Category Archives: Tor Browser

The dark web.

Its an ominous-sounding term that crops up in discussions about internet security. So you might be wondering what the dark web is and how it can affect you. You could find yourself in trouble if your information shows up in this dark layer of the internet and may even find your financial security and sensitive personal information at risk.

Lets break down the dark web, explaining precisely what it is, what is found on dark web sites, and what to do if your personal information makes its way into its grasp.

We wont be explaining how to access dark web sites in this piece, but rather its potentially harmful effects and how you can counteract them if needed.

The dark web is a portion of the internet that is intentionally hidden and made difficult to access. The internet that you generally browse every day comprises the Clear Web and the Deep Web. The Clear Web is open to access and can usually be found via search engines such as Google.

The Penny Hoarder is a great example of a site on the clear web (also known as the surface web) we are easy to find, and you can access our content without paying.

The deep web refers to anything hidden from the primary web but accessible using your regular web browser. Popular examples of the deep web include content behind paywalls or password-protected accounts.

If you love Netflixs content or have a paid subscription to a news service, those are examples of the deep web. They are locked but can be accessed with the right credentials.

To be clear: The deep web and the dark web arent the same thing, though the two phrases are occasionally used interchangeably.

The dark web is a part of the internet that you cant merely open your web browser of choice (Edge, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and access by typing in a web address or using search engines. Youd need a Dark Web browser (although there are special dark web search engines too).

You need special tools, such as Tor, to access this secretive and dark layer of the web. Content on the dark web isnt always illegal, but due to its anonymized and private nature, the majority is illicit.

The dark web allows individuals to share information freely and with anonymity, making it an excellent place for criminal and illegal activities. Many areas feature Dark Web Commerce Sites from which you can buy illegal substances, services and information some information may be which you dont want out in the open.

For example, if a hacker were to gain access to a system with your private information, such as your email address, Social Security number, credit card data or medical information, they could try to break into your bank or credit card accounts, or sell your information to others via dark web sites. Dark web search engines can also be used to mine private info.

Your information isnt the only illegal data floating around the dark web. Here is a list of some of the most common illegal activities and content on layer of the internet:

The sale of trojans and other malicious software

Services for attacks on computer systems

Espionage and specific targeting services

Sales of illegally obtained credentials and information

Intellectual property and patented trade information

Pornography depicting illegal forms of sexual activity

Access to forged documents, such as government IDs

As you can see, the dark web is generally a place youll never want to go. However, there are a few good uses for the dark web, including the ability for individuals in countries with heavy government censorship to communicate and services for journalists to communicate with anonymous sources.

First, youll need a way to know if your information is on dark web sites, but we dont just recommend diving in with a dark web browser to find dark web marketplaces.

Many popular security companies offer services to scan the dark web for your critical information, such as bank account numbers, passwords and more, alerting you if your info is discovered. Many password managers also offer the same capabilities to keep you secure.

Pro Tip

Popular dark web scanning services include LifeLock by Norton, IdentityForce by TransUnion and Experian. Two of our favorite password managers with dark web scanning are 1Password and LastPass.

If your information does make it onto the dark web, you should treat it like any other data breach.

Some basic steps include determining exactly what information has been stolen. Then change your passwords and increase security with Two-Factor Authentication on all breached accounts.

You may also need to freeze your credit or debit card numbers that have been leaked onto the dark web. Then, youll want to monitor your accounts closely for any unauthorized activity and, if needed, contact an identity theft protection company.

Pro Tip

Heres what to do, step by step, if you become a victim of a data breach.

Is the dark web illegal?

The dark web itself isnt illegal, but much of the content found on it is. Asking if the dark web is illegal is akin to asking whether back-alley deals are illegal; while trading goods in a back alley isnt illegal, you likely wont find legit things happening there, so its probably best to stay away.

What happens on the dark web?

A wide variety of activity occurs on the dark web, most of which is illegal. The dark web is known for its sale of illegal services and items. Sales that occur on the dark web can include narcotics, illegal firearms, restricted pornography and the sale of personal information from security breaches.

Why shouldnt you access the dark web?

The dark web is full of illegal content and services, and if you arent careful, you could quickly find yourself in the middle of such activities. It can be difficult to navigate the dark web safely.

Additionally, due to the types of people that you may come across on the dark web, you need to have extra guard up to protect yourself against hacking and other malicious attacks.

Can you be tracked on the dark web?

The dark web was designed to provide anonymity and privacy for its users. While it is extremely difficult to track users who utilize the dark web and its services, it isnt impossible.

Is Tor illegal?

No, Tor is not an illegal service and it may be used to help create a more private and anonymous browsing experience. This is ideal for individuals who need to circumvent government censorship and defend themselves against tracking.

Of course, using Tor or the Tor browser does allow you to access the dark web, so it is not all sunshine and rainbows. In a toolkit of dark web tools, Tor is essential to visit dark websites and remain anonymous.

Michael Archambault is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

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What is the Dark Web? - AOL

Cookies are files created by websites when you visit them. They can be somewhat helpful, as they save your browsing information, and they allow sites you use often to keep you signed in, remember your preferences or provide content based on your location. But cookie banners that pop up every time you visit a new site or clear your browsers cache can also be highly annoying.

