Step #1: Connect To A VPN:

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The Tor Browser’s default privacy and security settings are optimized to preserve your anonymity online. To access the dark web using a VPN, we recommend using the Onion over VPN method, which involves connecting to a VPN server before connecting to the Tor Browser. Following these steps will greatly reduce the possibility of exposing your data and important files to criminals online. Unfortunately, you can’t use a VPN service at the same time as Orbot, so you won’t be able to use an existing VPN subscription for this method.

Data Availability

Is It Dangerous to Download a Guide on Darknet Markets?

Dark market vendors might prioritize higher-valued products, which can generate profits faster than products with lower profit margins (e.g., accessories, Tobacco). In other words, lower profit margin products need higher turnovers for high profits, which is facilitated by business-to-business transactions. Most of the remaining categories contribute only a little, with most representing only 2% or less of all counterfeits. Thus, almost 80% of counterfeits listed were represented by only five (of the 16) categories of products. Focusing on counterfeits (Fig. 3), we see a similar overall trend (gray line).

Darknet markets are online marketplaces that operate on the dark web, a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires special software to access. These markets sell a wide range of goods, including illegal drugs, weapons, and stolen data. While some people may be interested in learning more about darknet markets, downloading a guide on how to access and use them can be a risky proposition.

However, some uncertainty surrounds the information about the origins of dark market counterfeits since providing this information is voluntary, and a large portion is undeclared (see Limitations). Nonetheless, the stark outlier in product origins of seized goods and product offers on dark markets is the US. Around 5% of dark market counterfeits were listed as originating from the USA, while only 0.4% of goods seized at borders come from the darknet markets 2024 US. Again, such a discrepancy might be due to biased expectations by law enforcement, as searches are sometimes based on shipment origins (Männistö et al., 2021). Thus, border seizures might miss counterfeits originating from countries suggested by dark markets, such as the US. For example, Tobacco, pharmaceuticals, metals, electronics, and accessories (e.g., sunglasses) could be scanned for counterfeits when originating from the US.

The Apple App Store and the Google Play Store are also filled with fake apps that are not safe to use. For these reasons, you should use a computer to access the dark web if you have the option to. You can also access the dark web on a computer using Tails OS and the Tor Browser. This is the safest method as it completely isolates your dark web activity from your main hard drive. We used a VPN and the Tor Browser to access Incognito, a dark web marketplace, on Windows. To safely access the dark web on Windows and macOS, you can combine the Tor Browser with a VPN to hide your identity.

Malware and Viruses

Always stay informed about the latest threats and best practices for staying safe online. You should do this regardless of whether you’re using Chrome or another browser to search the clear web, or using Tor Browser to dive into the deep web. Moreover, it’s important to remember that using Tor does not make a user’s actions on the internet completely anonymous. If a user logs into a service like an email account or social media platform through Tor, those services can still potentially record that user’s activity.

One of the biggest dangers of downloading a guide on darknet markets is the risk of malware and viruses. These guides are often distributed through file-sharing networks and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, which are notorious for being how to surf the dark web breeding grounds for malicious software. If you download a guide from one of these sources, there is a good chance that it may contain malware or a virus that could infect your computer and steal your personal information or damage your system.

Legal Risks

Another risk of downloading a guide on darknet markets is the legal risk. While darknet markets themselves are illegal, simply downloading a guide on how to access them may not be. However, if you use the information in the guide to access and participate in illegal activities on the dark web, you could be breaking the law and face serious consequences.

Reputation and Privacy Risks

Even if you don’t use the guide for illegal activities, downloading it can still pose a risk to your reputation and privacy. Darknet markets are often associated with criminal activity, and simply having a guide on your computer could be enough to raise suspicions and damage your reputation. Additionally, if the guide contains personal information or other sensitive data, it could be used to steal your identity or commit other forms of fraud.

Conclusion

In conclusion, downloading a guide on darknet markets can be a dangerous proposition. Not only is access to the dark web there a risk of malware and viruses, but there are also legal and reputation risks to consider.