The dark web is becoming a popular choice for online browsing in 2024. It offers features that the surface web cannot provide such as anonymity and privacy.
However, that does not mean the dark internet is safer than other parts of the web. It has various weak points that can affect your online security if you don’t take precautions.
So if you want to learn about staying safe on the dark web through different tools, you’re in the right place. Let’s look at everything you must know about it.
Does Using VPN And Antivirus Make Your Dark Internet Journey Safe?
VPN and Antivirus are two tools that can keep you safe on the dark internet. They mask your IP address, monitor websites, and help you maintain a secure connection to the dark internet.
Typically, these tools are sufficient for enhancing your dark internet security significantly. You can also use other precautions such as not using personal accounts on this web.
Two-factor authentication methods can also enhance your safety on Tor.
The Two Main Tools to Make Dark Web Journey Safe
You will require different programs to access the dark web such as Tor Browser. Other tools such as a VPN are also essential before you can enter the dark internet.
About 77% of people use a VPN for personal use when browsing on surface or dark internet. However, there are some normal dark net users who are not that familiar with the importance of VPN. Users who don’t connect to a VPN before accessing the dark internet put their security at risk. That is because they enjoy less encryption and other protective features.
Another important tool for making your dark journey safe is an antivirus program. Such an app can go a long way in protecting your data from leaking to the dark internet.
These two tools are essential and must be turned on before you access the dark internet. Users who don’t use these programs usually complain about government monitoring and hacking issues on the web.
Understanding the safety features of these two tools will help you realize their importance for dark web access. Remember not every VPN is suitable for pairing with the internet.
What VPN You Must Avoid On The Dark Web
Researching VPNs for dark internet surfing is necessary because all programs don’t offer the same level of protection. Avoid free tools that let you connect to limited networks without any charges.
The main disadvantage of free VPN programs for surfing is that they may disconnect in the middle. You may not even realize you’re viewing things online without a VPN until it’s too late.
Some free VPNs also have time limits for connectivity. For instance, it may only allow you to stay connected to a network for one hour only. You will have to reconnect to another location before the time runs out to continue using the VPN.
If you don’t reconnect before the time is up, the VPN will disconnect automatically leaving your security vulnerable. So whenever you choose a VPN, it must be a paid and reliable program.
A few examples of the best VPNs for dark internet surfing include:
- NordVPN
- ExpressVPN
- SurfShark
- Proton VPN
All these programs require you to get a subscription before connecting to their network. The best part is that a paid VPN has multiple encryption layers and doesn’t face automatic disconnectivity issues.
Using A VPN to Make a Dark Web Journey Safe: How Does It Happen Exactly?
Many people may tell you that a VPN makes your dark internet surfing safe. You may wonder how that happens exactly to make an informed decision. So here are the top ways in which a VPN makes your dark web journey smoother and safer:
Additional Security Layer
A key feature of reliable VPN programs is that they add a security layer to your online surfing. The Tor network helps people stay anonymous on the dark internet by redirecting data through a secure network.
However, there are still some points that government officials and hackers may look at to attack you. This means complete protection cannot be guaranteed even by Tor.
That is why using a VPN will redirect your connection and hide its entry nodes. This means even your internet service provider wouldn’t know that you’re accessing dark sites using their Wi-Fi.
It is advisable to connect to a VPN first, then Tor to ensure high security. All layers of security offered by the program will be applied to your Tor connection to make it less vulnerable.
When your entry nodes are hidden, your IP location will also be masked. So people cannot find out the location from which you connected to the Tor network.
If you connect to Tor first, your entry nodes will not be hidden initially. It will also keep you vulnerable to security threats by cybercriminals. Sometimes you may not even be able to connect to the dark internet without a prior VPN connection.
Continuous Privacy Protection
The dark internet is a major hub for illegal activities and unsafe sites. That is why you must hide your identity when viewing onion links to keep your data and online privacy safe.