Cookie banners are there to notify you that the site uses cookies. They usually ask you to grant consent to activate them and may provide information on how they use your personal data.

The European Unions General Data Protection Regulation went into effect in 2018. Following this regulation, any website accessible in Europe has to receive users consent before using any cookies except strictly necessary ones. Since most websites are accessible in Europe, nearly all websites use cookie banners.

While the intention was to increase digital privacy, the reality is that these banners have caused frustration for many computer users.

No one reads cookie banners, Max Schrems, an Austrian privacy advocate who pushed for the regulation, told the New York Times. Theyve become almost a useless exercise.

Adobe

If you would rather not see these notifications at all, there are a few ways that you can prevent cookie banners from popping up on your browser window.

Use a browser extension. A browser extension or add-in is like an app for your web browser. The best one will depend on which browser you use. These are some extensions worth checking out:

Turn off or allow all cookies in your browser. When you enable or disable all cookies in your web browser setting, you should stop seeing cookie banners. The steps vary for different browsers.

Refer to your browsers help section if you need more guidance on settings.

Use a privacy-first web browser. Many private browsers such as Brave, DuckDuckGo and The Tor Browser block ads, popups and cookies by default. They also have built-in features that obscure data, improving your online privacy.

What method will you use to stop seeing those annoying cookie banners?

This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.

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Cookie Banners Can Be AnnoyingHere's How To Block Them - WRAL News

DuckDuckGo promises privacy to users of its Android, iOS browsers, and macOS browsers yet it allows certain data to flow from third-party websites to Microsoft-owned services.

Security researcher Zach Edwards recently conducted an audit of DuckDuckGo's mobile browsers and found that, contrary to expectations, they do not block Meta's Workplace domain, for example, from sending information to Microsoft's Bing and LinkedIn domains.

Specifically, DuckDuckGo's software didn't stop Microsoft's trackers on the Workplace page from blabbing information about the user to Bing and LinkedIn for tailored advertising purposes. Other trackers, such as Google's, are blocked.

"I tested the DuckDuckGo so-called private browser for both iOS and Android, yet neither version blocked data transfers to Microsoft's Linkedin + Bing ads while viewing Facebook's workplace[.]com homepage," Edwards explained in a Twitter thread.

The situation is the same for DuckDuckGo's macOS browser, a company spokesperson confirmed.

Responding to Edwards, DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg emphasized its browsers do not allow ad-tracking data to flow to DuckDuckGo's Microsoft Bing-powered search engine, which last year faced separate criticism for inheriting Redmond's censorship of Tiananmen Square imagery.

According to Weinberg, users of DuckDuckGo Search who see ads delivered through Microsoft Advertising do not provide data when those ads are loaded on the page. If a user clicks on an ad, Microsoft Advertising gets the user's IP address and user-agent string for ad attribution and billing, though there is apparently no linking of that click to a user profile, as DuckDuckGo explains on its website.

With regard to the company's browsers, he said DuckDuckGo blocks Microsoft third-party cookies (used for ad tracking) on third-party websites, but acknowledged there are some trackers (scripts used for tracking) that DuckDuckGo's browsers do not block due to contractual commitments with Microsoft.

"For non-search tracker blocking (e.g. in our browser), we block most third-party trackers," said Weinberg. "Unfortunately our Microsoft search syndication agreement prevents us from doing more to Microsoft-owned properties. However, we have been continually pushing and expect to be doing more soon."

What we're talking about here is an above-and-beyond protection that most browsers don't even attempt to do

"What we're talking about here is an above-and-beyond protection that most browsers don't even attempt to do that is, blocking third-party tracking scripts before they load on third-party websites," added Weinberg in a statement emailed to The Register.

"Because we're doing this where we can, users are still getting significantly more privacy protection with DuckDuckGo than they would using Safari, Firefox and other browsers."

In other words, DuckDuckGo offers better than average privacy protections in its browsers but looks the other way for Microsoft-owned scripts for Bing and LinkedIn so they can continue loading on third-party websites like Workplace and gathering data.

DuckDuckGo, said Weinberg, does not promise anonymity when browsing "because that frankly isnt possible given how quickly trackers change how they work to evade protections and the tools we currently offer."

Anonymity is also contractually precluded, as DuckDuckGo had noted in recent revisions to its browser descriptions in Google Play, the iOS App Store and the Mac App Store presumably to avoid scrutiny from regulatory agencies for promising privacy and not disclosing exceptions.

The added text says, "Note About our Tracker Blocking: While we block all cross-site (third party) cookies on other sites you visit, we cannot block all hidden tracking scripts on non-DuckDuckGo sites for a variety of reasons including: new scripts pop up all the time making them difficult to find, blocking some scripts creates breakage making parts or all of the page unusable, some we are prevented from blocking due to contractual restrictions with Microsoft."

In a post to Hacker News, and an even longer essay on Reddit, Weinberg attempted to explain the constraints involved, to the extent possible without violating its contractual commitment to Microsoft to keep deal terms private.

