Tor Browser Handbook:

Quick Start Guide On How To Access

The Deep Web, Hide Your IP Address
and Ensure Internet Privacy
(Includes a Tor Installation Guide for
Linux & Windows + Over 50 Helpful
Links)
 Copyright © 2015 of Publication by S.K. Masterson.

Disclaimer - Although every precaution has been taken to verify the

accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and
publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No
liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of
information contained within.
 Contents

Bonus
Introduction
Chapter 1: What is Tor?
Chapter 2: How Do You Use Tor?
Chapter 3: How Does Tor Technically Work?
Chapter 4: Tor Legal FAQ
General Information
Can I be prosecuted or sued for running Tor?
Should Tor be used for illegal purposes?
Can The Tor Project or EFF promise that I won’t get in
trouble for operating a Tor relay?
Will EFF represent me if found legally liable for running a
Tor relay?
Can I contact Tor developers with legal questions or if I
suspect Tor is being used for illicit purposes?
Are there any promises made by Tor developers about the
reliability and trustworthiness of Tor relays within the
directory?
Exit Relays
Should an exit relay be run from my home?
Should my ISP be informed before running an exit relay?
Should I look at the plaintext traffic that exits my end relay?
 What should I do if I receive a subpoena or information
request from law enforcement?
What should I do if I receive a DMCA notice from my ISP?
Chapter 5: Overview (What Tor Is and Is Not)
Chapter 6: Tor vs. VPN – The Important Differences
VPNs
Tor
Chapter 7: What is My IP Address and How Do I Hide It?
Hiding Your IP Address
Chapter 8: Getting Started with the Tor Browser Bundle
Chapter 9: Installing Tor – Windows
Chapter 10: Installing Tor – Linux
Chapter 11: How to Access the Deep Web
Chapter 12: Do’s and Don’ts – Safe Browsing with Tor
Chapter 13: Top Tor Links and Resources
Search Engines
General Things to Check Out
Marketplace
Financial Services
Commercial Services
Hosting Services
Filesharing
Image Hosting
 Web Hosting
Blogs/Essays/Personal Pages
Forums
Email/Messaging
Hacking
Politics
Weapons
Chapter 14: Hidden Wiki and Tor Directories
Conclusion
Thank You
 Bonus

As a Thank You for downloading this book, you can find a Free Tor
Tips & Links bonus report at torbrowserhandbook.com/bonus! It will
provide condensed tips from this guide and clickable links in a handy
pdf so you don’t have to disrupt your reading experience trying to
write down or click links as you go through the book. I really
appreciate your support and hope this book serves you well.
 Introduction

The Internet can be a dangerous place. From hackers looking to

make a quick buck at your expense to government agencies
collecting information about you and your browsing habits to
advertising networks that track your every move in an attempt to sell
more products, there is no shortage of ways that your privacy is
endangered every single time you go online.

The biggest problem with how the Internet operates as it relates to

online privacy is the IP address. You will learn a lot more about IP
addresses within this guide, but for now, understand that your IP
address uniquely identifies you on the Internet and this address is
available to any website you visit and can be traced back to you. In
other words, your online activities can be tracked simply based on
the IP address used to access the Internet.

Fortunately, protecting your IP address from prying eyes isn’t that

difficult once you understand the tools that are freely available and
designed to keep your Web browsing activities completely
anonymous. One of these tools is Tor – an encrypted network
designed to keep your IP address and everything you do online
safely tucked behind a layered system that is so robust even the
NSA can’t figure out what you’re doing.

Whether you are concerned about Big Brother watching what you
do, hackers stealing your personal information, or if you’re just sick
of advertisers displaying custom retargeting ads based on your
browsing history, Tor is the answer. It is a free, open source tool
designed specifically for people who value their online anonymity
and using the information contained within this guide, you will be well
equipped to carry the shield of privacy and anonymity wherever the
Internet takes you.

In this guide, you will learn the answers to common questions about
Tor such as:

• What is Tor, who created it, and why?

• Is Tor legal?
• What is the Deep Web and why should I access it?
• How do I set up Tor on my computer (Linux & Windows)?
• What can I do with Tor once it’s installed?
• How do I navigate the Deep Web?
• The important Do’s and Don’ts when Tor Browsing

This guide was written to teach everyone about the importance of

Internet privacy and anonymity in an age where everything you do
online is under a microscope. If you value your privacy, this book will
teach you exactly how to protect yourself from the many threats that
lurk within the massively valuable, yet dangerous, global network
known as the Internet.

Each chapter is designed to address some of the specific questions

you probably have in your quest to become an anonymous Internet
user. Screenshots have been included as necessary to demonstrate
the process of installing and using Tor. By the time you finish reading
this guide, you will have joined the millions of others who value their
online privacy and will never again need to worry about who could be
watching your online activities or what they could be doing with the
information they collect.

Online freedom comes in the form of anonymity and you now hold
the key to unlocking that freedom for yourself.
 Chapter 1: What is Tor?

The Tor Project was originally developed by the United States Naval
Research Laboratory, along with a mathematician Paul Syverson
and computer specialists Michael Reed and David Goldschlag in the
1990’s as a way to protect sensitive intelligence communications. It
was during this time that the core principle behind Tor–onion routing–
was originally developed. This same technique, which protects
users’ anonymity by protecting online activity through a series of
encrypted layers, is how Tor still works today.

It would be a few more years before the original version of Tor

became available. Fast forward to 2002 when the alpha version of
The Onion Router, or TOR, was released. Using the principles of
onion routing developed in the 90’s, a truly secure and anonymous
way to browse the Internet had been born. It would still be another
two years, however, before the Naval Research Laboratory would
release the source code for the project under a free license. It was at
this time that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) began funding
the development of Tor although it would still be another couple of
years (2006) before The Tor Project, a nonprofit organization
responsible for maintaining Tor, would be born and Tor would
become increasingly popular with anyone looking to keep their
identity safe while browsing the Web.

