VPN for Dark Web: How to Protect Yourself on the Dark Side of the Internet

Have you ever wondered how much of the Internet is hidden from your eyes? The content you can freely access when using Google, Yahoo, or Bing, is just the tip of the iceberg. A vast amount of data remains invisible and is scarcely accessible to common users. 

However, if you want to satisfy your curiosity or have an urgent need to get into the depth of the World Wide Web, you can’t do it without some extra security measures. A trusted VPN will protect you during your journey to the dark side of the web. How? Keep reading this post to find out!

What is a dark web?

The dark web is a hidden part of the Internet sites that aren’t indexed by search engines and can be accessed only with browsers like Tor. Most often, this layer of the World Wide Web is associated with illegal and criminal activity. In particular, people are believed to browse the dark web to maintain anonymity when trading drugs, guns, and stolen or forged documents. 

However, that’s only part of the truth. In fact, many use the dark web not to hide their illicit Internet behavior, but to go beyond the indexed content and enhance their online privacy.  

What are legitimate uses of the dark web?

Here are several common reasons for surfing the dark web without malicious intentions:

• Read the news or visit human rights websites in countries with a high level of censorship
• Access content that isn’t indexed by most search engines
• Enhance anonymity when going online 
• Protect personal or business data
• Use anonymous email services

On top of that, the dark web can be helpful for specific organizations and professionals who need a high level of privacy for their online activities. For example, journalists working for world-famous mass media resources use the dark web to conduct anonymous file sharing and communication. In particular, Reporters Without Borders recommends using the Tor browser to interact with sources in countries that have repressive regimes. 

Also, the dark web is widely used by military, government, and law enforcement organizations. In fact, the Tor software was originally designed to protect the identities of US navy intelligence agents.

What is the difference between surface web, deep web, and dark web?

According to GeeksforGeeks, 96% of the Internet is hidden and lies beyond common search engine results. The 4% of the World Wide Web everyone can access is known as the surface web. This content is indexed and available on typical search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. But what exactly lies beneath that surface? 

Many think that the hidden part of the Internet called the deep web is a synonym for the dark web. However, there’s a drastic difference between these terms. 

The deep web is the section of the Internet hidden from crawler indexing. It’s the bottom Internet layer mostly consisting of various data like payment credentials, corporate pages, medical records, and other confidential information. The content of the deep web is encrypted and accessible only to those with corresponding access or permission levels. However, this Internet layer is majorly used for entirely legitimate online activities. 

In contrast, the dark web is anonymous and may be used for illicit activities that can even be illegal. However, as mentioned above, it also provides users with more private browsing. The dark web may give freedom thanks to censorship resistance, access to more content, and anonymity.  

How to enter the dark web?

The dark web is a risky place, so entering it is not a cakewalk, whatever the reason. To get there, you will need to use an anonymous browser or specialized software. As mentioned above, the most common and available option is the Tor browser. Let’s look under the hood of this tool to understand what it really is and how it works. 

What is the Tor browser?

Tor (The Onion Routing) is a web browser allowing people to make online traffic anonymous and protect their identities. Today, Tor is a non-profit organization run by many global volunteers. It’s open to the public and mostly used to access the dark web. 

Even though the dark web is considered to be a place with shady activities by many, using this browser is legal in most countries. On top of that, Tor gets funding from multiple organizations, including Reddit, Free Radio Asia, and even some US government departments. Also, since 2014, Tor has started its partnership with Mozilla, striving to make the browsing experience of Internet users more private.    

Nowadays, nearly 2 million people around the world use the Tor browser daily.

How does Tor work?

Tor creates a secure network consisting of multiple servers or nodes to keep your data anonymous. This process involves many phases, so your device doesn’t actually communicate with the server. Instead, your data travels through the nodes, resembling onion layers passed one by one. That’s why this process is also known as onion routing.

This approach allows users to enhance their privacy when surfing the web. If you use Tor, no one can trace your location and monitor your browsing history. However, Tor cannot be considered an ultimate solution. Why? Here are several key reasons:

• Tor doesn’t hide itself. Third parties can see you’re using a private browser to enter the dark web.
• Tor doesn’t ensure complete security. Remember we said the dark web is a dangerous place? Tor cannot save you from potential malicious attacks or social engineering tricks.

So is the dark web safe? Of course, it’s not. However, you can mitigate any possible drawbacks of Tor with a trustworthy VPN service like VeePN. It provides complete anonymity, prevents monitoring, and ensures an additional security layer.

Should you use VPN on the dark web?

Using VPN for dark web is essential if you’re looking for privacy and top-notch security. When exploring the shaded part of the Internet, you will need to be sure nobody can track your activity, steal your personal information, or spy on your phone. 

A VPN provides secure connection to the Internet by creating an encrypted tunnel. Your data runs through this tunnel, so it cannot be tracked by any third parties, from your internet service provider (ISP) to ad agencies and hackers. On top of that, a VPN stops Internet throttling and makes your browsing experience smoother. 

Such a high level of anonymity and security is guaranteed if you combine the Tor browser and a reliable VPN. Let’s look at the most significant reasons why you should install a VPN and how it makes the dark web safe. 

VPN provides security

A trustworthy VPN service provider like VeePN ensures a powerful AES-256 encryption protocol making it impossible for hackers and malicious actors to catch you in their nets. It will help you avoid attacks by preventing connection to insecure networks. Moreover, a VPN protects your online activity even when you’re using public WiFi.

VPN ensures anonymity

A VPN will hide your IP address and make your browsing activity completely anonymous, without any signs of unusual traffic. Nobody will know that you’re using a tool like Tor, so they cannot track your online presence and location. 

VPN shields your data

During your journey to the dark web, you won’t be eager to give your personal data away to cybecriminals or other malicious actors, right? A VPN will run your data through an encrypted tunnel and mitigate the risks of private information leakage. However, note that most free VPNs aren’t trustworthy, as they might even become the reason why your personal data was compromised.

Looking for a secure VPN for the dark web? Check out VeePN!

The dark web opens up numerous opportunities for those seeking more privacy or simply wishing to explore the hidden part of the web. However, it also carries numerous risks. So when diving into the depth of the Internet, it’s worth empowering your security toolkit. 

Of course, without Tor, you won’t manage to enter the dark web. But, at the same time, your journey will be way too dangerous without a VPN.

Looking for a VPN service to ensure your protection and anonymity when surfing the dark web? Consider using VeePN. It’s a powerful tool providing users with reliable encryption that shields you from hackers, data leaks, and third-party monitoring. Also, the NetGuard feature will block trackers and keep you away from malicious websites. So if you want to explore the hidden side of the Internet, VeePN will make your journey completely safe. 

FAQs

Do I need a VPN for the dark web?

Yes! A VPN will ensure protection when you browse the dark web by encrypting your private data and making your online activity completely anonymous. Of course, you will need the Tor network to enter the dark web. However, a VPN will create an additional security layer and enhance your privacy. Want to know how? Read this post to learn more details! 

How to use VPN for the dark web?

You can start using a trustworthy VPN like VeePN in just a few easy steps:

• Install a VPN app to your device
• Sign up for a new account
• Connect to the chosen server
• Use the Tor browser without the risk of being tracked 

Which VPN to use for the dark web?

There are multiple VPN services out there, but not all of them are viable when it comes to using the dark web. We recommend using VeePN. It’s a fast, secure, and intuitive solution you can install on any platform or device. VeePN is the best VPN for dark web offering multiple powerful security and privacy features to ensure your anonymity and prevent third-party monitoring.

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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