What if my phone number is on the dark web?
If your phone number is in the wrong hands, your identity and sensitive information could follow. Scammers and hackers could use your number to access your cloud accounts, which might hold private photos and details about you. They could then threaten to reveal your identity or information unless you pay a ransom.
The dark web is a mysterious and often misunderstood corner of the internet. It is a part of the web that is intentionally hidden and is only accessible through specialized software. While it has a reputation for being a haven for criminal activity, it is also home to many legitimate communities and resources.
The number of victims caused by the global MOVEit data breach continues to climb; Welltok has announced more exposures, this time from three more health organizations. LoanCare is a sub-servicing entity that assists mortgage loan providers with finance and data functions; they service over 1.5 million customers across the states and beyond. This week caps off our year of cyber breaches; in this week alone, we saw millions of records stolen, targeted health providers, mortgage servicers crumble, and the return of a year-old breach. Electrostim Medical Services Inc. (EMSI) is a healthcare servicer in Tampa, Florida.
Enhance Your Protection On The Dark Web
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a network of websites that are not indexed by search engines and are only accessible through the Tor network. Tor, which stands for “The Onion Router,” is a free software that allows users to browse the internet anonymously. By routing internet traffic through a series of volunteer-run servers around the world, Tor makes it difficult for anyone to track a user’s online activity.
What is the deep web on the internet?
The deep web is an umbrella term for parts of the internet not fully accessible using standard search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. The contents of the deep web range from pages that were not indexed by search engines, paywalled sites, private databases and the dark web.
The dark web provides you with a level of anonymity and privacy that the ‘surface web’ we browse every day simply can’t compete with. While there are many legitimate reasons to use the dark web, its hidden and unregulated nature means that it can be a haven for harmful and illegal content. Because of its association with certain illicit activities, there have been calls for regulation of the dark web. For instance, the G20 and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have both called for cryptocurrency companies to provide information on buyers and sellers in transactions conducted online. This is especially true, they say, to help law enforcement track criminal organizations and illicit activities.
How To Stay Safe On The Dark Web
How to Access the Dark Web
Is DuckDuckGo a Tor?
DuckDuckGo is the default search engine in Tor Browser. DuckDuckGo does not track its users nor does it store any data about user searches. Learn more about DuckDuckGo privacy policy.
As you surf, you’ll probably notice that dark website addresses end with the .onion extension rather than the traditional .com, .org, .edu, etc. Make sure you have some security software installed because there’s a good chance that you may come in contact with malware and phishing scams. First of all, you’ll need a VPN – now you know – it provides additional privacy and security online by changing your IP address. We selected a random country to connect through it, and the VPN shows we are in.
Hacking Tools And Services
To access the dark web, you will need to download and install the Tor browser. The Tor browser is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Once you have installed the Tor browser, you can access the dark web by typing in a .onion URL. These URLs are only accessible through the Tor network and will not work in a regular web browser.
Finding .onion URLs
Finding .onion URLs can be a challenge, as they are not indexed by search engines. However, there are a few ways to find them. One way is to search for “dark web directories” or “dark web links” on regular search engines. These directories will contain a list of .onion URLs that you can visit. Another way is to join dark web forums and communities, where users often share links to their favorite .onion sites.
Staying Safe on the Dark Web
The dark web can be a dangerous place, and it is important to take steps to protect yourself. Here are some tips for staying safe on the dark web:
- Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) will encrypt your internet connection and make it more difficult for anyone to track your online activity.
- Don’t give out personal information: Be cautious about giving out any personal information, such as your name, address, or email address. Scammers and hackers are common on the dark web, and they may try to steal your information.
- Use strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts. This will make it more difficult for hackers to gain access to your accounts.
- Don’t download files: Avoid downloading files from the dark web, as they may contain malware or viruses. If you must download a file, make sure to scan it with antivirus software before opening it.
This is due to the ever-evolving nature of the dark web — search engines there simply can’t keep up with the changes, often providing irrelevant or repetitive results. Android users will need to download Orbot and Orfox to access the dark web with their phones. Orbot will connect you to the Tor network, and Orfox is the actual browser that you will use.
My advice is to research before entering sites you find through search engines and protect your personal information with a highly secure VPN. Another alternative is Freenet; like I2P, it won’t give you access to.onion links — only content that was uploaded to Freenet. It’s more of an anonymous place for peer-to-peer content sharing. Like I2P, it uses a distributed network database for added assurance against cyber attacks. Configuring Freenet is simple — you just download and install it. It runs automatically in your web browser, so I recommend using a different browser than you normally do to ensure privacy.
By following these tips, you can help protect yourself while exploring the dark web. However, it is important to remember that the dark web is not a safe place, and you should always exercise caution when browsing.
- We’ve also previously mentioned the “dark users” that use the dark web for illegal reasons, but the less said about them, the better.
- Tor is a network browser designed to protect anonymity by routing data through encrypted servers to avoid tracking and surveillance.
- Connecting to the Tor network can take a few minutes since the Tor browser needs to set up a secure connection to the network.
- An individual’s internet activity can be tracked and monitored using their IP address.
- Instead, it uses the “.onion” domain which applies to all of its websites that also don’t have typical names.
Conclusion
The dark web is a fascinating and mysterious part of the internet. While it has a reputation for being a haven for criminal activity, it is also home to many legitimate communities and resources. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can access the dark web and explore its hidden corners safely.
Do I need a VPN to access Tor?
A VPN isn't a requirement to use Tor, but it helps a lot. It encrypts your whole traffic, masking it from the ISP. In short, it's much safer to use Tor with a VPN. Not all VPNs offer Tor features in their product.