In addition to EFF, other sponsors of The Tor Project have included

Google, the University of Cambridge, Human Rights Watch, and the
US International Broadcasting Bureau. Today, The Tor Project is
based in Massachusetts as an education research organization and
continues to maintain both the Tor Browser and the intricate global
relay system that provides the layers of anonymity needed to safely
browse the Internet in an age when surveillance by government
agencies and private citizens is a growing concern for all Internet
users.

With the brief history lesson out of the way…what exactly is Tor? In
its most basic form, The Tor Project is comprised of two parts: a
browser client that allows users to connect to the Tor network and a
global system of relays designed to anonymously bounce traffic from
the Tor browser throughout the world before serving the requested
content. When using a conventional Web browser, most Internet
requests are easily intercepted. It is also easy to figure out where a
particular user is located based on that individual’s Internet Protocol
(IP) address. Using Tor provides a secure way to browse the Internet
without broadcasting the physical IP address of the device or any of
the information being viewed during the session. The system works
so well, in fact, that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been
quoted as saying that Tor is “the king of high security, low latency
Internet anonymity.”

Interestingly enough, 80% of The Tor Projects current operating

budget comes from sponsors within the United States Government
including the US State Department, National Science Foundation,
and Broadcasting Board of Governors. The remaining 20% comes
from the Swedish government and thousands of individual sponsors.

Despite significant government sponsorship, a 2012 report leaked by

ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden reveals that the NSA has been
unable to crack Tor as a network. In fact, when used in conjunction
with other privacy tools, Tor makes it nearly impossible for the NSA
or any other government agency to access the information viewed
on the Tor network. It is one of the most powerful free anonymity
tools available and with continued support, The Tor Project will
continue to pave the way for Internet privacy and anonymity for
years to come.
 Chapter 2: How Do You Use Tor?

Tor is a service that helps you to protect your anonymity while using
the Internet. Tor is comprised of two parts: software you can
download that allows you to use the Internet anonymously, and the
volunteer network of computers that makes it possible for that
software to work.

Using Tor requires that a user download and install the Tor browser
(freely available from The Tor Project website at
https://torproject.org). Once properly installed and configured, the Tor
browser connects to the Tor network using encryption techniques
that protect the integrity of anything transmitted between the client
machine and the Internet. The Tor browser is actually based on the
popular Mozilla Firefox Web browser. In fact, users of Firefox should
find interacting with the Tor browser client to be quite familiar.

Tor is not designed to erase the tracks left behind after Internet
usage nor is it a 100% fail-safe way to protect one’s identity while
online. It is, however, a powerful tool designed to protect the integrity
of data transportation so certain websites cannot trace back a Web
session to a particular user–at least not without a lot of extra work.

Although the Deep Web is covered in detail in Chapter 11, it’s

important to realize that only about 5% of the Internet is available to
users of traditional Web browsers like Internet Explorer, Google
Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. The rest of the Web, known as the
Dark Web or Deep Web (though I’ll provide a further distinction later
on), can only be accessed using the Tor network and its hidden
services feature. Without the Tor browser, it’s as if these hidden
websites do not exist at all. It’s for this reason that The Tor Project
has received bad press in the last several years as a hub for illicit
drug sales, child pornography, and credit card fraud. That said, even
the FBI has acknowledged the legitimate uses of Tor as a way to
remain safe and anonymous.

The Tor Project team claims that its users fall into four categories:
regular people wanting to keep their Internet activities private from
websites and advertisers, people concerned about cyberespionage,
people avoiding censorship in various parts of the world, and military
professionals. The U.S. Navy still relies heavily on the Tor network
as do an assortment of activists and journalists in countries with
strict media censorship policies.

Other legal users of Tor include law enforcement agencies seeking

to mask their IP addresses while performing online undercover work,
bloggers, IT professionals, and business executives. Some parents
have even begun using Tor to protect their children’s location from
potential criminals while browsing the Web. The legitimate uses of
Tor are nearly endless but the same anonymity that makes all of
these activities possible using Tor is the same reason why the Tor
network has become home to so many black market online
operations.

Despite the nefarious subculture that is readily accessible via Tor,

the legitimate uses of the service should not be discounted by
anyone concerned about online privacy in an age when government
agencies and large corporations alike are determined to collect as
much information about the general public as possible.
 Chapter 3: How Does Tor Technically
Work?

Tor allows Web traffic to be routed through several computers within

the Tor network prior to reaching its destination. This means that the
party on the other end cannot trace the traffic back to the physical IP
address of the computer being used to access the information. The
more Tor users there are, the more protection the onion routing
protocol provides for users of the service.

The computers that handle the traffic between the Tor browser and
the Internet are known as Tor Relays. There are actually three
different types of relays that comprise the Tor network: end relays,
middle relays, and bridges. Each of these relay types plays a pivotal
role in the effectiveness of the Tor network as a privacy an
anonymity tool.

End relays (sometimes also referred to as exit relays) are the final
relay before the data transfer leaves the security of the Tor network
and rejoins the public Internet. When a website attempts to track a
user, the IP address the site sees is the IP address of the end relay
being used for that particular request. After that, the trail runs cold
which is why the Tor network works as well as it does. The problem
with end relays is that it becomes possible for the operator of the end
relay to be implicated in any illicit activity originating from that end
relay. When illegal activity is detected, law enforcement and
copyright holders usually target these end relays–it is a risk that not
every Tor user is willing to take.
Middle relays are much safer because they only transfer data
between other relays and clients within the Tor network. Anyone can
setup a Tor middle relay from the comfort of home without having to
worry about any of the data being sent through the relay or any illicit
activity that may stem from the use of Tor.

A bridge is a Tor relay that isn’t publicly listed in an attempt to shield

these relays from IP blockers. For instance, even though the data
transmitted through the Tor network is anonymous and not easily
tracked, it is very easy for others to establish that a particular person
is using the Tor network when connecting to the public Tor network.
To circumvent this, many Tor users operate a Tor bridge that shields
the fact that Tor is being used at all.