"This is just about non-DuckDuckGo and non-Microsoft sites in our browsers, where our search syndication agreement currently prevents us from stopping Microsoft-owned scripts from loading, though we can still apply our browser's protections post-load (like third-party cookie blocking and others mentioned above, and do)," he wrote on HN.

Weinberg insists DuckDuckGo is trying to change the terms of its search syndication deal with Microsoft but can only say so much.

"Our syndication agreement also has broad confidentially provisions and the requirement documents themselves are explicitly marked confidential," he said.

Speaking of anonymity... Users of the Tor Browser in the pro-privacy Tails 5.0 operating system have been told to stop using the software until the release of 5.1, as a vulnerability in the underlying Mozilla Firefox browser can be exploited by "a malicious website to bypass some of the security built in Tor Browser and access information from other websites."

"This vulnerability will be fixed in Tails 5.1 (May 31), but our team doesn't have the capacity to publish an emergency release earlier."

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DuckDuckGo tries to explain why its browsers won't block some Microsoft web trackers - The Register

One of the best VPN providers on the market, the Swiss-based Proton VPN naturally keeps the security and privacy of its users' data very seriously.

In addition to the recent release of its brand new Proton security bundle, the company's VPN service is packed with security-focused features, too. One of the most interesting and unique is its Secure Core option.

Here, we break down everything you need to know about it: from how Proton VPN Secure Core works in practice, its benefits and disadvantages to the specific situations for which you should consider to opt for this option.

Proton VPN Secure Core is a technology that reroutes your VPN traffic via an extra secure server, before connecting you to a second server location of your choice.

Put it simply, if you connect to one of its Secure Core servers dotted across 60+ countries, your traffic will first pass through one of its servers based in some of the most privacy-friendly nations. These are Switzerland, Iceland and Sweden.

For example, are you in the UK and want to connect to a server in India? If you opt for a Secure Core server, your VPN traffic will move like this:

UK > Switzerland > India

Enabling this option is really simple. Open your Proton VPN app and turn on the Secure Core option - on Windows, macOS and Linux you will see a padlock icon, while on your Android VPN and iPhone VPN version you will see a Secure Core switch to toggle on. After that, you only need to choose your desired location and start browsing with an extra secure layer.

The way Secure Core servers work brings two main advantages to Proton users: better privacy and stronger security.

The double encryption will make your connection less vulnerable to network-based attacks. In fact, even in case the server got compromised, the extra step within your VPN traffic journey will make it more difficult to trace back your real IP address.

There will be no links between your device and the end server so that your anonymity will be better preserved, meaning that your data privacy protection will increase.

Your information traveling through an extra server also means that Secure Core increases the security of your data in transit. Plus, as Proton is the direct owner of these servers, your data security will benefit as the provider is the only entity handling your data.

And it's not just online threats; Proton technology seeks to minimize physical threats, too. Beside being located in countries where strong privacy laws are in place, the Secure Core network is placed in high-security data centers to also ensure a stronger physical protection.

Even though it's quite unlikely for those centers to get seized or physically compromised, this feature clearly demonstrates Proton's effort and commitment to protect the data of its subscribers.

There are also a few downsides to consider before starting to use the Secure Core technology.

First of all, if double encryption is good for data protection, it's not possible to say the same for speed performances. As your VPN traffic will take a longer detour between the server and your device, this may translate to a drop in connection speeds.

Also, among the more than 1,700 server locations that Proton offers, Secure Core is available for just a few of those. This means that many users might not be able to enjoy this feature.

Finally, Secure Core servers are available for paid subscribers only - this isn't something you can use if you're only on Proton's market-leading free VPN. (However, this isn't the only additional feature only accessible to those with a Plus plan. Others benefits are its streaming VPN and torrenting VPN power, ad blocker software and the possibility of using the Tor browser over its VPN service.)

Today's best Proton VPN deals

Having this extra layer of security might come handy for people connected from high-risk locations. This feature therefore makes Proton a really good option for anybody that's after a secure Turkey VPN or UAE VPN, for example, as these governments are notorious for actively monitoring internet connections.

As the Proton team explains in a blog post (opens in new tab): "Even though Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, we cannot be certain that authorities are not monitoring our VPN servers located in those high-risk countries."

Secure Core servers are also a valuable feature for users who carry on sensitive activities online, like journalists, activists or whoever else is greatly concerned about their data protection.

Even though Proton Secure Core is a quite unusual technology across the industry, there are a few of the most secure VPN services that use double encryption to ensure better privacy and security to their users.

Another top provider, NordVPN offers a Double VPN option for example. Similarly, one of the best cheap VPNs around Surfshark has a MultiHopfeature that reroutes the traffic via two servers to boost online security.

Compare today's best overall VPNs

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Proton VPN Secure Core: what it is and when you should use it - TechRadar

In the internet world, nothing is private and fully secure. It doesnt matter how capable your internet security is; hackers will still find a way to play with your privacy. Even if you have somehow managed to dodge the hackers, you will be tracked by the web trackers.

Experts recommend using VPN apps, anonymous browsers, web tracker blockers, ad-blockers, and more to deal with security and privacy issues. However, what if you cant afford to have all such things in one place? The best way to deal with such issues is by using the Tor Browser.

