How to access the Dark Web using TOR browser?

The “Dark Web” is a notorious word and well for a reason. The Dark Web may be monitored by authorities but it is very difficult to control activities and find the locations of people involved. Though the Dark Web has many other uses, we cannot ignore the fact that it may be used for criminal activities and could be dangerous for those who are not familiar with it. This article is simply for information only.

Access the Dark Web using TOR browser

What is the Deep Web?

Before understanding the concept of the Dark Web, we need to understand what the Deep Web is. We use a term called “indexable” to indicate content that is searchable on mainstream search engines and such content is mostly from blogs, new websites, government websites, etc. However, the vast majority of content is not indexable because you need to sign-in to access it. Eg. All emails, all posts on Facebook which are not public, all medical and bank records. This is huge!

What is the Dark Web and how is it different from the Deep Web?

The Deep Web is simply content that is not indexable. Dark Web is the content that is intentionally hidden. This doesn’t include content merely restricted from web crawlers, but content which is hidden with an intention to avoid finding the location of the people involved with it or bypass restrictions by authorities. One of the most popular applications of the Dark Web is espionage because neither can your location be traced, nor can it be prevented.

How to access the Dark Web?

The best method to access the Dark Web is using the Tor Browser. Interestingly, the Tor Browser could be used as an advanced form of a VPN because it makes the person in the background totally untraceable. Websites won’t be able to trace your IP address and you can be sure that the logs aren’t stored.

Once you install the Tor Browser, it is important to set the location right.

How to set location with Tor Browser?

Websites can find your location through your IP address and it also tells of your service provider. So, Tor allows you to choose the exit and entry nodes for your IP connection. The IP address the website will detect is that of the exit node, so we can focus on changing that for now. The procedure to change the exit node in Tor Browser is as follows:

The Tor browser’s folder would be saved on the main Desktop page. Also, a desktop shortcut will be created.

Use the Desktop shortcut to launch the Tor Browser and accept the permission. The reason is that to create the file in which you need to change the location for the Tor browser, you need to launch it once.

Now, close the Tor browser and open the folder for the Tor browser.

Navigate to the path: Browser > TorBrowser > Data > Tor.

You would notice the “torrc” file in this folder.

Right-click on this file and select Open with.

Select the Notepad or Wordpad applications for opening this file.

At the very end of the data, add the entry: ExitNodes {US} StrictNodes 1 . 

In this case, {US} represents the location which is the US. You can change it according to your needs, eg. CA for Canada and IN for India.

Press CTRL+S to save the changes.

Now you will be able to restart the Tor browser in the intended location.

How to open websites in the Dark Web?

The websites usually accessed through the Dark Web aren’t like your usual websites with .com and .ca TLDs. The most common extension is .onion. The names of the website are juggled and made it difficult to remember. Eg. eajwlvm3z2lcca76.onion is the website address for a popular eCommerce website on the Dark Web. These names could be ever-changing so if you don’t find anything on this address, don’t blame us.

What search engine to use for the Dark Web?

Here’s an honest answer. The common search engines for the Dark Web like Grams are not very useful. The better approach would be to use the HiddenWiki website. It compiles the list of common websites on the dark web.

How to trade on the Dark Web?

Bitcoin is the most common currency on the Dark Web, especially for the anonymity it carries. Alternatively, you could use other crypto-currencies. However, please be sure of the law in your countries over crypto-currencies before trading.

We hope you would use the Dark Web safely and responsibly.