Using Tor is free and no one is required to operate a Tor relay, but
the more Tor relays that are available, the more secure the system
becomes and the faster it operates. After using Tor for a while, you
may decide to operate a Tor relay to assist the Tor community as its
use continues to expand throughout the world.

To illustrate exactly how Tor works from end to end, consider the
following example. A user opens the Tor browser client that connects
to the Tor network using at least three relays. The connection
between the Tor browser and the Tor network is encrypted as is
every hop between relays. Finally, the transmitted data reaches the
end relay where the request is decrypted and sent through the public
Internet to its final destination.

There are few limitations to the Tor network, but it’s worth pointing
out performance-related issues. New Tor users are especially
confused by how slow the browser seems to run sometimes. The
reason this occurs is two-fold. First, as part of the Tor protocol, all
data must be routed through a minimum of three relays along the
way and these relays could be located anywhere in the world.
Second, the speed of the Tor network is dependent upon how many
relays are active at the time and the overall traffic being handled by
the network at a given moment. While there are times when Tor is as
fast as any other browser, there are times when it is noticeably
slower; especially when working with large data transfers such as
audio and video files. Unfortunately, the slightly slower speeds
associated with using Tor are the price users must endure to remain
anonymous while surfing the Web. This occasional sacrifice is most
certainly worth the benefit received by using Tor.
 Chapter 4: Tor Legal FAQ

Please note that this FAQ is for information purposes ONLY and
should not be treated as legal advice. If you have any concerns
about using Tor that are not covered below, please consult an
attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

General Information

Can I be prosecuted or sued for running Tor?

NO. At this time, there have been no reports of anyone living in the
United States being prosecuted or sued for using Tor or running a
Tor relay. Also, running a Tor relay (even an exit relay) is currently
legal under U.S. law.

Should Tor be used for illegal purposes?

NO. Tor was developed as a way for people to communicate with

privacy and anonymity. The Tor Project does not condone the use of
Tor or Tor relays for illicit activities.

Can The Tor Project or EFF promise that I

won’t get in trouble for operating a Tor relay?

NO. Laws change all the time as to the technologies those laws are
based on and Tor is no exception to this rule. Neither Tor nor EFF
can guarantee that you will never face legal liability by running a Tor
relay.

Will EFF represent me if found legally liable

for running a Tor relay?

MAYBE. EFF does not promise legal representation for relay

operators but has stated that it will assist relay operators when
assessing the situation and may even help to locate qualified legal
counsel when deemed necessary.

Can I contact Tor developers with legal

questions or if I suspect Tor is being used
for illicit purposes?

NO. Tor developers are only available to answer technical questions

about using the Tor network and browser. They are not qualified to
provide legal advice. Also, keep in mind that communication with Tor
developers is not protected by legal privilege. Law enforcement
could subpoena and obtain any information shared with Tor
developers. If faced with a specific legal issue, please contact
[email protected]. EFF cannot guarantee assistance but will make every
attempt to help Tor users and relay operators with legal questions.

Are there any promises made by Tor

developers about the reliability and
trustworthiness of Tor relays within the
directory?
NO. Tor developers attempt to verify that all listed relays are stable
and provide adequate bandwidth but are unable to guarantee the
trustworthiness or reliability of relay operators. The developers also
reserve the right to refuse a relay to any operator and to remove
relays from the directory for any reason.

Exit Relays

As mentioned in Chapter Three, running an exit relay means that

any traffic coming from that relay can be traced back to the
operator’s IP address. Although running an exit relay is legal in the
United States, when exit relays are used for illegal purposes (a
statistical likelihood) it can draw the attention of law enforcement
and/or private litigants.

You can learn more about the risks associated with running an exit
relay as well as some recommended best practices by reading
through The Tor Project’s blog.

Should an exit relay be run from my home?

NO. Law enforcement could seize your computer if the traffic coming
from your exit relay is deemed illegal. Exit relays should not be run
from a residence or using a home Internet connection. A better
option is to operate an exit relay from a commercial facility. The relay
should have a separate IP address and no other traffic should be
routed through it. Avoid keeping personal data on the host computer
and do not use the relay for illegal purposes.
Should my ISP be informed before running
an exit relay?

YES. Let as many people as possible know that you are running an
exit relay. The more people who are aware, the faster government
officials will be able to determine that your IP address is part of the
Tor network. This could prevent your computer from be seized by law
enforcement.

The Tor Project also suggests:

• Create a reverse DNS name for the IP address that indicates

the computer us being used as an exit relay.
• Set up a notice that explains you are running an exit relay
• Get ARIN registration for the exit relay with your contact
information. This makes it so abuse complaints will come to
you instead of the ISP.

Should I look at the plaintext traffic that exits

my end relay?

NO. Even if you are capable of modifying the Tor source code to
monitor and log plaintext coming from your relay, you could create
civil and/or criminal liability for yourself under both federal and state
wiretap laws. Never examine any communications traveling through
the exit node without first speaking with a qualified lawyer.

What should I do if I receive a subpoena or

information request from law enforcement?
Start by educating the requestor about Tor. A properly configured Tor
relay does not have any useful information for inquiring parties. If
you do maintain logs, do not disclose this information to any third
party (including law enforcement) without first talking with a lawyer
so as not to violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

What should I do if I receive a DMCA notice

from my ISP?

The EFF provides a template that can be used when responding to a

DMCA notice from the ISP. Keep in mind that this template only
addresses copyright infringement complaints through a Tor node.
Although it has not been addressed by a court yet, the EFF believes
that relay operators are protected from copyright liability due to an
immunity defense under DMCA and copyright’s secondary liability
doctrines. In other words, there is some uncertainty about if and how
a court will rule on this matter. Following the suggestions listed on
The Tor Project blog pertaining to setting up an exit relay helps to
mitigate any liability you have as a Tor relay operator.
 Chapter 5: Overview (What Tor Is and
Is Not)

Although some of this information in this chapter may seem

redundant, it is important to understand exactly what Tor is and is not
before using this powerful anonymity tool. Basically, Tor is a service
that helps protect a user’s anonymity by hiding the user’s IP address
behind the volunteer network of computers that make up the Tor
network.