Well, Tor or The Onion Router is basically a computer network thats run by volunteers worldwide. Each of the volunteers runs a relay that is just a computer that runs the software, allowing users worldwide to connect via the TOR network.

Before connecting you to the web, the TOR Network connects to several different relays, which delete all the footprints. In short and simple words, Tor Browser routes all your internet traffic through its network to make you completely anonymous.

Tor is the most secure and private web browser that you can use on Windows 10. It automatically eliminates third-party trackers and ads to provide you a better browsing experience. Also, it helps you defend against surveillance.

Well, Tor Browser is a modified version of Mozilla Firefox browser. The web browser is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, and it can be downloaded for free.

With TOR Browser, you can protect yourself against tracking, surveillance, and censorship. Whats more useful is that Tor Browser removes the browsing history and cookies every time you close the application.

You will find many websites on the internet claiming to provide Tor browser. However, not every website is safe. In the past, lots of fake Tor Browsers were found mining bitcoin on PC. So, its never recommended to download Tor Browser from any third-party source.

We recommend you to stick with the Tor Project webpage to download Tor Browser for Windows, macOS, Android, or Linux. The download link below will take you to the official tor website.

Download Tor Browser

Well, the installation part is going to be super easy. You need to follow some of the simple steps given below.

Step 1. First of all, head to this webpage and download the Tor Browser for Windows.

Step 2. Once downloaded, open the installer file and choose the installation language.

Step 3. On the next page, select where you want to install the Tor Browser and wait until the installation completes.

Step 4. Once installed, open Tor Browser, and you will see a screen like below. If you are connecting from a private network, click on Configure and setup Tor Network. If you have no prior knowledge, click on the Connect button.

Step 5. Now, wait for few seconds until Tor Browser connects to the Tor Network.

Step 6. Once connected, you will find a regular Firefox browser. Now you can surf the internet anonymously.

Note: Since TOR Network connects to several different relays, it slows down your internet. Slow internet speed is one of the common issues with Tor Browser.

Thats it! You are done. This is how you can download & install Tor Browser on Windows 10 computer.

This article is all about how to download & install Tor Browser on Windows 10 computer. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.

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How to Download & Install Tor Browser in Windows 10

Though the internet is meant to be open and unrestricted, there are many cases where websites are geo-restricted, or blocked by a firewall. So, if youve recently come across a website that you want to access but which is blocked for you, worry not, we have the solutions for you. Here is how to unblock a webpage from behind a firewall.

There are multiple ways you can use to unblock webpages from behind a firewall. We are taking a look at all of them individually, and you can use the table of contents below to navigate through this article and try out any (or all) of these methods to unblock websites on your devices.

Quite possibly the easiest way to unblock websites from behind a firewall is by visiting their IP addresses directly. This works in cases where the block has been applied to a domain name, which is mostly the case. Heres how you can visit blocked websites using their IP addresses.

Voila! You would now be directed to the site and access it even if the domain name has been blocked.

A network administrator may restrict certain websites with a firewall to prevent them from being accessed, whether for protection from malicious content or to save bandwidth. If you figure out that a web page has been blocked due to such restrictions, you can sometimes unblock it by switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data.

Obviously, this applies to devices that have a SIM card (or e-SIM). However, even if youre using a device that doesnt have its own cellular modem, you can create a local hotspot from your smartphone and use that to connect your devices.

Times when a site is down or has been blocked but you still need to access it, you can switch to the cached version to retrieve some information from it. For those unaware, the cache is basically an older version of a site that Google stores as a backup and allows access to only limited number of pages. It shows olders versions of text-based sites that you can visit without needing to log in.

While its not a full-on solution per se, many a time you can unblock a site by switching to a mobile or desktop version of the site. You may notice that not both versions of the site are blocked. Heres how to switch between mobile/desktop versions of a website in some of the most popular browsers.

Switch mobile/desktop sites in Safari on iOS/iPad OS

Switch mobile/desktop sites in Safari on Mac

Switch mobile/desktop sites in Chrome on iOS

Switch mobile/desktop sites in Chrome on Android:

Switch mobile/desktop sites in Chrome on Mac/PC

Another pretty simple yet quite effective way to unblock a site from behind a firewall is to access the site in a different language for a different region. For example, by changing your country to India and your language to Hindi, you may be able to bypass the restriction. The whole point Im trying to make is that not all versions of the site may be blocked at once. Therefore, switching to a different version could often do the trick for you.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) has long been a trusted bet for opening blocked websites. What makes it so efficient is the ability to let you mask your real IP address behind a fake one. Thus, it becomes painless to access blocked or geo-restricted sites. For example, if you connect to a US-based VPN server, you will be able to access the geographically restricted sites that are available only in the US. Moreover, VPNs are easy to set up and can also prevent your ISP (Internet Service Provider) from throttling your bandwidth.

Proxy servers are also up to the mark when it comes to opening blocked websites. In terms of functionality, proxy servers are designed to act as middlemen between you and the web. When you send connection requests to a proxy server, it forwards them to the website on your behalf using its own IP address. Thus, bypassing geo-blocks becomes plain-sailing. Its worth noting that a proxy server can return results a lot faster if they have been archieved in the servers local cache. Since proxy servers dont use encryptions, they also do not tend to interfere with your online speeds.

