Darknet is a part of the Internet that is inaccessible to standard users. Many legends have grown up around it, as well as stories that make it an extremely interesting topic. What is in the darknet and how to access it? We suggest.
Darknet – what exactly is it?
The websites we come into contact with on a daily basis, viewed, for example, with a Google search, are only a tiny fraction of what is actually on the Web. Traditional web browsers cannot see the contents of the so-called “darknet.” To access this part of the Internet, special encryption is required to ensure anonymity while browsing.
The Darknet, or Dark Web, is formed primarily by anonymous discussion forums, blogs or e-commerce stores. These services are searched for in vain in regular search engines. Individual sites or services are often available only to insiders, even when we have access to the Darknet.
What is the purpose of the darknet?
The Darknet is a part of the Web shrouded in legend, whose activities grow on several levels. On the darknet, for example, it is not difficult to find stores where illegal substances, weapons or even human organs can be purchased. On the dark side of the Internet one can also find pornographic materials or stolen personal data. This kind of activity is extremely dangerous and, of course, illegal.
However, the darknet and the anonymity it provides is also a kind of asylum for people living in countries where there is no freedom of speech. Through the darknet, they can participate in discussion forums and openly express their views. They can also gain access to content that is censored in their countries. It is also not uncommon for darknet to be used by people with political affiliations or journalists who are afraid to share particular information in public forums.
How to use the darknet?
The darknet may seem appealing to some. Therefore, we decided to present how to access it.
To achieve this, you do not need to have advanced computer knowledge. To do so, you simply need to download and install the appropriate software, such as the Tor web browser. After installing Tor Browser, it’s a good idea to manually disable plug-ins and scripts such as Flash or JavaScript in order to increase your anonymity online and make it harder to trace your movements. The web addresses of individual sites are typed directly into Tor, and they present themselves quite specifically. The example address http://xmh57jrknzkhv6y3ls3ubitzfqnkrwxhopf5aygthi7d6rplyvk3noyd.onion/ leads to the TORCH search engine, which has been operating in the darkweb for the longest time.
When using the darknet, you should not give out your personal information or even email addresses.
Is it safe to use the darknet?
One is probably tempted to theorize that it is not. Much of the content published on the darknet can cause injury to the mental health of the person who sees it. When opening a link, we can’t be sure what lies behind it. There may be content related to child pornography or drastic, violent images. Many sites may also contain malware that can harm our equipment.
When using the darknet, therefore, one should be extremely careful. It is also worth ensuring that minors, for whom illegal content may seem extremely tempting, do not have access to it.
main photo: pexels.com/Markus Spiske
