Best VPN for Browsing Dark Web Safely

Why the Dark Web Is Dangerous

The internet is one of the most useful innovations of all time, completely changing the way we work and live. It’s filled with countless tools and resources, with an almost endless number of websites and pages to explore. However, beneath the surface, there’s an entire section of the internet that many people don’t even know about and will never access: the dark web.

In order to understand why the dark web is so dangerous, we have to first understand what it is. Essentially, the term ‘dark web’ is used to cover all of the sites and pages that aren’t indexed by search engines like Google and Yahoo. This means that you aren’t able to find these sites simply by going to Google and typing in a certain term.

Because of the way it works, you can’t even access the dark web on most traditional browsers, and the dark web is considered dangerous due to the fact that it can be used for numerous illegal and nefarious things. There are many horror stories about the kinds of sites and pages that can be found in the deepest and darkest corners of the internet, like those found on the dark web.

People can use the dark web for many different things. There are sections of it dedicated to selling drugs and weapons, hacking into people’s bank information, and buying and selling all kinds of illegal services. At the same time, there’s also a lot of safer and perfectly legal content on the dark web, including unbiased news networks, unique forums and communities, online libraries filled with digital books and papers, and more.

Many people can use the dark web for totally legitimate reasons. However, it can be unsafe to access without proper protections. Since the dark web is so heavily associated with drugs, weapons, and other illegal activities, governments and internet service providers might raise red flags if they see you even trying to access it. What’s more, heading into the dark web without protection could put you at risk of hackers and other cyber-criminals.

Why Use VPN to Access the Dark Web?

Since the dark web can be quite dangerous to navigate and explore without the proper protection, experts always recommend that users install a trusted VPN beforehand. A VPN, or virtual private network, works by masking your identity and encrypting your online connections and protects you in all your online activities. This can offer several key benefits for dark web users:

• Security – One of the main reasons why people get VPNs to access the dark web is to protect themselves against possible hacking or other cyber-crime. If you end up on the wrong site on the dark web, hackers and cyber-criminals can easily use your data against you, track your IP address, learn all about your identity, and target you with viruses, malware, and more. With a VPN, your connections will be encrypted, so you won’t need to worry about these kinds of threats.
• Confidentiality – Another big benefit of using a VPN to access the dark web is for privacy and confidentiality. When you try to access the dark web without a VPN, government agencies and even your own internet service provider can see exactly what you’re doing. They may start to monitor your connections. They can’t track the specific sites you visit, necessarily, but they can see that you’re accessing the dark web, and this may raise some suspicions. A VPN will hide all your online activity, so nobody can see what you’re doing.
• Compatibility – Another reason why you might want to make use of a VPN for the dark web is for compatibility reasons. The best VPNs can work across a range of different devices and protect you on each and every one. While it’s not recommended to access dark web pages and sites on devices like phones, it is still possible to use Tor on an Android system, and a VPN will give you the added protection you need on laptops, computers, tablets, phones, and so on.
• Access – In order to get to the dark web, you’ll need to have a way of accessing it. Most people make use of a special browser called Tor. However, there are certain countries and parts of the world in which access to Tor is blocked, making it impossible for people in these locations to get the browser they need to visit dark web pages. A VPN will let you get Tor via servers in other countries, giving you the access you need.

Ultimately, having a VPN before accessing the dark web will give you the peace of mind to delve into the darker regions of the web without having to worry about hackers targeting you or authorities spying on your activities. It basically makes it a lot safer and more comfortable for people to browse dark web content without the fears and anxieties that can come along with this process.

At the same time, it’s important to note that the dark web does contain a lot of shocking and controversial content, and it’s not a part of the internet that should be explored lightly. Even with a VPN, you could stumble onto sites and pages you would prefer to not visit, so make sure to do the necessary research and have the right preparation before venturing into the dark web.

Tor Browser

If you’re wondering how to access the dark web, you’ll need to know all about the Tor browser. Since dark web pages and sites won’t appear or load correctly on traditional browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, you need to get and use a different kind of browser to get into this part of the web: this is what Tor is all about.

Tor is a web browser that makes its users anonymous via the Tor network. On a regular browser like Chrome or Firefox, the sites you visit can be seen by your ISP unless you’re using a VPN to hide your identity. With Tor, all user activity is hidden, so nobody can see what you’re doing. This is a popular option with people who value online privacy and worry about being spied on.

The way Tor works is quite complicated, but in simple terms, it keeps users secure by not directly connecting them to websites. Instead of establishing a direct connection, Tor bounces your connection around on different nodes that are designed to anonymize each user. This can lead to Tor running a little slow compared to other browsers, but this is the price you pay for privacy and protection.

Tor’s design is based on Mozilla Firefox, so if you’ve used Firefox in the past, you shouldn’t have any issues getting up and running with Tor and understanding how it all works. But even though Tor prevents ISPs from being able to see which nodes and sites you’re connected to, it can’t stop them from seeing that you are connected to Tor itself in the first place.

Again, this is why a VPN for the dark web is so useful. It hides the fact that you’re connected to Tor at all. This can make a real difference, as ISPs might be suspicious if they see any kind of Tor connection. If they can’t see that connection in the first place, then they won’t have any particular reason to worry. Plus, many of the best VPNs come with Tor features designed specifically for dark web users.

The best way to ensure the protection of your privacy when browsing the dark web is using a VPN. Feel free to pick the one that suits you from our selection of the most trusted ones!