Connecting to a VPN before entering the dark internet will hide your IP address and other details that could allow people to identify you. By protecting your location, you will keep yourself safe from malicious ads on onion links.
Many dark sites show ad popups that can steal your data remotely or corrupt your computer. So you may lose all information on your device within a few seconds. There may also be no method to recover data deleted by malicious software.
Pairing a VPN with an antivirus is also a great way to enhance security on the dark net. If you want continuous privacy protection, opt for paid VPNs with high ratings such as NordVPN.
Exercising caution on the dark net by using a VPN will protect you from phishing attacks. It will also prevent your data from being available on dark sites that sell stolen information to others.
Fast Browsing Speed
Browsing the dark internet is not illegal, but some internet service providers still consider such activity a threat. This is why they slow down your browsing speed when you access the dark web on their network.
Your provider may also slow your speed on the regular web if they notice access to suspicious websites. This is why turning on a VPN is a great way to keep yourself safe on the dark net and enjoy fast browsing speed.
When you connect to a VPN before starting Tor, your internet provider won’t know you’re using the dark internet. They will not reduce your network’s bandwidth, allowing you to connect to sites promptly.
Some providers also put data capacity restrictions for internet usage. An active VPN connection will prevent them from knowing how much data you have used. This means you can bypass capacity limits with a VPN.
Connecting to sites promptly will also keep you safe from cybercriminals that may affect your device during the loading process. So your data will be more secure if your browsing connection is fast using a VPN.
Bypasses Regional Bans
Some countries with high censorship restrictions have deemed the dark internet illegal in their region. Tor may not be available in those nations without an active VPN connection.
Examples of countries with Tor restrictions include:
- China
- Russia
- Pakistan
- Middle Eastern nations
In these countries, you must protect yourself on Tor by encrypting your network through a VPN. Once the connection is secure, you will also be able to see sites that were previously unavailable in your region.
You may have to connect to a VPN to download the Tor Browser from its official site. Once you download the app in such a way, it will be necessary to use it by connecting to a VPN beforehand.
Such bypassing will make your surfing safer because your identity will be masked. The service provider won’t also know the sites you are viewing are regionally unavailable in your region.
Protects Endpoints From Attacks
This feature of a VPN is highly useful for protecting organizational networks from attacks. A company may offer their Wi-Fi to employees for conducting various tasks.
If you use the dark internet without a VPN on your company network, it will leave the device vulnerable to attacks. This means your corporate data may be compromised because of these endpoints.
Remember endpoints are devices that are connected to an enterprise’s networks and vulnerable to attacks. These include:
- Desktops
- Laptops
- Mobiles
- iPads
By using a VPN on such devices to connect to Tor, you will be keeping your enterprise’s sensitive data safe from hackers. The endpoints will no longer be prone to attacks because of encrypting layers and rerouting of the network.
This feature is also helpful for protecting devices connected to public networks. For example, you may be browsing the dark net on a restaurant’s Wi-Fi.
A VPN connection will make activity on that public network safe by masking your IP address and hiding different nodes. So always use paid software for a robust connection to enjoy high safety.
Antivirus For Dark Web: What Is It?
An antivirus is a security program that removes threats from your devices and warns of you of security issues. For example, an antivirus app may alert you when you click on a suspicious link.
The program may also block suspicious pages from opening on the web without your manual approval. This ensures you don’t enter an unsafe website without realizing it.
Such software is highly necessary for the dark internet because of many suspicious sites on that web. Many scam onion links are present on the Hidden Wiki and dark search engines that may try to steal your data.
With antivirus software, you may avoid opening suspicious links to keep your identity and online data safe.
How Does Antivirus App Make Dark Web Journey Safe?
Let’s look at the top ways in which antivirus software will make dark internet browsing safer:
Website Protection
One of the top ways antivirus makes dark net surfing secure is by offering site protection. The software will scan the link you’re opening for threats such as malware, viruses, and other technical issues.
