The deep and dark web is something that wasn’t that popular a few years back, but recently, more and more folks are looking to peep into this “behind the curtain” scene. Just knowing what these search engines are isn’t enough. If you really want to explore, then you need to dive deeper, not just to overcome your curiosity, but also to ensure your online safety.
Google only indexes a very small fraction of the World Wide Web. According to estimates, the web holds 500 times more content in comparison to what Google yields in search results.
The links which Google and other search engines return when you type in a query are known as the “surface web.” All the remaining, non-searchable content is known as the “deep web” and in straight words, its “invisible web.”
You need to find some information, and when you are using the Internet, you use a search engine. Finding your way is no different, but there are all types of search engines for various purposes and huge fragmentation in the market. Now, let’s get deeper!
What is the dark web search engine?
Regrettably, the top partition of the internet is about 4%. Therefore, if the crystal clear web is simply a very tiny part of the worldwide web, what happened to the rest? Indexed, crawled, and exhibited by the search engines. Welcome the region of the Internet that is not indexed by search engines, into the web.
There’s nothing spooky about the web that is deep; it contains things such as PayPal subscriptions, medical records, tax-related info, white papers, army communiqué, and more.
Also, the deep web includes significant parts of the legal, mainstream web (such as Amazon or Netflix pages), simply because they are individualized for users. Not all URLs are supposed to be indexed.
This is the place where they offer their services or hackers return to buy data stolen from companies or users. In case you dare to dig deeper, you can uncover other activities like human trafficking, child pornography, torture, or murder on demand.
How does it work?
The net a selection of a site that is publicly observable but with IP addresses of the web servers on. To view the sites on the web, you need to use specific software like the Onion Router, which is known as Tor. This program sets the connections which are needed to access the websites up and mount on your browser. Analytically Tor is. This is achieved by routing links via servers.
Is it legal to access the deep web and dark web?
Simply speaking, no, it is not illegal to go surfing on a non-indexed page. Or to use a high-privacy like Tor connected with surfing the dark web and the net. In fact, part of the web might include your blog from 10 years back, which search engines fail to index as it’s very old and devoid of content. Sounds benign, right?
What’s illegal is not to look into illegal services, although to access and navigate the overlay networks called net or the deep web, or to attempt to hack things without consent. That’s what can get a person in trouble, not only simply surfing. You should notice that accessing the web that is dark without lots of precautions can be dangerous for a layman.
It can expose you to different dangers for sure. We need to stress that undoubtedly the dark web can be a dangerous place, especially in case you’re a non-technical folk just looking to quench the thirst of curiosity. Don’t snoop around there in case you’re not prepared.
Among the most often transaction goods on the dark net marketplaces are the data. There are tons of gigabytes of personal and credentials for the hackers. There are many hackers already looking for credential stuffing attacks, identity theft, and other dishonest business.
In this guide, we will be explaining the difference between deep web and dark web to give you detailed information about it.
How to access the dark web?
For instance, if you would like to get into a website like Amazon, then all you want to do would be to compose the URL from the address bar (i.e., https://amazon.com) or search to your site using google.com.
On the Internet that is dark, you are going to need to understand the direction of the character and the match to get it. All net addresses that are dark include strings comprised of letters and numbers, followed by a .onion expansion.
Install a VPN
VPN services are crucial when you are trying to get into the dark net. Why? Because of the law’s long arm, naturally. Technically, you’re free to browse on this Internet layer, provided that you don’t participate in any activities that are illegal.
If your connection requests were intercepted by the Government, they would have had reason to search your home and confiscate the device (even your mobile) that you used for browsing. As a result, the favor that you can do to yourself is, download a VPN before messing about on the darknet.
Install an adequate browser – TOR is the answer
The rule of this net — do not use your default browser to look for things to the darknet. Popular browsers such as Chrome, Opera, or Firefox have monitoring technologies that make you observable on the Government’s radar. Thus, if you are still inclined to try it, I would advise you to download Tor, which is undoubted, the safest, and most easy-to-use browser.
Use this browser on a one? Well, that is a story, but worth mentioning. A browser mediates between the user’s search request and the website going, as you probably know. Usually, your question will undergo the ISP’s DNS, which in turn consults other tools that will assist you in getting the response you’re looking for.
When employing this process, Tor will disconnect your petition, which may pass your ISP unhindered. From that point, it is going to undergo a VPN server that hides your IP and fixes tags along with components ISP or your own Government may use to monitor the petition.
Furthermore, your request will be Forwarded to Tor entry nod, which subsequently transfers to a Tor relays. From that point, it gets slingshot to Tor exit nodes. Afterward, your request will be paired with the proper website.
Tricky, but successful; that’s why it’s the best way to get dark web content. I strongly advise surfing the dark web using virtual machine software instead of your locally installed Windows. Why? As it’s easier to include malware in a virtual environment, which is fully controlled.
