Contrary to the common belief accessing the dark web is legal however that does not mean that you don’t have to be careful when you are accessing it. Even though it is legal, it comes with some downsides. The dark web has a mysterious nature that can be used by criminals to carry out their bad activities while staying safe from law enforcement authorities. There is no oversight and no accountability. So if you are accessing the dark web you are taking a huge risk because if anything happens to you on the dark web, it would be really difficult to catch the perpetrator.
The best thing to do would be to not access the dark web. However, if you have to do it out of necessity then you have to learn ways to keep yourself safe. In the old days exploring the dark web was even more dangerous but now there are many tools and programs available that can help you explore the dark web safely. The only downside is the criminals on the dark net are also taking advantage of the technological advancement and they are updating their techniques and tactics as well. However, you can mitigate a reasonable level of risk if you take advantage of all the new safety tools that are available to you.
Things You Can Use To Explore the Dark Web Safely
Let’s take a look at several things that can be done to make your dark web exploring safer.
Get a New Device Specifically For Exploring Dark Web
One of the most basic things you can do to protect yourself on the dark net is to use a new device. Using a new device will give you peace of mind knowing that you have never used it to access any of your accounts. So even if there is a lapse in security your credentials are never in danger. People who just want to visit the dark net out of fun usually don’t care about this. Due to the mysterious nature of the dark net, many people want to access it just to see what the big deal about it is. These people don’t think about buying a new device just for the sake of fulfilling their curiosity.
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This puts them at a lot of risk as using your device for accessing the dark net can not only damage the device but it can also have negative effects on your day-to-day life as well. The hackers can infect your device and steal your important information which they can then use to blackmail you. If you have your banking details stored in your device, hackers can use it to empty your bank account.
Get a Specific Internet
Cybercriminals on the dark net can inject your device with viruses and other malware that can spread from one device to the other through network sharing. If you want to access the dark net then make sure you are not doing it on your home network. As you have bought a new device for accessing the dark net, you should also invest in getting a different internet connection specifically for accessing the dark net preferably from a different company than the one you are using for your home network. Doing so will help you keep your home network separate from the dark net.
You can also use public Wi-Fi to access the dark net. If you use an internet connection that hundreds of other people are using then it would mask your identity. But it is also a double-edged sword. Using public Wi-Fi might protect your identity but it can make your device more vulnerable to attacks by hackers as there might be hackers on the same network as well. So this is why it is better to use a private but dedicated internet connection for accessing the dark net instead of using public Wi-Fi.
Using a dedicated internet connection for accessing the dark net would give you peace of mind knowing that if a virus or malware infects your device it cannot spread to other devices through a network connection.
Use a Virtual Box
Virtual Box is a great program by Oracle Corporation that lets you create a fake computer environment where you can browse the dark net. Once you shut down the virtual box there is no trace of your usage history. There are other software similar to this as well but virtual box is the most authentic one. The program was initially developed to test software, for experimenting with different technology, for the development of software, and for running multiple operating systems at the same time.
So the intended purpose of the virtual box wasn’t to use it as a safety layer when accessing the dark net but it can surely help in that regard as well.
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Access the Dark net through the Tor Browser
The dark net can only be accessed through specialized private browsers like Tor. There are other private browsers like Tor as well. But Tor is considered the most reputed and well-known private browser for accessing the dark internet. The Tor browser comes with a range of different security features. That adds a layer of security however you should know how to setup and configure your Tor browser to make it even more secure.
Make sure you configure the Tor browser first and then press connect. It should also be noted that the Tor browser might run a little slower due to all the different programs you are using and also by nature accessing dark net links takes time because the connection is routed through several different IP addresses.
Use a Strong Virtual Private Network
Using a VPN is crucial when accessing the dark net. The Tor browser routes your connection through different IP addresses and when you use a VPN, it adds an IP address in the mix which makes you safer and also masks your location more strongly. When you turn on a VPN and then connect to Tor, the Tor browser will consider the VPN IP address as your real IP address so you would be completely safe.
With so many VPN programs available you might get confused about the best one you should use. It is recommended to always use a VPN program that is well-known and has a good reputation in the market. In addition to that it is of great importance that you buy a paid version of the VPN software. As that will have all the security features that are not available in free or trial versions. Remember to keep your VPN software updated.
VPN is very beneficial in hiding your identity but it isn’t something that could singlehandedly keep you safe. While it offers a level of security there are also some areas where VPN might not be able to help you out.
Anti-malware programs Are a Necessity
There are hundreds and thousands of criminals on the dark net. Who is waiting for you to make a mistake so they can get into your vulnerable devices and steal your data. You can take some very strong steps to keep yourself safe. But when you are on the dark net there are always risks for your device to get infected by malware or virus.
