With it, you also get mainstream VPN features like the no-logs policy, 256-bit military-grade AES encryption, and multi-platform operability. It’s best monthly deal costs only $4.99 per month and has a free version. ExpressVPN may look slightly overpriced, considering a monthly fee of $8.32, but it offers enough features to justify this rate. Nonetheless, if you find it unsuitable, you can claim a refund via its 30-day money-back guarantee through 24/7 customer support. Therefore, after testing, we have curated a list of the best dark web VPNs. We will discuss each service’s security and privacy features and how to use them securely.
Server Network
This means that the JavaScript will be disabled by default on every website and some symbols and images will not be displayed. As I’ve mentioned, the dark web isn’t just a place of eternal torment, teeming with drug dealers, human traffickers, and a hitman. It’s also used by journalists, advocacy group members, and political refugees in hiding. Reuters, Fox, NBC, CNN – all of them keep open dark web channels to receive anonymous tips from whistleblowers. Sure, it’s not as secure as the clear web version, but it’s there and totally legal to use.
Https://g7ejphhubv5idbbu3hb3wawrs5adw7tkx7yjabnf65xtzztgg4hcsqqdonion/
All of this keeps the sender anonymous thanks to how each intermediary node only knows the location of the previous and next node. The browser is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows desktop and laptop computers. The Tor Browser does have its flaws, which we’ll go into a bit later. However, there is an easy-to-use way around that, which we’ll talk about later. In this comprehensive guide, I will endeavor to answer those questions and many more. I’ll go into how the Tor system works, explain the Onion Network, what a relay is, and how to make the Tor Browser work best to protect your online privacy and anonymity.
If you’re in a restrictive country, you’ll be crossing the red line and authorities could be at your heels. The silver lining is that no one has been arrested or prosecuted for using an anonymizing browser. Discovered pages are indexed in an extensive database and ranked based on numerous factors. When you search a term (or query) in a web browser, the search engine combs through the database to find relevant results and serves them up on SERPs.
Apart From Tor, Are There Other Browsers For Accessing The Darknet?
- ExpressVPN has consistently been regarded as one of the top VPN services globally, known for its high speeds, exceptional reliability, and strong commitment to user privacy.
- Additionally, transparency reports provide insight into the number of government requests for user data that the VPN provider has received.
- During testing, the kill switch immediately disconnected me from the internet when switching servers (when the VPN drops) so my data wouldn’t leak.
- PrivadoVPN is yet another Switzerland-based VPN with paid and free plans.
The provider also has special Secure Core servers that route traffic through ProtonVPN-owned and operated data centers in privacy-friendly countries. However, it’s best not to use these if you’re then planning on entering the Tor network, as they’ll slow your connection down. NordVPN uses strong 256-bit encryption for all of its apps, ensuring your traffic is safe before reaching the Tor network.
How To Browse The Dark Web Legally
If top-notch privacy is your goal, yes, you can use the Tor Browser for all of your browsing. Just remember, this only hides your browser-based activities and doesn’t hide any of your other online activities. This is why I strongly advise anyone visiting the dark web to exercise the greatest of caution during their dark online travels. Check out my article for more information about the dark web and how to access it while staying safe. One way to stay safe is to use a VPN while accessing the dark web, so be sure to check out my article on the best VPNs for the dark web. Arguably, the best-known tool used to access the dark web is the Tor Browser.
The dark web is rife with threats, from hacking attempts to stolen personal data. That’s why we focused on VPNs offering bank-grade encryption, DDoS protection, and IP/DNS leak prevention, along with other advanced safeguards. Every service in our selection meets these standards, so you can browse with confidence. As one of the top-rated dark web VPNs, Proton VPN’s performance is sublime, with WireGuard and the VPN Accelerator to boost things a bit. Proton VPN offers 5,840+ servers in 90+ countries, with a surprisingly vast server fleet larger than Surfshark’s. However, once you get used to it, you’ll love its dedicated streaming and torrenting servers but also NoSpy servers based in Romania for the highest level of privacy.
Is The Dark Web Actually Anonymous?
- You can try PIA risk-free via its 30-day money-back guarantee or there’s a seven-day free trial for mobile users.
- Mullvad is one of the best VPNs when it comes to protecting your privacy and anonymity, which is obviously a good thing if you’re keen to surf the dark web.
- No additional Tor browser is required — everything is handled within the app.
- Just remember, this only hides your browser-based activities and doesn’t hide any of your other online activities.
- We only recommend using a VPN with Tor if you’re an advanced user who knows how to configure both in a way that doesn’t put your privacy at risk.
That alone might already raise suspicion and place you under special surveillance. Some reports say the FBI will simply label you a “criminal” once they’re aware you’re using the Tor browser. Next, disable Javascript in your Tor browser to prevent malicious scripts from attacking your browser sessions. You can disable Javascript by clicking on “Preferences” in the macOS app or “Settings” in the Windows app. That means that when Tor is compromised, or perhaps there’s a new vulnerability exploit in the Tor network, a VPN will still protect your privacy.
Tor-Enabled OS Alternatives To Tails For Secure Dark Web Browsing
You can use the VPN rated #1 for the dark web with no restrictions for a month—great if you want to try this no-log provider’s Onion over VPN servers for yourself. Internet providers and websites can detect when Tor is being used because Tor node IPs are public. Although websites can’t identify you and ISPs can’t decrypt your internet traffic, they can see that Tor is being used. The US government originally created onion routing in the late 1990s to have an anonymous, encrypted network in cases of disaster. It was also meant to be used by those who needed to communicate out of countries that have internet restrictions/monitoring.
Part of what makes the dark web the dark web is that you can’t access it through your normal web browser, nor can you look something up on it via a Google search. For this reason, you need a VPN with super-fast speeds – so your internet doesn’t dissipate completely. Even if you’re just browsing a dark web forum, a VPN with essential security features will protect you from cyber threats, whether hackers, criminals, or creeps. On the bright side, you’ll also get a reliable kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, robust leak prevention (all my tests came back clean!), and the option to pay in Bitcoin.
This ensures that your real IP address is hidden from the first Tor relay (it sees the IP address that your VPN provider supplies). Then the Tor anonymity network relays further obfuscate your true location, as the browser relays your browser traffic through several relay locations. That said, the Tor Browser and a VPN make an excellent team for protecting your online activities from prying eyes, and provide optimal online privacy protection. While the Tor Browser hides your online browsing, it only hides your online activity through the Tor Browser. Another reason you don’t want to use the Tor Browser for your daily web browsing is that it draws attention to you. The Tor Browser prevents your ISP from seeing what websites you’re visiting, but it does not prevent the ISP from seeing that you’re using Tor.
We regularly test the top 70 VPNs for security and this list only includes VPNs which keep you anonymous and don’t track your activity. Plus we only recommend VPNs which offer a full-money back guarantee allowing you to try them risk free. Most free providers suffer from AT LEAST one of these issues; most have almost all of them.