If a threat is present, the app will take reconfirmation before opening the page. It will also let you know the type of suspected threat you might face if you proceed anyway.
The best thing is that such site protection is not limited to links only. Instead, robust antivirus software can also scan downloaded files before installing them on your device.
If a download file is infected with a virus, the app may warn you that the file may harm your device. Such warnings can stop you from installing suspicious things on your laptop.
You may also get saved from a cybercriminal attack due to the antivirus app on your device. The software will also scan your device for any pre-installed threats.
It may also offer you solutions on how to get rid of viruses and malware from your laptop. So the program not only makes dark web surfing safe but also protects you from threats on the surface web or already in your device.
Dark Web Monitoring
A significant disadvantage of the dark internet is that your information can leak there easily. You may encounter sites that may be selling your details such as email passwords, bank account credentials, and more.
Sometimes the information may be present on the web, but you may not know about it. In such cases, an antivirus program will come to your rescue.
That is because advanced apps have dark web monitoring scanners to check if user’s information has been leaked there. The program will compare your security credentials with data on the dark internet.
If your username and password are present on a site, the app will alert you. This can help you remove the information by filing a complaint with police authorities.
You may also hire a tech expert and eliminate the information from the dark internet privately. Antivirus software is also useful if you run a small or large business and use the dark net frequently.
The monitoring feature of a program can protect your business data from being exposed on the web. You may also be able to buy back the information if other methods such as a police complaint do not work.
Which Antivirus Works Best For Dark Internet?
Like VPN programs, antivirus software also has paid and free versions. The latter is not good for enhancing dark internet security due to limited features.
Scanning options of free antivirus apps may also be inaccurate. For example, it may mention a threat to you, but the site may be completely clean as per tech experts.
This is why you must invest in paid antivirus software for the best experience. An excellent thing about subscription-based apps is that they have full-system and dark net monitoring scanners.
Such scanners can protect your device from threats such as malware, while informing you of breaches that have already been made. You can use the details given by the app to get rid of all issues.
Some of the best antivirus apps that you can download for safe dark internet surfing are:
- Avast Antivirus
- AVN
- McAfee
- Avast BreachGuard
Pairing these programs with reliable VPN services will enhance your dark net security significantly. So you’ll not have to worry much about data leakage and government monitoring.
How to Choose the Best VPN and Antivirus for Making Dark Internet Journey Safe?
Here are the top three features that will help you choose the most secure VPN and antivirus apps:
Safety Features
The primary features you must check in your safety tools are encryption layers. A VPN must be able to enhance the encryption features of the Tor Browser for greater safety.
Your antivirus software must also offer features such as identity theft protection. A program that has a password manager is also effective for changing and keeping secure passwords.
Some services may also have parental control options. This feature is useful if you have kids in your home and don’t want them to go on dark internet on their devices.
Speed
Some VPN services slow down internet speed by interfering with the bandwidth of your Wi-Fi. However, such issues are common only in free services.
A paid VPN usually maintains the same browsing speed as you would experience without a VPN. This means your dark site will load at its regular speed or maybe faster if your internet is good.
However, antivirus software always slows down browsing speed. This is why you will have to run speed tests on different programs. Such tests will help you determine the fastest antivirus you can get.
Working Capacity
The working ability of an app can be determined by its primary features. A paid VPN must offer an extensive range of locations for connections. This can help you maintain different IP addresses easily.
Meanwhile, an antivirus’s capacity is determined by its scanning options. A good program must always offer manual scanning features besides automatic scanners.
If the apps you choose have such extensive features, you can rely on them to make dark internet surfing a breeze.
Final words
Antivirus and VPN services make it more secure to visit dark net sites on Tor. They keep you safe from malware and government monitoring through unique features.
So you must invest in excellent programs such as Avast and NordVPN for a safe dark internet journey.