The privacy-centric Tor browser can also come in super handy in letting you unblock a site. If you are wondering how it works, let me tell you that it smartly hides users locations so that they can browse the web without having to deal with censorship.

Just like a proxy or VPN, Tor conceals your real IP address behind a new IP address assigned to you. By passing your traffic through secure relay servers, the Tor browser not only safeguards your privacy but also facilitates hassle-free access to websites even if they are blocked.

Is there any downside? Tor is comparatively slow and also doesnt support all platforms including iOS. These shortcomings aside, if you are on Android or desktop and want to browse the web with improved privacy, Tor browser wont let you down.

In some cases, your modem may assign you a Dynamic IP address which is temporary and remains valid only for a session. So, if you run into a site that is blocked, you can overcome this issue by using a new IP address generated by your modem. And the quickest way to get it done is by just rebooting your modem. Give this nifty trick a shot to see if it gets the job done for you.

A Smart DNS (Domain Name Server) allows you to hide your real DNS address which is assigned to you by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). As your DNS address consists of information that reveals your actual geo-location, replacing the DNS address with a new address where the content is available can help you bypass geo-blocks.

Notably, most Smart DNS services provide a massive list of pre-unblocked websites that you can visit without any restriction. Knowing that Smart DNS services lack encryption, you can access blocked content with the maximum speed offered by your ISP.

Thats pretty much done! So, these are the trusted ways to unblock sites. While VPN services and proxy servers are more reliable for unblocking websites, other tricks like switching to mobile/desktop sites and rebooting modems are very handy. Now that you know various ways to get through, make the most of these hacks to prevent restrictions from letting you access the desired content. Did you find this guide helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The rest is here:
How to Unblock a Webpage from Behind a Firewall - Beebom

Lets admit, in the internet world; nothing is private and fully secure. If everything is secure, why would one need a VPN app or an antivirus solution to protect their device? It doesnt matter how trustable a tech company is; they would track you somehow.

Do you know that popular tech companies like Google, Facebook, etc., also track your activity? They do it through the web trackers. Although popular companies track you to improve their services, some track it for evil purposes.

Security experts recommend using VPN apps, anonymous browsers, ad-blockers, security solutions, and more to avoid web trackers. However, what if you cant afford to have all such things in one place? The answer is Tor Browser.

Well, before understanding Tor Browser, you first need to know about the Tor. Tor or The Onion Router is basically a computer network thats run by volunteers worldwide.

Each of the volunteers runs a relay. Relay is just a computer that runs the software, allowing users worldwide to connect via the Tor Network.

In simple words, before connecting you to the web, the Tor network connects you to several relays, which ultimately deletes all your footprints and makes you anonymous.

Although setting up Tor is a complicated process, its one of the most secure web browsers that you can use on your computer. It encrypts your web traffic and eliminates a wide range of web trackers, ads, and more.

Now that you are aware of Tor Browser, its time to know some of the best features of the web browser. Below, we have highlighted some of the best features of Tor Browser.

Connect even if Tor is Blocked

If you live in a country where Tor is blocked, you need to select the Tor is censored in my country option to access the network. You can configure tor to connect to a bridge during the setup.

Cross-Platform Availabilities

Guess what? The tor browser is available for almost all major platforms. This includes Windows 10, Linux, macOS, Android, and iPhone. The browser is known for its cross-platform support.

Block Trackers

Tor browser automatically isolates each website that you visit. This thing is done to restrict third-party trackers and ads from following you. Also, it clears your browser cookies when you close the app.

Multi-Layered Encryption

The latest Tor Browser relays and encrypts your traffic three times as it passes over the Tor Network. With such a level of encryption, no one can know your real IP Address and identity.

Unblock Sites

Tor browser can even eliminate the need for a dedicated VPN app. With the Tor browser, you can access sites that your home network may have blocked. Not only that, but you can even unblock streaming websites.

Free

Despite offering all such great features, Tor Browser is free. The web browser is completely free to download and use. Also, it doesnt show any ads.

These are some of the best features of Tor Browser. It would be best to start using the browser to explore more features.

Now that you are fully aware of Tor Browser, you might want to install it on your computer. Please note that Tor Browser is completely free to download & use. That means you can download it from its official website.

However, if you want to install Tor Browser on any other system, its best to use the Tor Browser Offline Installer. Below, we have shared the latest download links of Tor Browser for PC.

Well, Tor Browser is not a usual web browser. If you are using Tor to unblock blocked sites, you need to set up a proxy for that.

You can find lots of tutorials on YouTube regarding how to set up a Tor browser. Or else, you can check out our guide Install Tor Browser in Windows 10 to install the browser on your PC.

So, this article is all about how to download Tor Browser for PC in 2021. I hope this article helped you! Please share it with your friends also. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.

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Download Tor Browser For Windows & MAC (Offline Installer)

What is Tor/Onion Router?

The Tor project is a non-profit organisation that conducts research and development into online privacy and anonymity. It is designed to stop people including government agencies and corporations learning your location or tracking your browsing habits.