It’s like in these pictures where the doctors are experimenting on deadly viral strains from behind the security of a glass enclosure. And, as it happens, there are loads of VMs to pick from Oracle VM Virtualbox, Workstations and VMware Fusion, QEMU, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, Red Hat Virtualization, and Xen Project, simply to name a few.
Now, in the event that you truly want to take the physical storage devices out of this equation, you are able to use what I like to call a disposable working system — simple to deploy and also to do away with if you by chance stuck yourself into any problem. All you’ll need is an installation package, an 8GB thumb drive, and a few minutes to get things ready to go.
Ready to rumble
Has the process of configuring and installing Tor finished? Great! Fire it up and let us surf. At first glance, Tor does not seem that different from your regular browser; it has a search bar, tons of icons, the onion icon smack in the middle of the screen.
So, now what? Well, let us start small. Although content on the dim web isn’t as indexed’ in comparison to the one on the very clear web, you are still able to utilize search engines to locate stuff. The Hidden Wiki is the heavyweights here.
Yay, today I found everything my soul longs for. Not very: because the deep web and dark web both are based on anonymity and privacy, results are frequently returned by search engines such as Grams and the Wiki. Nothing — good or not, the Hidden Wiki is a great place.
Tips for staying safe on the dark web and deep web
Now, after following the tips we’ve mentioned, you can avoid certain dangers of exploring the deep web and dark web.
Minimize or rescale your Tor browsing window
Sounds off, does not it? Well, there’s a reason why it is recommended to browse with a minimized or rescaled window — you can be monitored according to your active window’s measurements (yeah, they really can do that). Do rescale that Tor window to the possible extant before proceeding.
Tweak the security settings
Tor has a slider that permits you to adjust the level of security. Just click on the onion icon and select Security Settings. Now, adjust your slider until your cursor points to the most rapid. This usually means that the JavaScript will be disabled by default on every website and images, and a few logos will not be shown.
Never use any credit/debit card for purchases (Strictly not!)
It’s better to go farther than that! The big advice is, stay away from darknet shops. A few of them are legit, but are you really willing to take this opportunity? Still, in case you’re really itching to buy a new mobile set or anything is known by God, I’d advise you to stay with Bitcoins or your own favorite crypto coin.
Using credit or debit cards for this kind of thing is like painting a big bullseye on your bank accounts while yelling: “come here and take my money.”
Close Tails after finishing your session Do not forget to shut Tails down when you are done shopping or browsing on the dark web. The benefit of using an OS, for example, Tails is that it is wiped by the OS out of the thumb drive you’ve installed it. That is why it’s not a fantastic idea.
Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong
Life advise, but it’s even more valuable where the darknet is concerned. Remember that many organizations are employing the net sell or to communicate products. Some of those channels are under watch. You might well wind up in the middle of a stakeout, which may turn nasty. If the website looks shut the tab, and then forget about it.
What can you possibly find there?
On the dark web, one expects to find all of the following:
Marketplace for various drugs including mild recreational and border-line legal ones to all hard stuff including hashish, cocaine, etc.;
Wikileaks documents;
Software required for deeper browsing (for eg.Onion Browser) and listing directories (deep web / dark web websites lists and their respective links, for ensuring their easy access);
Marketplace for numerous ammunition and fire weapons, obviously unregistered;
Several blueprints for 3D printing stuff, including legal things and illegal things;
Websites with videos showing abuse towards animals, children, war prisoners, etc.
A few rare books, (that you can’t find in libraries);
A so-described Hidden wiki portal that claims to be ‘The Original Wikipedia’ plus its mirrors;
Marketplace for hiring hitmen.
Rumors of ‘red rooms,’ showing live video footage of murder/torture – they need a Bitcoin fee for the entry, but they are also scams.
Some building plans to exclaim to offer undetected access to important buildings through secret tunnels;
Racist content and content that promotes violence against numerous minorities (may include videos of real hate crime being perpetrated);
Conclusion
Before concluding, we’ve some safety tips for you, which will definitely protect you while surfing on the deep web and dark web.
Be careful what data permissions you provide (do not just mindlessly click ‘yes’ on each pop-up simply to get to a site). Sooner or later, some of your information will probably trickle over to collections that are accessible for sale on the dark web.
For ensuring protection, one needs to ensure that data is not exact anymore, not comprehensive enough to cause injury, which you’ve got multi-factor authentication system enabled everywhere you can utilize it. Ensuring safety by having reliable anti-malware protection active is crucial. If you visit the dark side to test it out, don’t forget to take precautions.
Use an encrypted privacy browser (such as Tor), do not share any real information about yourself there, don’t buy anything, and don’t speak to anyone. Don’t install any software you stumble around while there.