Leak protection is built-in, so you needn’t worry about inadvertently revealing your location while connected. We confirmed that there were no leaks by carrying out IP, DNS and WebRTC leak tests. A veteran VPN provider that stores zero logs about its users’ online activities. These claims have been verified through four independent audits, which suggests the company is invested in its privacy commitments.
Be sure to make the most of its 30-day money-back guarantee and see if it’s the right choice for you. PIA is one of the best VPNs for Linux users, as it offers a native GUI (graphical user interface). You can use Surfshark with the Tor browser for increased privacy on the dark web.
This even has a lockdown mode that prevents you from browsing at all if the VPN is turned off. The apps themselves don’t have very many customizable features – you can have the service connect automatically or allow certain apps to pass through unencrypted. That’s alright, though, because most of ExpressVPN’s protection happens in the background. Your traffic is secured with 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch that ExpressVPN calls its “network lock”.
The Best VPNs For The Dark Web In 2025
However, since it has inconsistent download speeds, it might not be the best for downloading files on the dark web. The upload speeds are more consistent and may suit users looking to upload files to dark websites. Mullvad is easy to use partly because of its simplistic design and partly because the features are a bit bare.
Avira Phantom VPN — Access Tor On Any Device With Unlimited Connections
Users can choose a particular location using a map or by scrolling through the country list. The drop-down menu next to each country lists the available servers. Unlike most VPNs, Surfshark has static IP addresses available, which are useful if you’re hosting a server and want a stable IP address. However, if you’re connecting to Tor, Surfshark’s Rotating IP feature will prove more useful.
Is Accessing The Dark Web Illegal?
The VPN only gives you 500 MB of data per month, which is only enough for a few hours of browsing on the dark web. However, if you sign up for an account with Avira, you’ll double your data limit to 1 GB per month, which is a bit better. Its free plan allows unlimited data, just like Proton VPN, which is pretty good for visiting dark web sites. The paid version adds access to servers in 85 countries and 10 connections. Upgrading to the paid version gets you more perks for dark web surfing.
Best VPNs For Dark Web – Quick List
ExpressVPN continues to undergo independent audits of both its privacy policy and infrastructure. In 2022, ExpressVPN announced that it was offering a $100,000 bug bounty to anyone able to compromise its systems. We’ll get into more detail about individual providers later in this article. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Deep and the Dark web are the hidden part of the internet. KEY TAKEAWAYS If you live in a country where you don’t have internet freedom and face extreme …
Are There Any Free VPNs That Work Well For Accessing The Dark Web?
Remember that many free VPNs on mobile app stores aren’t designed with security and privacy in mind. CyberGhost offers excellent value for your money, especially with long-term plans. Its two-year plan costs $2.19 per month, making it one of the best deals. There’s a one-day free trial on desktop and a seven-day free trial on mobile devices.
With this, I could browse .onion sites from my local cafe without triggering the VPN blocker. The best 100% free VPN for the dark web is Proton VPN because it allows unlimited data for uninterrupted dark web browsing and has very strong security and privacy features. But it limits you to servers in 5 countries (the US, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and Japan) and 1 device. Although the Tor network provides a good level of privacy, it’s not entirely free from online threats. Past instances have revealed security flaws in the Tor Browser, such as the “TorMoil” security flaw that could expose your real IP address on certain platforms. Plus, malicious actors could operate Tor servers and steal your data.
This internet section is readily available to the general public with standard search engines. The surface web is so large that Google’s index contains over 55 billion web pages. It boasts a user-friendly interface, making it easy for its users to use it without worry. The service mainly focuses on simplicity and doesn’t make things complicated. Tor (The Onion Router) directs traffic over a free, worldwide volunteer overlay network of more than 7,000 relays.
Dark Web Private Browsing FAQ
This infects a user’s device and essentially blocks them out of it until they pay a “ransom,” usually in the form of cryptocurrency (so it’s harder to track and recover). Users could accidentally fall victim to ransomware just by clicking the wrong link or downloading a file on the dark web. However, there are also perfectly legal, safe sites within the dark web, like privacy-focused forums, marketplaces, and more.
Surfshark
This means that no data can be stored on them long-term — and is another privacy plus. With two encryption layers, it’s impossible to track your whereabouts. This ensures that you access the dark web only when the VPN is on to enhance your security and privacy. You can read more on how Mullvad protects privacy when compared to our top pick in our Mullvad vs NordVPN comparison.
- Tor naturally slows down your connection, so adding a VPN must not cripple your browsing speed further.
- When accessing the dark web, you need to be cautious about the information you share online.
- No, the dark web isn’t illegal, but what you do while in the underbelly of the internet matters.
- Doing so, you’ll encrypt your connection right away, making it completely unreadable and untraceable from the get-go.
- Our biggest gripe is that CyberGhost can’t be relied upon in places like China or the UAE, though the same could be said of most providers.
Is It Safe To Browse The Dark Web Without A VPN?
What’s the point of getting a VPN for better anonymity when you’re restricted to a few servers located far away? It will be impossible to access regular websites from a specific country if the VPN has no servers there. You need an open-source browser called The Onion Router (Tor) to access them. Tor browser sends your connection through various Tor nodes (servers) run by volunteers.
It’s important to choose the best VPN based on a few key points. But again, your ISP won’t be able to see any of the content you’re reading or what you are sending and receiving through the Tor network. The majority of the users on the dark web use the Tor (The Onion Router) browser.
Awazon Market Link And Access Guide 2025
Saheed Aremu passionately advocates for digital privacy and cybersecurity in the modern digital age. As one of PrivacySavvy’s resident VPN experts, he guides readers on protecting their online information and anonymity. Saheed earned his degree in Technology and Ethics from the University of Lagos in Nigeria. Since then, he has dedicated his career to writing extensively about crucial infosec, data privacy, and cybersecurity topics. If you live in a country where the dark web is illegal, you may find it difficult to visit the Tor website.