When a user data transmission finally exits the Tor network via an
exit relay (which can be anywhere in the world), the resulting IP
address is that of the exit relay–not the Tor user.

Tor is useful for many legitimate purposes including preventing

websites from tracking you and your browsing habits, accessing
websites that are blocked in a particular country, and maintaining
anonymity when communicating about sensitive information (i.e.
whistleblowers who wish to remain anonymous).

For some, it may be helpful to think of Tor like a Hollywood car

chase. In order to throw off the chase vehicle, it may be necessary to
take a hard-to-follow route full of twists and turns rather than taking a
direct route to the destination. Similarly, data sent across the Tor
network take a random path through at least three Tor relays. This
means that an observer at any single point along the network can
determine where the data packets came from or where they are
going.
The Tor network was designed to encrypt the data between each
relay. Unlike standard TCP/IP packet headers–which indicate the
origin and final destination of every packet sent–Tor headers only
contain information about the next hop. This prevents traffic analysis
by advertising networks and hackers.

With the shutdown of popular Tor destinations such as the Silk Road,
the anonymity network has received a lot of press (some good and a
lot bad). It’s important to consider the following seven facts about Tor
that remain true regardless of what the media may portray about the
Tor network.

1. Tor Still Functions as Intended

Despite rumors to the contrary, the NSA is still unable to circumvent

the anonymity provided by using the Tor network. This was proven
by leaked NSA documents in which the NSA claims that although it
has had some luck compromising the identities of some Tor users in
specific situations, it is still unable to track users “on demand.”

2. Tor Has Many Legitimate Uses

Unfortunately, a common misconception about the Tor network is

that it is only used by criminals and pedophiles. From activists to
journalists to military professionals to whistleblowers, there are
countless legitimate reasons to use Tor–none of which have anything
to do with accessing illegal or illicit content.

3. Tor Doesn’t Have a Backdoor

Another common misconception about Tor is that many people

assume that since Tor was originally developed by the military it
probably has a backdoor that the military can use to access the Tor
network. Since Tor’s introduction, it has been evaluated by several
cryptographers who have confirmed that there isn’t a backdoor. In
fact, since Tor is an open source project, anyone can view the
source code that makes up the Tor browser and the Tor network.

4. It Is Not Illegal to Run a Tor Relay in the United States

At the time of this writing, no one living in the US has been

prosecuted or sued for operating a Tor relay. Although there has not
yet been a legal precedent set as it relates to Tor, EFF stands by the
fact that operating a Tor relay is not illegal.

5. Tor is Easy to Use

While it’s true that many privacy and security tools can be difficult to
use for the uninitiated, Tor is extremely easy to use. The Tor browser
bundle is the easiest way to get started using the Tor network as it
comes pre-configured to use Tor in a secure manner. Another option
is to use the Tails operating system. This live OS (runs from a DVD
or flash drive) routes the entire Internet connection through Tor and
removes all traces of the session upon being shut down.

6. Tor is Faster than Most People Think

Believe it or not, the Tor network is faster now than it has ever been
in the past. Routing data transmissions through the Tor network does
take slightly longer than traditional Web browsing but the Tor
developers have been working diligently to maintain the speed of the
network. The more Tor relays that become available, the faster the
network operates.

7. Tor is Not a Foolproof Solution

Using Tor is an excellent way to protect your identity and browsing

habits while using the Internet but it is not a perfect system and also
depends on the activity of the user while online. Anonymity can be
destroyed in an instant even while using Tor if it is used incorrectly or
not properly configured. For this reason, use either the Tor browser
bundle or Tails to ensure proper configuration.
 Chapter 6: Tor vs. VPN – The
Important Differences

Some similarities between using Tor and using a Virtual Private

Network (VPN) do exist; however, the two technologies are
completely different and should not be interchanged haphazardly
when it comes to Internet privacy and anonymity. A VPN may be a
better choice for some online activities while Tor is the better choice
for other activities.

To understand the strengths and weaknesses of each, it’s important

to have at least a basic understanding of both technologies.

VPNs

A VPN connection is encrypted and passed through a server (or

series of servers) before reaching its final destination. The
encryption of the traffic to and from the computer cannot be viewed
by anyone; including the ISP. For this reason, using a VPN when
connecting to public Wi-Fi services prevents hackers from seeing
what you are actually doing online.

VPNs also allow for circumventing of locational restrictions. For

example, if you are visiting a foreign country and want to watch
Netflix, you may find that the Netflix servers restrict access to your
account while trying to watch shows or movies overseas. Using a
VPN with server located in the US would trick Netflix into thinking
you are actually viewing content from within the US. Using a VPN
with a server located other than your physical location also prevents
websites from knowing where you are located while accessing
content.

The catch when using a VPN is that the VPN operator can see
everything done while connected to the VPN service. While many
VPN services claim not to maintain logs of user activity, it has been
proven that many of them actually do keep logs that are promptly
turned over to the authorities in the face of a court order. VPNs are
an excellent choice for low risk situations but they do not provide the
same level of anonymity provided by Tor.

VPNs should be used in low risk situations and in situations where

large amounts of bandwidth are required. Torrenting, for example,
should be done using a VPN because it is much faster than using
Tor. Furthermore, torrenting and other high bandwidth activities hurt
the entire Tor network by consuming excessive bandwidth.

Tor

When using Tor, the connection is encrypted before being sent to

through three or more Tor relays. When the connection reaches the
exit relay, the data is decrypted and sent to the destination. It is true
that the first relay in the Tor network can see your physical location
but the second and third relays do not know where the data
originated. This is how the Tor network provides anonymity.

Also, like a VPN, using Tor protects middle men (such as the ISP)
from monitoring Internet traffic to and from the computer. Perhaps
the only downside to using Tor is that if the exit relay has a malicious
operator, that individual could decrypt and view all traffic leaving the
exit relay. The way to get around this caveat is to ensure all
connections are made using HTTPS. Browser add-ons such as
HTTPS-Everywhere can be used to encrypt all data transmissions so
that even a malicious exit relay cannot view the data being sent
through the Tor network.

