What is the dark web?

The dark web refers to content that isn’t indexed by search engines and that requires
special software or authorization to access. Dark web content lives on the darknet, a
part of the internet accessible only to particular browsers or through specific network
configurations.
This article contains:
 What is the dark web?
 How to get on the dark web
 The history of the dark web
 What happens on the dark web today?
 Is the dark web dangerous?
 Is it illegal to access the dark web?
 Keeping yourself (and your data) off the dark web

The dark internet is designed to provide anonymity by keeping communication private

through encryption and routing online content through multiple web servers. That’s
where the “dark” part comes in — accessing the dark web requires the use of specific
software that keeps you anonymous.
While the dark web is often depicted as an anarchic forum for criminal activity, that’s
not necessarily true. The darknet is simply an anonymous space on the web that can
be abused or appreciated in turn.
Dark web vs. deep web: what’s the
difference?
The difference between the dark web and the deep web is that the deep web refers to
websites and web pages that aren’t indexed by search engines, like login pages and
payment portals. The dark web, by contrast, is configured on darknets, which are
online networks that can be accessed only with special software and techniques.
The deep web consists of any content that lives behind paywalls, authentication forms,
logins, or passwords. Much of the content an average person accesses on the internet
is part of the deep web: email, online banking accounts, private social media accounts,
and subscription services. You wouldn’t want your email history available on the
surface web and searchable by anyone.
Much of the content an average person accesses on the
internet is part of the deep web: email, online banking
accounts, private social media accounts, and
subscription services.
The dark web is part of the deep web but is built on darknets: overlay networks that
sit on the internet but which can’t be accessed without special tools or software like
Tor. Tor is an anonymizing software tool that stands for The Onion Router — you can
use the Tor network via Tor Browser.
Unlike typical web browsers, Tor Browser uses onion routing, which encrypts and
routes traffic through multiple servers around the world to hide your IP address and
provide private browsing. In addition, all domains on the Tor network end with the
top-level domain .onion (instead of .com). The many layers of an onion represent the
multiple layers of encryption in the Tor network.
A: The surface w
b includes publicly searchable websites (blogs, shopping sites, news sites, YouTu
be).B: The deep web consists of
sites that require a login to access (email, banking portals, subscription services).
C: The dark web re

How to get on the dark web

The quickest way to access the dark web is to download and install Tor Browser,
which will route your traffic through the Tor network and let you access the dark web.
On Tor, you can type in any URL you’d like to visit, including .onion domains on the
dark web.
How to access the dark web safely
The safest way to get on the dark web is through the Tor network. For added safety,
first connect to a VPN, then use Tor in a practice known as Tor-over-VPN. Many
internet service providers (ISPs) and governments may be suspicious of Tor use, and a
VPN will hide your internet activity and prevent anyone from knowing that you’re
using Tor.
1. Connect to a reliable and safe VPN.
Conceal your IP address and encrypt your internet connection with a trustworthy
VPN like Avast SecureLine VPN. Though they both provide encryption, a VPN
and Tor are not the same thing. A VPN will prevent your ISP and anyone else
from knowing that you're downloading and using Tor Browser.
2. Download and install Tor Browser.
Tor Browser is a free browser that routes your traffic through the encrypted Tor
network. Download Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website, because
unlicensed third-party downloads may come bundled with malware.
3. Browse the dark web with Tor Browser.
Tor Browser will let you access the .onion domains of the dark web. Because
the dark web is largely unregulated, never visit dark websites without first
confirming their authenticity.
4. Protect your identity.
The dark website isn’t always dangerous, but many scams do exist. When
communicating or making purchases over the dark web, use encrypted and
anonymous email addresses and pay with an anonymous cryptocurrency wallet.
Before accessing the dark web, install strong security software to keep your device
protected.

Dark web tools and services

Dark web browsing is not as simple as regular web surfing, but there are some tools
you can use to chart your journey. Dark web search engines and forums like Reddit
can help you find reliable dark websites, and you’ll need to use a dark web browser to
visit them.
Dark web browsers
The standard dark web browser is Tor Browser, which directs your browser traffic
through the Tor network so you can reach the darknet. As your traffic passes through
Tor, it’s encrypted and bounced between at least three relay points, known as nodes.
This helps obscure the origin of the data (and makes it hard for anyone to find your IP
address). But as a result, Tor Browser will feel much slower than a normal web
browser.
Dark web search engines
Surface web search engines can’t access the dark web, but specialized dark web
search engines can help you find what you’re looking for. DuckDuckGo is a popular
privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track you across the web when you use it.
DuckDuckGo’s dark web search engine indexes pages on the dark web, but you’ll
need to open it with Tor Browser.
Other dark web search engines include Not Evil, Torch, Haystack, and Ahmia. The
subreddit r/deepweb is a good starting point for asking more experienced users about
how to search the dark web and deep web for the content you want. Lastly, The
Hidden Wiki is a collection of dark web links — but the links may not work and may
lead to dangerous websites.
Dark websites
Dark websites can be visited only with a suitable dark web browser, and most dark
web URLs are strings of seemingly random letters and numbers — nothing like the
easy-to-remember web addresses on the surface web.
The Hidden Wiki is a surface website offering a collection of dark web links — but the
links don’t always work, and they may not be safe. Use it to get an idea of what sort
of dark websites you may be interested in visiting. But before visiting any sites on the
dark web, get comprehensive cybersecurity software to protect yourself from any
threats you may encounter.