Even if you are using a virtual box and a separate device for the dark net it still doesn’t make sense to let it get infected by malware. If your device gets infected you might not be able to use it again to access the dark net safely. So you would have to invest in a new device again. This can cost you a lot in the long run. So it is better to take preventive measures and get an antimalware tool.
Turn On the Firewall
Most new devices have firewall software installed in them. It is a built-in feature. When you are accessing the dark net make sure to keep the firewall on. You need all the security features that you can and a firewall is one of the most basic ones. It is already present in devices so you don’t have to download or buy anything. In those rare cases where your device does not have a firewall then you can download it from the internet.
Use Tails Operating System
The Tails operating system was designed for security and privacy. People use it to bypass surveillance. Tools like this can be great, especially for people living in autocratic countries. So there is no denying that it offers some great security features. But the big issue is how people use it. It can be used for good purposes if you are trying to protect yourself from government surveillance. However it can also be used by criminals.
Another great use of the Tails operating system is that people can use it to protect their identity and devices on the dark net. You need a USB to use the tails operating system. Before you turn your computer on, insert the USB with Tails in the USB port and turn on the computer. Then on the boot menu choose boot from USB and your device will boot the Tails operating system.
The Tails operating system can not only provide privacy and security. When you are accessing the dark net it can also save your device from getting infected by any sort of virus. Another great thing about Tails is that it is portable. The operating system is installed in a USB which you can take wherever you want. You can also attach the USB to any computer and boot the Tails system from there. So even if you don’t have your device with you but you still have a need to use Tails, you can simply attach the USB to any computer nearby and use the Tails operating system.
Things to Avoid When Exploring the Dark Net
The above-mentioned things are some of the precautionary measures you need to take to safely explore the dark net. However, that is not where the safety parameters should stop
In addition to the precautionary measure mentioned above there are also certain things you need to avoid when you are on the dark net. As a general rule, you shouldn’t surf the dark net as you surf the surface web. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should avoid to explore the dark net more safely.
- Spending a lot of time on the dark net
- Being careless with the dark net sites you visit
- Surfing the dark net for hours to find the link you want
- Downloading random things from the dark net
Both the surface web and dark net are legal to surf. However that does not mean that there aren’t any differences between the two. There are certain risks on both types of web but you have to be more careful on the dark net. You cannot surf the dark net the same way you surf the surface web. On the surface web people are usually relatively carefree. But one carefree step on the dark net can lead to a lot of problems.
When people visit the dark net, they usually go to Hidden Wiki. From there they find the relevant dark net links that they want. The Hidden Wiki does offer a lot of authentic links but there are also many fraudulent ones as well. Visiting these fraudulent links can be a safety hazard. So if you don’t have the right links you can always check on the Hidden Wiki.
Techniques to Avoid Bad Things On the Dark Web
If you already have the link you can simply paste it in Tor without having to find your respective links from several different links on the Hidden Wiki. This also helps to reduce the time you spend on the dark net. You can just access Tor, visit the one link you want, perform the activity you want to do, and then you can close down Tor. As a safety measure, you must spend the least amount of time on the dark net.
Another thing you shouldn’t do on the dark net is download something from there. While it is true that people get carried away with buying stuff online on the surface web. The same behavior can yield bad results on the dark net. So don’t download anything you don’t want. However, there may be instances when you only visit the dark net to find downloadable things like an e-book, or rare document, or some other things. In such cases, it is important to run the downloaded files through a strong anti-virus. And anti-malware software to see if they are clean or not.
You should still practice caution even if the anti-malware tools don’t show anything. Hackers on the dark net are becoming more technologically advanced, especially after the introduction of Artificial intelligence. So they might use strong and stealthy malware. That cannot be detected by the versions of antivirus and antimalware software that you have.
To ensure full security try to keep them on the device that you use for accessing the dark net as transferring the file to your personal computer might be a bit risky.
You Will Have To Spend A Good Amount of Money to Be Safe On the Dark Net
You don’t need any money to access the dark web as you can access the dark net by simply downloading the Tor browser from the internet. The Tor browser has some built-in security features but those are not enough. To be fully safe on the dark net you will need to spend a reasonable amount of money.
If you are a regular dark net user then you need to spend money on buying premium versions of VPN programs, buying a dedicated device for the dark net, investing in a new internet connection, getting a new USB for using Tails, and some other relevant things. You should also buy all the updates that are regularly released as they might have some new and improved security features in them.
You need to use all the things mentioned here together as missing. Even one of these things can result in a security lapse. So try to invest money in creating a secure network. That would make your dark net exploring safer and more secure.
Final Words
You can never be fully safe when you are on the dark web. But you can build several layers of security. Which will aid you in exploring the dark web in a relatively safer way. You have to familiarize yourself with all the tools available to you at any given time. You should also be aware of all the programs that might get released in the future. So that you can start using them as soon as they are released commercially.