Tor should be used when anonymity is of the utmost importance and

the activity does not require excessive amounts of bandwidth. Tor
should also be used for casual browsing activities. Not only does
using Tor during browsing prevent advertising networks from learning
your location, it also provides diversity to the Tor network.

For even more anonymity while surfing the Web, some people have
begun using Tor and a VPN together. By combining both
technologies, it is possible to further protect your online identity when
properly configured. For most users, however, using both systems
together is overkill, but it is a viable option for those concerned that
neither technology provides enough layers of anonymity alone.
Chapter 7: What is My IP Address and
How Do I Hide It?

As you’ve probably noticed, the primary service provided by Tor is

the masking of a person’s real IP address. But what is an IP
address? And how exactly does Tor hide a computer’s true IP
address from the Internet?

An Internet Protocol address is the system by which all electronic

devices connected to a network (whether a local network or the
Internet) are identified as unique. Think of an IP address as the
mailing address of a particular machine.

All IP addresses contain four sets of numbers each separated by a

single dot. Each set of numbers contains one to three digits. The
sets of four numbers range from 0 to 255. For example, an IP
address might be 72.129.1.274 or 192.168.1.254. The point is that
the IP address provided to a particular computer can be used to
determine the location of that machine and in some cases can even
provide personally identifiable information about the person using
that IP address.

IP addresses can be static or dynamic. A static IP never changes

and can be used to determine the location of the computer and the
ISP being used. Dynamic IP addresses, on the other hand, are
temporarily assigned to a computer when it tries to access the
Internet. Usually, an ISP will assign a dynamic IP to subscribers
every time these subscribers attempt to go online. While a dynamic
IP address may not immediately be associated with a particular
individual or machine, the ISP keeps records of what dynamic IP
addresses are issued to what machines meaning that even when
using a dynamic IP address, it is possible for people to figure out
who was using a particular IP address at a specific time.

Hiding Your IP Address

Since the IP address is what provides websites with the very

information that destroys your anonymity on the Web, hiding the real
IP address of your computer should be your number one priority
when sending data across the public Internet.

There are three common ways to hide your true IP address online.
The first is the use of a trusted proxy server. A proxy is a service you
connect to before making any other Web-based connections. This
way all Internet traffic is routed from your computer to the proxy
server before reaching its destination. Websites see the IP address
of the proxy server instead of the IP address of your computer.

Second, a VPN can be used to mask your true IP address. As

discussed in the previous chapter, a VPN creates an encrypted
connection between the VPN server and your computer and exits via
the VPN server. Like using a proxy server, websites you visit see the
IP address of the VPN server instead of your real IP address with the
added benefit of an added encryption layer.

Finally, use Tor to hide your IP address! Tor also encrypts data
connections between your computer and its final destination while
bouncing the transmission between various relays so it is impossible
to see where the traffic originated. The whole idea behind The Tor
Project is to protect your IP address from prying eyes while providing
a level of online anonymity that is difficult to match using any other
single technology.
Chapter 8: Getting Started with the Tor
Browser Bundle

The Tor Browser Bundle is a self-extracting package containing a

special version of the Firefox browser designed specifically to work
with the Tor network. Once the browser bundle has been extracted,
double click on the ‘Start Tor Browser’ icon to launch the application.
A connection window automates the process of connecting to relays
in the Tor network. Once this connection loads, the special version of
Firefox opens and you can start browsing anonymously through the
Tor network.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the Tor browser is setup
just like Firefox with a different splash screen. Users already familiar
with using Firefox will have no trouble adapting to the Tor Browser
Bundle.

As you can see in the screenshot below, the options and settings
available in Tor mimic those found in Firefox.

Unlike Firefox, however, the navigation bar contains options and

settings that are specific to Tor. This makes it much easier to adjust
Tor settings for optimal performance and anonymity in a variety of
situations. This icon also makes it extremely easy to wipe all Web
browsing data from the history after completing a Tor session. The
image below shows what some of these options look like.
Just like Firefox, add-ons can be installed to work with the Tor
browser for improved functionality. Some of the add-ons that come
already installed in the latest release of the Tor Browser Bundle
include NoScript and HTTPS-Everywhere. Both of these useful add-
ons help to maintain your anonymity while browsing through the Tor
network and will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 12.

The latest stable Tor browser release is 4.5.2 and it offers numerous
improvements over the previous version including a patch for the
Logjam attack and updates to numerous Tor components.

The complete change log includes:

• All Platforms

o Update Tor to 0.2.6.9

o Update OpenSSL to 1.0.1n

o Update HTTPS-Everywhere to 5.0.5

o Update NoScript to 2.6.9.26

o Update Torbutton to 1.9.2.6

§ Bug 15984: Disabling Torbutton breaks the Add-ons Manager

§ Bug 14429: Make sure the automatic resizing is disabled

§ Translation updates

o Bug 16130: Defend against logjam attack

o Bug 15984: Disabling Torbutton breaks the Add-ons Manager

• Linux

o Bug 16026: Fix crash in GStreamer

o Bug 16083: Update comment in start-tor-browser

Once the Tor Browser Bundle has been installed, a message

appears asking if you would like to connect or configure the browser.
For most people, selecting ‘Connect’ is sufficient but the connection
should be configured if the connection is filtered, censored, or
proxied.

In cases where the network has firewalls that prohibit access to Tor,
the Tor Browser Bundle can also be downloaded through Gmail.
Send an email to [email protected] and write the word
“help” in the body of the email. You will receive step-by-step
instructions to download and install Tor in these circumstances.
 Chapter 9: Installing Tor – Windows

To install Tor on Windows machines, you will need a Windows

computer (XP, Vista, 7, 8) and an active Internet connection. Start by
opening a browser window and navigating to
https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en. Once the
page has loaded, look for the large purple download button. Click
this button to download the appropriate file for the version of
Windows you are currently running. If you prefer to manually choose
the installer file you can scroll down to the Tor Browser Downloads
section and choose a different installer file.