Tor Browser isolates each website you visit so third-party trackers and ads cant follow you. Any cookies will be automatically cleared upon exiting the browser. Also your browsing history.

Not too many computer users have heard of the terms proxy or proxy server, or understand what they mean or do. A proxy server is a website/server that acts as a middleman for you to get on the Internet. When you using a proxy server, youre not contacting a website directly but your information runs through a special computer that passes along your request for you.

Using Tor makes it more difficult to trace Internet activity of the user like visits to Web sites, online posts, instant messages, and other communication forms.

Tors intended use is to protect the personal privacy of its users, as well as their freedom and ability to conduct confidential communication by keeping their Internet activities unmonitored

To say in a nutshell, people use proxies because they dont want anyone to track where they are located. But the truth is, even someone with limited technical skills can track your IP address to a general location, such as the city where you live. They cannot exactly pinpoint the address or figure out who you are, but if they got your name or city in an email or somewhere, they could guess where you are.

So what can people do who want more anonymity have? Thats where a Special Browser, Tor comes in.

Tor is a free software program that we can load onto your computer (like a browser) that hides the IP address every time data is sent or requested on the Internet. The process is layered with heavy-duty encryption, which means your data is layered with privacy protection.

Tor will bounce those Internet requests and data through a vast and extensive network of relays (servers) around the world. That data path is never the same because Tor uses up to 5,000 Tor relays to send the data request. Think of it as a huge network of hidden servers that will keep your online identity (meaning your IP address) and your location invisible.

By using Tor, websites will no longer be able to track the physical location of your IP address or what you have been looking at online and neither will any law enforcement or government security agencies that may want to monitor someones Internet activity meaning. Tor is like a proxy on steroids.

Tor has extreme value because it can work with your website browser, remote log-in applications and even with instant-messaging software.

Tor is used by people all over the world to search and buy products and communicate with others with restricted Internet access, such as what exists in some foreign countries.

Tor goes beyond simple anonymity, it provides access to a world of information that the normal web (Clearnet) does not. Some may consider this to be a good thing, some will think of it a bad thing, but it depends on how the user looks at it.

Tor is used by a variety of people and organizations. But, its a fact that many individuals and organizations are up to no good on the Internet, and Tor is their network of choice. They deal in merchandise or information that is illegal and would be blocked by most Internet Service Providers.

So while Tor does provide peace of mind for those who seek the highest level of Internet security and privacy, it also creates a haven for those who want to do online business out of the light of law enforcement.

And that brings up another problem. If you do business on Tor and you run into a problem or dispute or if youre scammed there might not be anything you can do about it. A recent article cited that a higher percentage of Tor transactions are fraudulent ( compared to ordinary Internet transactions). Russia is working on blocking all incoming Tor traffic for anti-terrorist purposes. Wikipedia, the online public encyclopedia, is working hard to prevent Tor users from accessing their website.

Google and Yahoo dont block Tor users outright. But People wont be able to access dark web sites in the normal browser or even getting the reliable links for dark web sites is a little hideous task.

Related

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Tor Browser - Dark Web Portal Exposed | Dark Web Wiki

2022, January 26 7 min read

If you have ever heard of the dark web networks that exist on the internet but require specific tools to access you have heard of Tor. Its named after the acronym of the project that started it the The Onion Router. Thats because the security that makes Tor so anonymous resembles the layers of an onion. So if youre looking for dark web links, you are looking for Tor websites. And were going to hook you up.

Before you start, lets go through your dark web checklist real quick:

Yes, search engines exist on Tor, but their reliability is questionable. DataProt, a website dedicated to advising on cybersecurity, has a great looking infographic explaining how Tor works.

Tor sometimes has websites made exclusively for the network. These usually come as onion links with the .onion domain. To find the best dark web links on Tor, you have to use a website list just like the one below. Here are ten cool dark web links to paste into your Tor browser today!

The Hidden Wiki is usually presented as your one-stop-shop for dark web links. Thats not the case. Many of the links present in The Hidden Wiki are of dubious (if not criminal) nature. Many more dont work. As far as resources go, its somewhat useless. Which is why we recommend Daniel.

Daniels website lists 7,000 .onion addresses. They are separated into several categories to make browsing easier. Moreover, Daniels site has an in-built test functionality. This means you can have the website check if any given Tor website is online. The list shows the last time a website was checked and whether it was online. This makes Daniels website an excellent first step in exploring Tor.

More tips & tricks on how to use a VPN

ProPublica is an investigative journalism outfit. Their 2016 reporting on sexual abuse won the Pulitzer Prize that year. ProPublica is accessible on the clearnet that is, the regular internet youre using right now. Yet it also maintains a Tor website. Accessing it via a Tor browser gives you a layer of anonymity and security, as well as allows you to bypass country blocks.

As a bonus, ProPublica is one of the most polished web experiences youll have on the dark web. Its also not the only one to have a dark web link: you can also use Tor to read The New York Times and other news sites or use their SecureDrop integration for whistleblowing purposes.

http://msydqstlz2kzerdg.onion

I still maintain that going into Tor without having dark web links already in your hand is a fools errand. But some people insist on search engines, and several Tor engines do exist. Im going to recommend Ahmia.

