to the Tor network, you can access the black web by visiting websites with the .onion top-level domain. These websites are not indexed by search engines, so you will need to know the specific address of the website you want to visit.
Staying Safe on the Black Web
Accessing the black web can be risky, as it is home to a variety of illegal activities. To stay safe, it is important to take precautions to protect your identity and your computer. Here are some tips for staying safe on the black web:
- Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) can help protect your identity by encrypting your internet connection and hiding your IP address.
- Use strong passwords: Use unique, complex passwords for each website you visit on the black web.
- Avoid downloading files: Downloading files from the black web can be risky, as they may contain malware or other malicious software.
- Beware of phishing scams: Be cautious of websites that ask for personal information, such as your name, address, or credit card number.
Conclusion
Accessing the black web can be a valuable tool for journalists, activists, and whistleblowers. However, it is important to take precautions to protect your identity and your computer. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can access the black web safely and securely.
What is the safest search engine?
- DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo is a popular private search engine that emphasizes user privacy by not tracking your searches or storing personal information.
- Qwant.
- Startpage.
- Searx.
- Swisscows.
- MetaGer.
- Mojeek.
- Ecosia.