Once the download is complete, find the downloaded file (the default
location should be the Downloads folder). Double click on the
installation file. It should be named torbrowser-install-4.5.2_en-
US.exe. After clicking on the file, a window will open with a warning
about running the software. As long as you downloaded Tor from
The Tor Project’s secure site, click Run to start the installation
process.
Next, a small window will open prompting you to select a language.
Choose the appropriate language and click the OK button. A new
window will appear asking where to install the Tor Browser Bundle.
The default location is the PC desktop. This is fine in most cases but
you can change the installation to a different location if you choose.
Click Install and allow the installation to complete.
Once installation is complete, you have the option of running the Tor
browser before clicking Finish. The browser will open after
connecting to the Tor network and the process is complete. You can
now safely browse the Internet using the Tor network.

To ensure the Tor network has been properly configured, test the
network settings before beginning a browsing session. This can be
accomplished by clicking on the link at the top of the Tor homepage
as shown in the screenshot below.
 Chapter 10: Installing Tor – Linux

Depending on the type of Linux distribution being used, the

instructions for installing Tor and/or the Tor Browser Bundle may
differ. Debian and Ubuntu systems are the easiest when it comes to
installing Tor. In most cases, the command “sudo apt-get install tor”
is all that is required to install Tor on a Debian-based distro as seen
in the screenshot below.

While this is certainly the easiest way to install Tor, the latest version
of Tor may not be in the repository at the time of installation. This is
especially true of the Ubuntu repos. To ensure you install the latest
version of Tor, add the following repositories to the
/etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org utopic main

deb-src http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org utopic main

Notice that these repositories contain Tor for Ubuntu Utopic Unicorn.
You will need to change the name to the version of Linux being used.
If you unsure what version of Linux you are running, use the
following command:

lsb_release –c or cat /etc/debian_version

Next, add the gpg key used to sign the packages by running these
commands in the terminal:

gpg --keyserver keys.gnupg.net --recv 886DDD89

gpg --export A3C4F0F979CAA22CDBA8F512EE8CBC9E886DDD89 | sudo apt-key add

–

The latest version of Tor can now be installed by running the

following:

$ apt-get update

$ apt-get install tor deb.torproject.org-keyring

If using another version of Linux, the installation method is slightly

different. First, navigate to The Tor Project’s Download page and
download the appropriate package. Next, make sure libevent is
installed and ensure the openssl and zlib are present.

Now, run the following commands to build Tor:

tar xzf tor-0.2.6.9.tar.gz; cd tor-0.2.6.9

./configure && make

Tor can now be run as src/or/tor or you can run make install as root
to install Tor into /usr/local/. This way Tor can be started just by
running tor in the terminal.

Like a Tor installation on Windows, the Tor Browser comes pre-

configured to work with Tor and includes browser patches for
improved anonymity while surfing the Internet. However, for users
wanting to use SOCKS directly (instant messaging, IRC, Jabber,
etc.), the application can be pointed directly at Tor on localhost port
9050 (or port 9150 for Tor Browser). You can find more information
about using other applications with Tor by checking out the Torify
HOWTO.
 Chapter 11: How to Access the Deep
Web

The deep web gets its name because of its massive size. The public
Internet, accessible via search engines like Google and Bing, only
accounts for a small fraction of the total Internet puzzle. Everything
else is part of the deep web. The deep web is completely
anonymous–in fact, you cannot even access the deep web unless
you are also anonymous. This is why the Tor browser is used to
access these otherwise unseen parts of the Web.

It’s worth pointing out that there seems to be some confusion about
the difference between the deep web and the dark web. Mainstream
media often portrays these two words as interchangeable when, in
fact, they are not. The deep web refers to everything that is not
accessible via the surface Internet (i.e. searching Google). The dark
web, also known as dark net, is merely a small subset of the deep
web and it refers to computers and networks that are not accessible
at all without being invited into these groups. In other words, the dark
web is still inaccessible via Tor unless you are invited to join a
network that is a part of this elusive deep web component.

Once Tor is properly configured, accessing the deep web is simply a

matter of running the browser and typing in domain names like you
would with any other browser. The difference is that deep web
addresses that are part of the hidden Tor services network end with
an .onion address (instead of .com, .org, .net, etc.).
The deep web has gotten its share of bad press in recent years.
Deep web sites like the Silk Road Marketplace (where people could
buy drugs in exchange for Bitcoins) have given the deep web a bad
reputation as a place full of societal deviants, hackers, and assorted
criminal types. While these people and services do exist as a part of
the deep web, there are also many interesting things on the deep
web that are not illegal, but would never be found on the public
Internet.

Since you can’t use Google or other popular search engines when
accessing the deep web via Tor, you need to learn how to navigate
throughout the deep web. The easiest way to start finding interesting
sites that can only be accessed via the deep web is to check out
thehiddenwiki.org. This site is an anonymously maintained directory
of .onion sites that can be viewed when using the Tor browser. The
Hidden Wiki and other .onion directories are covered in more detail
in Chapter Fourteen but suffice it to say that this is one of the best
resources available for people first starting out on an expedition into
the world of the deep web.

Reddit is another excellent resource that is full of deep web

destinations and users willing to help new deep web explorers find
what they are looking for. Chances are that someone has already
asked a question similar to anything you might think of so always
search Reddit before posting a question. That said, many people will
be happy to help you find the exact content and services you are
looking for no matter how off the wall your request may seem.

While there is certainly no shortage of illicit activity happening on the

deep web right now, do not be discouraged by claims that everyone
accessing the deep web is a criminal. As mentioned time and again
throughout this guide, there are many legitimate uses for accessing
the deep web and only a portion of those uses have anything to do
with illegal activity. The deep web is how the Internet should have
been before it was regulated by governments and censorship
agencies around the world. Enjoy your new found freedom as you
explore the vast expanses of digital content and services known as
the deep web.
 Chapter 12: Do’s and Don’ts – Safe
Browsing with Tor

The best way to think about Tor as a privacy tool is to compare it to

an umbrella. An umbrella only protects you from the rain if you have
it with you and it is used as intended. Similarly, Tor only works as a
privacy and security tool when it is used as intended. Furthermore,
there are a few thing you must keep in mind when using Tor to
ensure the maximum anonymity protection that this powerful service
can offer when used as designed.

