Would you know how to access the dark web?

Not a clue.

Yup because it's the job of one of my household

Yes. I work in IT and have done some freelance testing / dev work as an 'ethical hacker'.

If you don't know how to get to the dark web, don't start trying to find a way. It is not nice.

@WhenDovesFly Haha, I always think exactly the same! A computer set up in a basement with all sorts of equipment around and the screen shows an inversion of what I usually see. Maybe with some matrix style codes flying around.

Not a clue although never tried to find out. My first port of call would be google!

I know that you’d need Tor but I wouldn’t know how to use it - I didn’t know that you couldn’t search as a PP says.

No. Wouldn’t have a clue.

This is such an interesting thread!

Not a chuffing clue. No idea what TOR is having read this thread. I’d never even heard of it before this thread. I’d be like the op who said she’d have to Google it 😂

A series of clicks rather

Another who hasn't a clue ... I never would want to access this but I'm intrigued how others know. I remember in one of the original Dragon Tattoo films Lisbeth (was that her name?!) asks a computer geek to do it for her and he opened a website and did a series of clocks on a picture and voila he was in.

No

Use TOR browser

I've no idea how to access it, but am I the only one who stupidly imagines that the 'dark web' is like a negative of the ordinary web, ie, all black pages with white or other coloured writing on them haha!

No, I'll leave that to the criminals and perverts.

Download TOR.
I'd imagine you'd need a good VPN in place? I remember seeing something on YouTube (Mr Nightmare - does spooky stories etc) where someone accessed the DW for drugs and the dealer he messaged knew his name and location and then threatened to blackmail him.

Yes, DS showed me the dark web once.

Spoiler alert: It’s REALLY boring.

Honestly.

*totally omitted about downloading a browser into TOR in my explanation. Sorry!

I got the instructions from a Reddit thread about 5 or 6 years ago but the thread got pulled.

Tbh, when you're in the dark web you don't just stumble across porn and child images you still have to go looking whatever you're looking for.

The dark web just refers to web content that isn’t listed/indexed - for example not found on Google

Tor has been mentioned, but that’s ‘just’ file sharing, like the original Napster
It’s ‘dark web’ because the contents aren’t listed and you need to have the relevant software (eg tor) to access the files, plus the ability to find the files in the first place (indexes on servers etc)

Tor provides file sharing such as torrents. The legitimate use is that you can share a file and then everyone who downloads it continues to share their copy, which then makes someone else’s download more efficient

If you watch US TV shows by downloading them before they come to the UK then you’re using the dark web

If you stream with an Amazon fire stick from sources that you’ve subscribed to or they are open, then that’s ‘normal’ and you’re using ‘listed’ streaming
But if you get a modified Amazon fire stick and can search/stream unlisted pirated copies of shows then you’re streaming from the dark web

Back in the days of dial up internet there was the general internet from your ISP, plus direct dial in bulletin boards.
The bulletin boards are within the definition of the dark web as they were not indexed on the internet. It could be all above board where you just need to find out the phone number and a password
Or it could be nefarious and you need to find someone who will give you the number and a password

It’s like cheap meat from the guy down the pub - that’s the ‘dark market’
He could be selling wholesale meat on the side with a bit of mystery (Imagine Leroy Brown the stationery salesman in Crocodile Dundee)
He could be a low level shoplifter or from the back of the warehouse
Or he could be able to get you some drugs, guns and a nuclear missile - but probably just a low level thief

Yes and it's a piece of piss. Google it.

You don't just "stumble across" scary things. For all intents and purposes, TOR is just a browser - it's a bit like putting your Chrome Browser into "incognito mode" so your cookies aren't stored and linked to your Google account.

What you can then access is just about anything you can get on Chrome. Note that the BBC News and their whole website is available on the Dark Web so Russians who want to see it can use it, despite it being blocked in Russia.

Yes, you can access indecent images of children using it, but you can also do that in 3 clicks on Google search (I don't recommend you look).

The only real difference between using the Dark Web and Firefox / Chrome / Safari etc is about how cookies and your identity can be tracked.

Opening TOR doesn't suddenly give you access to a shopping centre full of firearms, drugs, children or donkeys any more than opening Chrome.

You still have to go looking for it.

Yes, have accessed it several times.

I don't know as I've never tried but I'd say it probably very easy

You can randomly come across very dark stuff on social media without even searching for anything so I can't imagine its very difficult

I wouldn't have a clue, didn't even realise it was a real thing and not really sure what exactly the "Dark Web" is! I think I've heard the term on the telly or something and just assumed it was dodgy websites where you could buy dodgy stuff or something like that!