The history of the dark web

The release of Freenet in 2000 is often cited as the beginning of the dark web.
The thesis project of Ian Clarke, a student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland,
the Freenet was intended as a way to anonymously communicate, exchange files, and
interact online.
In 2002, the dark web grew significantly when researchers supported by the US Naval
Research Laboratory built and released the Tor network. At the time, the internet was
still young, and tracking people was easy while staying anonymous was not. The Tor
network was created to open safe communication channels for political dissidents and
American intelligence operatives around the world.
The Tor network was created to open safe
communication channels for political dissidents and
American intelligence operatives around the world.
Later, Tor’s underlying code was released under a free license, and a nonprofit called
the Tor Project was formed. In 2008, the Tor Browser was released, which made it
easy for anyone to get on the dark web.
How big is the dark web?
The dark web may seem large, but it’s actually not very big. Researchers
from Recorded Future estimated that while there are more than 55,000 existing onion
domains, only 8,400 (or roughly 15%) of these sites were active. This means that the
total network of live dark web sites is only about 0.005% of the size of the surface
web.
Dark web domains tend to be inconsistent — new ones pop up and others disappear,
which makes sense since some of these sites may be offering questionable or illegal
goods and services.
The Tor Project says that of the 2 million people using Tor every day, only 1.5% of
them are accessing hidden, or dark, websites. Recorded Future notes that 86% of dark
web sites are in English, followed by German and Russian, which offers some insight
into the anonymous user base.

What happens on the dark web

today?
Because privacy and anonymity are the hallmarks of the dark web, it’s easy to assume
that everything that happens there is illegal. And while plenty of cybercrime does take
place, the dark web is used legally as well.
Some people simply prefer not to share any information online and use Tor to access
normal websites outside the dark web, or to visit dark web news websites and forums.
Is the dark web used for illegal purposes?
Yes, the dark web is used for many illegal activities. It’s possible to buy and sell
illegal drugs, malware, and prohibited content in darknet marketplaces. Some dark
web commerce sites have dangerous chemicals and weapons for sale.
Some hackers offer ransomware as a service (RaaS), where cybercriminals can “rent”
a strain of ransomware from its creator in exchange for a fee or a percentage of their
ransom payments. Others sell software exploits that other cybercriminals can use to
infect victims with malware and steal personal data.
The most well-known dark web marketplace was the Silk Road, which launched in
2011 and essentially functioned as an Amazon-like market for illegal drugs. In
2013, the FBI shut down the Silk Road, and its founder, Ross Ulbricht, is now serving
a double life sentence.
 Dark web marketplaces offer a variety of illegal goods for sale.
Fraud and scams run rampant on the dark web: offers too good to be true and fake
services requiring upfront payment. Hackers sell access to email accounts, social
media profiles, or other information that can be used for identity theft.
Avast Breachguard helps to keep your data off the dark web. By monitoring known
dark web marketplaces, Avast BreachGuard will alert you immediately if and when
your data is made available for sale. That way, you can change your passwords and
protect your accounts before anyone can use your data against you.
What’s for sale on the dark web?
Dark web marketplaces offer a range of both legal and illicit goods. Here’s a look at
several of the illegal items you can buy — with prices — courtesy of Privacy
Affairs’s Dark Web Price Index 2021.

Items on the dark web Dark web price

Cloned Visa or MasterCard with PIN $25

Stolen online banking login, minimum

balance of $2,000 $120

Hacked Coinbase account (verified) $610

Hacked Facebook account $65

Forged EU passport $4,000

Android malware, 1,000 instances $900

$15 (1 hour) to $1,000

DDoS attack on unprotected website (1 month)

Data breaches often show up quickly on the dark web. When data brokers get hacked,
the stolen data can include compromised credit cards, social security numbers, and
other data, depending on what was exposed in the breach. This is a common way for
identity theft and doxing attacks to occur.
If you become a victim, report the identity theft as soon as possible. And remember
that there are better (and safer) ways to prevent identity theft than being forced to buy
back your data off the dark web.
Avast BreachGuard monitors the dark web for data breaches around the clock. If a
breach is detected, BreachGuard will notify you right away and help you take the
steps you need to secure your data immediately.

Is the dark web dangerous?

The dark web can certainly be dangerous — with no regulation, it’s a riskier place to
hang out than the surface web. Malware and scams are scattered like landmines
around the dark web. And with many unfamiliar looking sites on the dark web, it’s
harder to distinguish safe websites from shady ones, and easier to fall victim.
Regular dark web visitors know that it’s possible to exploit the sketchy reputation of
the space and the services offered. And though some dark web marketplaces offer user
reviews, not all do. Lack of regulation by authorities or other users makes it easy for
cybercriminals to carry out scams.

Is it illegal to access the dark web?

The legality of accessing the dark web varies from country to country. In the US,
visiting the dark web is legal, though using Tor without the safety of a VPN may draw
scrutiny from your ISP as well as from the government. And while visiting the dark
web may be legal, using it to engage in criminal activity is definitely not.
The dark web’s privacy protections are crucial for
activists and whistleblowers.
The primary role of the dark web is anonymous browsing. Some people use this
anonymity for illegal reasons, but the dark web’s privacy protections are crucial for
activists and whistleblowers. Dark web domains can be vital for those living in
countries where free speech is limited or banned and who want to share information or
organize without being prosecuted.
So is the dark web illegal? On its own, no — but accessing it might be, depending on
where you are. Always check your local laws before visiting the dark web, using Tor,
or using a VPN.