1. Use Tor

Whether you are looking for content or services that aren’t included
in the normally accessible Web or you simply value the privacy and
anonymity afforded by the Tor network, use Tor! Using Tor as often
as possible keeps your identity safe while online and it also helps to
diversify the traffic on the Tor network. If everyone only used Tor for
illicit activities, it could be reasonably assumed that every Tor users
should be investigated. By using Tor for mundane tasks and normal
browsing activity, it helps to further protect the anonymity of
everyone using the network–no matter what they are doing while
online.

2. Ditch Windows

Windows is a popular operating system and the Tor Browser Bundle

works very well on the Windows OS. However, the problem with
Windows is that there are so many security vulnerabilities that your
privacy could be compromised on a Windows machine even when
actively connected to the Tor network. A better choice would be to
use a Linux-based system or a Live OS made for privacy such as
Tails.

Tails OS

3. Perform Regular Updates

The Tor browser still runs on top of whatever operating system you
are using. This mean that Tor is only as secure and safe as the
system running the browser client. The Tor client, any Tor-secured
applications, and the operating system of the machine should all be
updated regularly. Check for updates at least once a week (every
day is even better) to ensure your system is always working as it
should and is not vulnerable to security exploits that may have just
recently been discovered.
 4. Don’t Use HTTP

As previously mentioned, the Tor network only encrypts traffic as it

moves through the intricate relay system that makes onion routing
work in the first place. This means that a malicious exit relay
operator could view any data sent or received by your machine that
isn’t encrypted using SSL. Normal HTTP sites are not secured with
encryption for your protection.

HTTPS-Everywhere is an add-on for the Tor browser that forces

every communication between your machine and a server to be
encrypted using SSL standard encryption methods. This means that
even if a Tor relay operator is snooping the traffic coming through the
relay, that individual will not be able to view any of the data sent or
received by your Tor-enabled browsing session.

5. Encrypt Data Storage

It’s important to remember that Tor is only useful for anonymizing the
original location of any Internet traffic you send out. Tor does nothing
to protect the data already on your computer and the only real way to
ensure the integrity of this data is to use strong encryption
standards. LUKS and TrueCrypt are both examples of high-quality
encryption programs that can ensure the safety of your sensitive
personal data even if someone were to remotely access your
machine.

6. Tor Browser Bundle is Not Your Only Choice

Although this guide recommends the Tor Browser Bundle for people
just getting started in the world of anonymous surfing and the deep
web, the Browser Bundle isn’t the only, or even the best, way to
leverage the power of Tor. The FBI’s recent takedown of Freedom
Hosting was only possible due to vulnerabilities within the Tor
Browser Bundle. A better option is to install Tor and use it to protect
the communications of other browsers compatible with the Tor
network.

7. Disable JavaScript, Java, and Flash

If you are using the Tor Browser Bundle, these features should
already be disabled by default. Also, add-ons such as NoScript
prevent active code from running in the background of a particular
webpage to provide another level of anonymity while browsing with
the Tor network.

JavaScript, in particular, is a powerful scripting language that can be

used to track you in ways that cannot be protected by the Tor
network. Java and Flash both run in virtual machines within your
physical computer meaning that they could ignore the proxy settings
that tell them to use Tor; essentially passing your information along
to the website as if you weren’t using Tor at all.

8. No Filesharing or Torrent P2P

Peer-to-peer file sharing or torrent downloads should not be used in

Tor for two reasons. First, Tor is not designed to handle the
additional load placed on the network by large bandwidth
applications such as BitTorrent clients. It slows down the network
significantly for other users and many exit relays actually block file
sharing traffic anyway. Also, and more importantly, many torrent
downloading clients send your real IP address directly to trackers
and other peers. This compromises your anonymity even though you
are using the Tor network to connect. It’s worth restating -- protect
your privacy and anonymity and stay away from P2P!

9. Delete Cookies and Local Data

Even though Tor uses an elaborate system of encryption and relays

to protect your identity while using the Internet, there are other tricks
that can be used by websites to gather personal information about
you and your browsing habits. Cookies and local data storage are
two of the ways that websites can track you even when using Tor.
Cookies and site local data must always be removed to ensure
privacy while using the Tor network. We won’t cover that in detail as
it is assumed that if you’re reading this book you know how to delete
cookies and browsing history from your browsers. There are some
more advanced options to help you though if needed, like add-ons
available such as Self-Destructing Cookies that automatically delete
cookies from the machine. Alternatively, you can use an OS like Tails
that automatically deletes all session data when the OS is closed.

10. Don’t Use Your Real Email

To be truly anonymous online, you need to create a separate identity

that you can use when accessing the Tor network. It’s impossible to
hide your real identity if you are giving out personally identifiable
information such as your real email address. Basic private browsing
is relatively simple, but as soon as you put any kind of footprint back
out on the web—email, username registration, account setup, etc.
think about how that may be linked back to you in any way. Consider
creating an alternative email address that is not associated with your
real identity at all to use when accessing sites through the Tor
network.

11. Ditch Google

While Google is a popular search engine to use when combing

through the surface web, it is a bad idea when using Tor. Google
collects tons of information about users’ browsing and search data
that it uses to increase advertising revenue.

When searching for information via Tor, stick with search engines
that do not log your IP address or store cookies on your computer.
Good search engines to use in Tor include Startpage and
DuckDuckGo.

