How to Get on the Dark Web Safely on iPhone?

It may seem difficult to access the dark web on iPhone, but the right tools make it very easy. It's quite convenient to browse it with your phone when you're on the go, all this while being as protected as if using a computer.

Since I've been getting on the dark web for years, I've created this guide to show you how you can access it safely on your iPhone. By the way, this works also on iPad.

Difference between Deep web & Dark web: Very Important

People often confuse the deep web with the dark web. Although it may not seem important, I would like you to know the difference between the deep web and the dark web.

What is the deep web?

It corresponds to all the sites that are not indexed even if they are reachable with a classic browser.

For example, it can be a blog page that the blogger hasn't allowed indexing by search engines like Google.

What is the dark web?

It corresponds to those hidden sites that are only reachable through a specialized browser like Tor. All sites ending in .onion are considered as dark web sites. 

But some of these sites are not necessarily illegal. For example, the CIA and the New York Times have created a version of their site in .onion (.onion links at the end of this article).

You'll need two tools to get started

To access the dark web on your iPhone I highly recommend these two tools. They will allow you to navigate easily and safely.

1) Install Onion Browser

As I said, you can access the dark web only through a specialized browser. The best known is Tor Browser. On iPhone, you'll need to download Onion Browser which is a browser like Tor but for iOS.

And for those who are wondering, yes, the Tor project team has endorsed this app.

Browser

Onion Browser | Tor Browser for iOS

👉 On the AppStore

2) Install NordVPN

To be safe, you should change your IP address before launching Onion Browser. NordVPN is a trustworthy VPN I've been using for years that is zero-logs (they don't keep any of your browsing data).

With the Tor network (here Onion Browser), our IP address is also changed but there can be vulnerabilities. In the past, this has happened (look at this article), so I use NordVPN to add an extra layer of security.

Before installing the app on the AppStore, you will need to get a NordVPN account for their service. It's cheap and you can find a discount here. After that, NordVPN will send you your login details to connect to their app.

With this link you will get attractive discounts on NordVPN (up to 70%).

Perfect VPN for the dark web

NordVPN | A Trustworthy VPN Service

👉 Check NordVPN

So... here is what you need to do to before going on the dark web:

1. Go to this page to get your NordVPN license. It's 10$ per month and you can use it on 6 devices at the same time.
2. Install the app on your iPhone (or iPad) by typing "NordVPN" on the AppStore.
3. Open it and log in with the credentials you received by email.
4. Search for "Onion Browser" on the AppStore and download the app.

Now you're ready to go! Let's start.

The Steps to access the Dark Web

In this section, I will detail all the steps you need to go to the dark web on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open and connect NordVPN to a server.

For this step, I recommend you to click on "Quick Connect". NordVPN will find the fastest server for us.

You will have a new IP address once you have connected.

Step 2: Open and configure Onion Browser

When you open Onion Browser for the first time, it will need to be configured.

Click next on the pages that appear and when asked for a security level, select "Silver" or "Medium".

You will get the best browsing experience in terms of speed and security with this Silver security level.

Step 3: Connect to Tor

When you have finished configuring Onion Browser, you can click on "Start Browsing" (previous screenshot). Once you connect to Tor and the darknet, you will be greeted with this homepage:

If all is well and you have followed the steps, this page above will be displayed on your iPhone.

Step 4: Browse the dark web

To browse the dark web, you need to know the .onion links of the sites you want to visit. You will find below in the article some links you can copy and paste directly on Onion Browser.

Here is an example of one of them: Darknet Live. It's kind of a newspaper of the darknet activity.

Now you have all the keys to navigate the dark web safely!

Dark Web sites to visit?

To make your life easier, I will put below some links to dark web sites. The URLs of the sites change very often so it is possible that some URLs do not work.

When a link interests you, click on it and copy the link. Then go to Onion Browser and paste the link.

Link directories

• Another hidden wiki
• The hidden wiki
• The dark web pug's ultimate guide to the dark web
• Tor links
• OnionLinks

Search engines

• Torch
• Ahmia
• DuckDuckGo

News

• New-York Times
• BBC
• Darknetlive
• Propublica

Hosting

• Daniel's Hosting
• Ablative Hosting
• SporeStack

Email

• Ctemplar
• Mail2Tor
• Eludemail

Books

• Bible4u
• Comic Book Library

Social Media

• Facebook
• Dread
• Ableonion

Market

• WeTheNorth (only for Canadians)

Conclusion

The dark web is a side of the internet that seems full of mysteries. If you are curious enough to go there, you now have all the tools in your hands to get on it safely.

This article is purely for educational purposes and I do not support any illegal activity. Although it is not forbidden to browse the dark web, your actions on it are your responsibility.

The steps I have shown you have been working for years and allow the curious to get to this hidden internet without necessarily being a computer expert. So use this method wisely.