Once you have those, there are several ways to tunnel through the dark web. Tor relays are servers run by volunteers, designed to keep your activities private and untraceable. It makes up about 6% of the internet, and it’s where you find everything from illegal marketplaces to forums for whistleblowers.
Step 2: Connect To A Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Using the dark web is completely legal until and unless you engage in criminal activities happening there. If you are dealing in illegal activities like drug dealing, pornography, or hate propaganda, then you are sure to be doing illegal acts. Explore the free world, full of information, and knowledge inaccessible anywhere else. Although you will find mostly illegal and criminal sites, some of them are surely something we would not want to miss. Also, in some countries, governments may actively monitor or block access to the Tor network.
Tips For Safe Browsing On The Dark Web
The dark web is a decentralized web, which means that the data is stored on many different servers around the world. It has been estimated that a large percentage of dark web traffic is related to illegal pornography that includes underage victims. There are a number of services and tools available on the dark web, many of which can be used for nefarious purposes.
- If you’re someone who values fine-grained security management, the OrNet browser is a great option.
- Moreover, all the users, as well as the owners of this web, are completely anonymous.
- Before we delve into how to access the dark web on your iPhone or iPad, let’s first understand what the dark web is.
- Your account must be older than 4 days, and have more than 20 post and 10 comment karma to contribute.
Enhancing Your Security

Third-party browsers cannot use their own rendering engines but must rely on Apple’s framework. The requirement limits the privacy-related features these browsers can offer. That said, they still come packed with great, customizable options, built-in VPNs, ad-blockers, detailed usage reports, and a wide range of other features to suit all needs. Take a look at our list to choose the best private web browser for your iPhone or iPad.
Bad actors can compromise nodes, with exit nodes being of particular concern. No, you need the Tor browser or a compatible app to browse .onion websites. While it’s technically possible, using a VPN is highly recommended for better security and anonymity. A traffic correlation attack takes serious resources, but it’s doable for advanced actors with sufficient motivation. Most websites have HTTP and HTTPS versions, but connecting to the former introduces a security vulnerability. With HTTPS-only enabled, Tor automatically upgrades all HTTP requests to HTTPS to prevent this vulnerability.
- To prevent phishing websites on the dark web from getting your information, we recommend using PGP decryption to verify sites before using them.
- Users on the Dark Web can access websites without revealing their true identities, thanks to the use of Tor (The Onion Router) and other similar privacy-focused technologies.
- Keeper Security is a reputable password manager offering an excellent suite of features, including BreachWatch and Secure File Storage.
- It’s something built into the password management services offered by Apple and Google as well, so you don’t need to trawl through data leaks manually yourself.
- For obvious reasons—I don’t want to get you or me into trouble, after all—I’m not going to get too specific when it comes to what you can find for sale on the dark web.
How To Access The Dark Web On A Phone In 2025

Those who used Mac OS X and Linux were particularly vulnerable to this issue. However, their actual IP addresses would not have been exposed if these individuals had used a VPN in the background as a safety measure. An anonymous hybrid network known as the Invisible Internet Project (I2P) makes it possible to communicate peer-to-peer without fear of censorship. As I’ve previously said, it’s a good idea to keep your interactions with the dark web to a minimum, unless you can absolutely trust the people you’re dealing with. You’ll often see a sign in stores that says “look, don’t touch,” and it’s not a bad adage to bear in mind as you navigate around the dark web. For obvious reasons—I don’t want to get you or me into trouble, after all—I’m not going to get too specific when it comes to what you can find for sale on the dark web.
Can I Access The Dark Web Without Tor On My Phone?

The best way to do that is to get the link from legitimate sources, like The Hidden Wiki. Utilize a VPN, avoid sharing personal data, and do not download files from untrusted sources. It is highly recommended to use a VPN for additional security and anonymity when browsing the dark web on iPhone.
Understanding The Dark Web On IPhone
Journalists, activists, and everyday users who know the importance of anonymity while on the dark web or any other platform prefer Tor. By closely monitoring market movements, we offer in – depth analysis that empowers businesses and individuals to make strategic decisions. In the online shopping space, we help retailers optimize their platforms and consumers find the best value.
Wide Area Network (WAN): Definition, Examples, And Technologies

To maintain anonymity on the dark web, use strong passwords, avoid revealing personal information, and consider using a secondary device that doesn’t contain sensitive applications. That said, illegal actions remain illegal, whether on the dark web or not. Some regions ban the Tor network entirely, such as China, Russia, and Iran, so check your country’s laws before using it. Husain Parvez is a Cybersecurity Researcher and News Writer at vpnMentor, focusing on VPN reviews, detailed how-to guides, and hands-on tutorials. Husain is also a part of the vpnMentor Cybersecurity News bulletin and loves covering the latest events in cyberspace and data privacy.
How To Access Dark Web On Iphone?
Accessing the dark web on an iPhone can be safe if proper precautions, such as using a VPN and not sharing personal information, are taken. As mentioned earlier, many websites consider Tor suspicious and block users entirely. Sometimes, you can access a website but won’t be able to login on your Tor browser. Likewise, some websites allow Tor, but with frequent Captchas that can be annoying. You can also use DuckDuckGo to find onion sites across the Tor network. The same applies to downloading files, which often contain tracker elements.
It tends to conjure vague notions of bad people secretly doing bad things. But while it certainly is a place where illegal activities are facilitated, it can also be a force for good. It is difficult to estimate the size of the dark web as it is not indexed by engines and its content is hidden behind layers of encryption and anonymity. The dark web is generally considered to be smaller than the surface web.
While a VPN is not strictly necessary, it provides an added layer of security and privacy. I find the app a little difficult to use without instructions, but I’m 72 now and not as computer savvy as I once was. Nevertheless, Tor and Duck Duck Go seem to do the job – not too sure about The Onion Router for IPhone search engine, though.
The attacker in control of the botnet can exploit the devices to facilitate DDoS attacks, spread viruses, or phish for personal information. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Websites hosted on the Tor network end in .onion (to indicate the network’s multiple layers of encryption). Tor is a safe and popular way to access the dark web, but there are still alternatives out there. I2P was created just one year later than Tor and runs on a similar type of network, routing your traffic through multiple nodes to obscure your activity. With user data from Dread, it can verify accounts submitting .onion links, authenticating whether they are genuine site owners or scammers with more accuracy.

You can also safely access the dark web on Android by configuring the Tor browser settings. The Tor browser comes with three layers of security that are worth considering and using. Go to the Advanced Security Settings option that’s accessed by clicking on the Shield button.
Tor blocks JavaScript by default, but this addon lets you permit it for trusted sites. By default, Tor has stricter privacy settings than most standard web browsers. Users can take further steps to maximize privacy when browsing with Tor. We’ve talked about the Tor protocol bouncing your traffic through multiple remote servers.