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And yet, in actuality, the dark web is rather simple.
What we interact with on a day-to-day basis is known as the clear web.
This includes checking your emails, online shopping, browsing social media and other pretty normal online experiences.
Think of the dark web as a second, somewhat murkier layer below this.
Here, I’ll explain all this, and more.
On top of this, NordVPN offers cyber threat protection, combating any cyber nasties you might come across.
What is the dark web?
The dark web gets its name from its hidden nature.
There are large portions of the internet that we cant access, known as the deep web.
The dark web is hidden for a different reason.
The core principle of this kind of browsing is anonymity.
While the exact definition varies, the term normally refers to content that is hosted on these secure networks.
This is a completely separate form of internet that cant be accessed by typical search engines.
How do you get into the dark web?
In many ways, the dark web is actually very similar to the regular internet that we all use.
There are a few to choose from, but the best-known is Tor.
To get onto the dark web, youll need to download the Tor web client.
This can be downloaded on a desktop or equally as an app on Android or Apple.
However, this is where some caution needs to be implemented.
What do people use the dark web for?
So, youve made it onto the dark web…but what can you actually do on there?
However, there are also some perfectly reasonable and legitimate uses too.
There are also lots of people who just appreciate the privacy that the dark web offers.
Is the dark web safe to use?
While the dark web offers the benefits of privacy and anonymity, that benefit comes with a trade-off.
This side of the internet is somewhat lawless, offering up a hotbed of criminal activity.
Equally, many of the websites on the dark web are offering something illegal.
Accessing these sites can come with legal risks or could simply compromise your setup.
On top of that, many VPNs come with automatic virus scanning and traffic analysis.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services.
Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