While its hard to tell which engine works the best, Ahmia presents itself as a hidden service search engine, and thats what it does. It also works to remove child abuse content from their search results, which is both the morally right thing to do and a good service for those who want to trawl the dark web.

https://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion

Google collects a lot of your information. Its search results tend to be biased. DuckDuckGo, however, was built on the idea of not collecting user data. The results that this search engine shows you are always neutral. Its similar to the Surfshark Search feature offered by Surfshark.

Youre most likely to find DuckDuckGo useful outside of the dark web. Indeed, it doesnt search for Tor websites. This is a bit of a bummer since the popular Tor search engines are all ugly and uncomfortable to use. DuckDuckGo has a presentation similar to Google. And unlike the Tor search engines, it wont lead you to quite so many illegal websites after a simple search.

http://nzh3fv6jc6jskki3.onion

Riseup provides email and chat services that keep no records of your activity. It is also protected from malicious attacks. It also has no intention of cooperating with any government unlike, say, Google.

Riseup supports the causes of human liberation, the ethical treatment of animals, and ecological sustainability. Thats why Riseup also provides organizational tools, mailing lists, and more.

However, knowing the dark web link isnt enough you need an invitation code to create a Riseup account. But you can still browse the security section! It has excellent tips on how to add a dash of information security to your daily life.

http://answerszuvs3gg2l64e6hmnryudl5zgrmwm3vh65hzszdghblddvfiqd.onion

Hidden Answers is one of those dark web links that keep making their way onto these lists. The reason for that is simple. Hidden Answers is the dark web version of Quora, Yahoo Answers, and Reddit.

Once you access the site, youll soon notice that the questions on Hidden Answers touch upon a variety of topics. When people have the ultimate anonymity the internet can offer, they still ask where your nickname comes from or would you have your head cryo-frozen after death.

http://rougmnvswfsmd4dq.onion

The dark web is a curious subject: its not that easy to use, and it seems to be popular among shady people. But what if we put all that activity into numbers?

Tor Metrics is the website that measures who and where uses the network. Surprisingly enough, about 20% of daily users come from Russia. The US is in second place, with around 18% of the share.

Aside from revealing just how widely not-used Tor is (data suggests barely more than 1.5 million daily users), you can also see the scope of the network. Metrics record slightly more than 60,000 unique .onion addresses.

We already established that many of the dark web links you find on link aggregators are offline. Thus, it paints a picture of the tiny world of Tor websites.

http://zerobinqmdqd236y.onion

Just like clearnet, Tor has its utility websites. ZeroBin is one of them. If you use the Tor network regularly, you will want a way to share stuff with your dark web friends. ZeroBin allows you to do that with complete safety and privacy.

One of its selling points is that even ZeroBin servers dont know what you pasted. The data encryption takes place on your browser before it goes to the server. Options for sharing include password protection. And, of course, the pastes will be deleted sometime later.

http://xfmro77i3lixucja.onion

Tor website lists like to harp about Sci-Hub. They miss two vital points: its down (at the time of writing), and a clearnet version exists you dont need Tor to use it.

Sci-Hub is mostly useful for academic types who know the PMID, DOI, or URLs of papers they want to access. At the same time, websites like the Imperial Library of Trantor store stuff thats interesting to the broader public.

Imperial Library is a public depository of scanned books. As a bonus, its administered by a guy with a Riseup email address. To date, nearly four hundred thousand books have been uploaded.

http://r6rfy5zlifbsiiym.onion

Interested in comic books instead? Theres also the Comic Book Library, with entries dating back to the 1930s. Of course, like any such effort, the scans are of dubious legality.

http://62gs2n5ydnyffzfy.onion

http://74ypjqjwf6oejmax.onion

And for the end, a slice of something completely different. Some of the more famous Tor websites are about exploring the tunnels in American universities.

Infrastructure like that is both dangerous and illegal to access. Thats why urban explorers hosted their blogs on Tor. It also helps that said universities are heavily tech-related.

IIT Underground focused on Illinois Tech is the smaller of the blogs. Beneath VT thats Virginia Tech is more prominent. It provides more details on the tunnels as well as the dangers associated with them.

The websites are a step above the usual Tor website design, too. They still look like something from the early aughts, though.

The dark web is the Wild West of the internet exciting to explore but can also be dangerous. Here are some threats you might run into:

And even if youre getting something thats not illegal, theres no reason for a vendor to ever remain in the dark web. In short, its bad for traffic and sales.

Thats why, even if you use The Onion Router, its a good idea to use Tor over a VPN.

So if you want to experience the dark web, these Tor websites are a good starting point. But you should be aware of the security dangers involved in using the Tor network.

The fact that youre using Tor is not hidden from your ISPs (Internet Service Provider) records. Keep your Tor browsing a secret by using Surfshark (its called Tor over VPN)! If necessary, it can even hide the fact that youre using a VPN.

Secure your data with a VPN

Browse the dark web privately

Written by

Pijus Jaunikis

A privacy worrier with a knack for translating tech stuff into human language

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Top 10 dark web links & Tor websites for 2022 - Surfshark

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The Tor Project says that you cant run the full version of the anonymizing Tor browser on a Chromebook. But, by using your Chromebooks Linux subsystem, you can install and use it very easily. Heres how.

The Tor Project has created a free, anonymizing computer network that anyone can use to maintain their privacy online. The Tor network uses the regular internet infrastructure along with its own overlay network of volunteer-provided Tor nodes. These do the routing for the Tor network traffic. They encrypt your traffic and use other tricks to make back-tracing and identifying your IP address difficult to the point of being almost impossible.

However, the Tor browsers main purpose isnt clear-web browsing. In fact, it would make your connection seem a bit sluggish and would degrade your user experience. Its true purpose is to visit sites on the Tor network itself, which are called onion sites. These have an .onion extension and cannot be reached using a regular browser.

The Tor network is a darknet and a part of the dark web. Theres a lot of dreadful content on the dark web. You should only visit the dark web if you have a good or otherwise compelling reason to do so. And there are many valid reasonsthe dark web isnt all bad.

In some repressive regimes, Tor is the only way to reach clear-web websites that have been banned in those countries. Most major newspapers own an onion site on the Tor network so that anonymous sources can deliver stories and tip-offs while remaining anonymous.

The Tor website says that there is no official Tor client for ChromeOS. There is a Tor Android app and, because Chromebooks can run Android apps, you can use that on your Chromebook. However, its not ideal. The websites that you visit think that youre on a mobile device (such as a smartphone). The version of the website that youll see is the responsive one. These are tailored for small portrait-mode screens.

Luckily, there is a simple way to install a genuine Tor browser on your Chromebook. It uses the Linux subsystem for ChromeOS.If you havent activated Linux on your Chromebook, youll need to do that first.

The Linux subsystem might not be available on older Chromebook models. If the setting described in the next section doesnt appear in your ChromeOS settings, then sadly, youre out of luck.

First, youll need to turn on Chrome OSs Linux subsystem.

Click the notification area (system tray) to open the Settings menu and click the cogwheel icon.

On the Settings page, type linux into the search bar.

Click the Turn On button beside the Linux Development Environment (Beta) entry.

A confirmation window will appear to let you know that a download is about to happen.

Click the Next button to move to the next page.

Enter a user name, and leave the disk size option at the default setting. Click the Install button to start the installation process.This will take a few minutes. When the setup completes, youll see the Linux terminal window and a command prompt with a blinking cursor.

Note that the command prompt includes the user name you chose earlier. In this example, it was dave.

To find out a little bit about the Linux environment were running in, type this command and then hit the Enter key. Youll need to hit the Enter key each time you enter a command in the terminal window.

Some interesting information is displayed for us. The most important thing is that we now know which version of Linux this subsystem is based on. Its Debian Linux. Debian uses the APT software installation system, or package manager, in Linux-speak.

We will use APT to install the Tor browser.

Copy and paste the next line into the terminal window. Note that if youre using the keyboard to paste into the terminal window, the keystrokes are Ctrl+Shift+V, not Ctrl+V.

When we tell the APT system to install a package for us, it searches through several locations to try to find the package. This command sets up an additional location for APT to search.

Now, well tell our Linux subsystem to check for any updates.

When that command completes, well install the Tor browser launcher. Cut and paste this command into the Linux terminal window, and then hit Enter.

Youll see a lot of output scrolling past and a text-based progress bar at the bottom of the window. You might be prompted to confirm that youre sure that you wish to install the launcher. If youre prompted, press Y and hit Enter.

When the installation completes, we can launch the Tor browser launcher.

What weve installed is a small program that downloads the actual Tor browser installation files, checks the integrity of the download against signatures and checksums, and, if all is well, installs it for us.

Wait for the files to download and install.

A connection dialog box will appear. Click the Connect button.

Wait while yet another progress bar slowly creeps to 100%.

Then, at last, the Tor browser will appear.

Youll probably find it convenient to add the Tor browser to the pinned apps on your shelf. Right-click the Tor browser icon on your shelf and select Pin from the context menu.

To launch the Tor browser in the future, just click the icon on your shelf.

There will be a short delay while it gets prepared and configures itself, and then the Tor browser will launch.

Lets increase the security level of the browser. Click the three-line menu icon at the top right of the browser window.

From the menu, select Preferences.

When the settings window appears, click Privacy and Security in the list of options on the left-hand side of the screen. If you have the browser window set to a narrow width, the option is replaced by a padlock icon. Set the Security Level to the Safest setting.

Now that you have the Tor browser configured, youre good to go and visit onion sites. But where are they?Well, its a little bit Catch-22. If you know why you need to be on the dark web, you should know where you need to go to.

The dark web doesnt have an equivalent to Google. At least, theres nothing that you can trust that wont point you to fake sites and endless scams. So you cant search for a topic and get a list of links to different sites. This isnt the clear web.

But the only way to prove that your Tor browser is functioning correctly is to visit some onion sites. So here are some safe ones.

For maximum security, use the Tor browser with a VPN (ExpressVPN is our favorite), and only go onto the dark web with a specific purpose in mind. Casual tourism doesnt count.

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How to Install the Tor Browser on a Chromebook