While these are only a few of the many things you can do to increase
your anonymity online, it is a good place to start and will allow you to
avoid many of the mistakes made by novice Tor users.
 Chapter 13: Top Tor Links and
Resources

The first time you enter the deep web it may seem rather daunting.
Where do you go? What do you do once you get there? The truth is
that you can do pretty much anything on the deep web–many of
these activities simply aren’t available on the surface Internet. Some
of these services are illegal; others are perfectly legal. In this
chapter, you will learn about some of the top links that can be found
on the deep web by using the Tor browser.

Using just one of the many hidden directory listings accessible via
the Tor network, you quickly begin to see just how much of the
Internet is out there that you’ve probably never seen before. Below
you will find a breakdown that includes much of the information and
services available on the deep web.

Search Engines

There are quite a few search engines that work well with Tor.
Unfortunately, using Google, Bing, or other popular search engines
is problematic when using the Tor network. First, these search
engines are unable to index .onion pages so you probably won’t find
what you are looking for. Second, these search engines collect all
kinds of data about you when using their services. Even if protected
by the Tor network, it’s possible that Google and others could collect
personally identifiable information about you while using their search
tools. Better choices when using Tor include:
 • TORCH – http://xmh57jrzrnw6insl.onion/
• The Abyss – http://nstmo7lvh4l32epo.onion/
• DuckDuckGo – http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/

General Things to Check Out

When you hit the deep web for the first time, be sure to check out
these resources. You will learn valuable information about leveraging
the power of the deep web and gain practice using this powerful
anonymity network to your advantage.

• Tor WebDesign Guidelines – (provides information about

starting your own hidden service)
http://wf4df37hrebhwzts.onion/
• Welcome. We’ve Been Expecting You – (links to encryption
guides) http://p3lr4cdm3pv4plyj.onion/
• OnionWiki – (general wiki about the technical side of Tor)
http://ah5dm66duazqkz6h.onion/w/index.php/Main_Page

Marketplace

The marketplace is where people and businesses create hidden

services that are only accessible via the Tor network. Everything
listed in this section is accessible via Tor but in an effort to
discourage using Tor for illegal purposes, links to questionable
services have been intentionally omitted from this guide, but can of
course be easily found.

Financial Services
Currencies (both legal and illegal), money markets, exchangers, and
clearing houses are all available here.

• EasyCoin – Bitcoin wallet with free Bitcoin mixer

http://easycoinsayj7p5l.onion/
• WeBuyBitcoins – Sell Bitcoins for cash
http://jzn5w5pac26sqef4.onion/
• USD Counterfeits – Sells counterfeit US currency at 50% of
face value
• OnionWallet – Anonymous Bitcoin wallet
http://ow24et3tetp6tvmk.onion/

Commercial Services

• Onion Identity Services – Passports and ID cards for sale

http://abbujjh5vqtq77wg.onion/
• Rent-A-Hacker – For hire hacking services
http://2ogmrlfzdthnwkez.onion/
• Hitman Network – Contract killers located in the
US/Canada/EU
• Peoples Drug Store – Online drug supplier
• Brainmagic – Psychedelic drug marketplace
• Apples4Bitcoin – Discounted Apple products in exchange for
Bitcoin http://tfwdi3izigxllure.onion/
• EuroGuns – European arms dealer

Hosting Services
There are an abundance of deep web hosting services that allow
users to host files, images, or websites using Tor and other
technology to keep transactions anonymous.

Filesharing

• The Bomb Shelter – Relatively new file and image hosting

service with lots of features http://ntoibame4iky6xhv.onion/
• TorShare – 2GB upload limit. Illegal files not allowed
http://oukryuqqc7ffenin.onion/
• Sky Fortress – Open source platform to upload and download
encrypted files http://shxdhomhggy3bjrn.onion/skyfortress.php
• TOR Upload Service – Allows for files up to 10GB but uses
JavaScript and Flash http://ocrlwkklxt3ud64u.onion/

Image Hosting

• Magic Mirror – Open source, encrypted image hosting

http://4344457357774542.onion/
• IMGuru – Fast GIF/JPEG host where images never get
removed http://p7d2k2xiioailnuu.onion/
• SquareBoard – Upload and share high quality images
http://squareh565qgkioq.onion/

Web Hosting

• Torhost.onion – Free anonymous web hosting

http://torhostg5s7pa2sn.onion/
• OnionHosting – Premium anonymous hosting service
http://bj6sy3n7tbt3ot2f.onion/
• Liberty’s Hackers – Service and hosting provider
http://3vnjj7h6c6vw2yh5.onion/hello.php
• TorShops – Turnkey .onion stores with Bitcoin integration
http://shopsat2dotfotbs.onion/

Blogs/Essays/Personal Pages

• Ismism – Provides visitors with a venue to publish opinion

editorials on topics ranging from political language to modern
uses and meanings to gibberish
http://xqz3u5drneuzhaeo.onion/users/ismism/
• Tornado - Forum, blogs, polls, registered or anon posting
http://b6kpigzhrdhibmos.onion/d6/
• Fake Checks; Real Pizza (clearnet) - Personal blog of the old
TorChan administrator, cerulean
http://torgame.crabdance.com/blog/
• My Hidden Blog - Security politics, security, tor, tools, personal
http://utup22qsb6ebeejs.onion/
• 404’s Blog - Blog about a few things happening in Tor, mainly
revolving around TorChan & other image boards
http://5a7ryk7pdjflogpx.onion/flatpress/
• Dark Like My Soul - A blog by fancycakes. Has some of the
most inspiring and beautiful poetry you will read within your
lifetime http://ad52wtwp2goynr3a.onion/
• RespiraTOR - If something is infuriating you, it’s better to get it
 off your chest http://6g2osf4l534bozmu.onion/
• Tor and blosxom - A Tor hidden service running on the blosxom
blogging platform http://cxoz72fgevhfgitm.onion/
• The Croat’s Blog - It’s all about the intel and knowledge!
Whistleblowing FTW! http://kv77v7n5kblz5tpw.onion/
• The Human Experiment - Human medical experiments. We go,
where few dare. (Direct FH URL)
http://xqz3u5drneuzhaeo.onion/users/experiments/

Forums

• TorShops Forum - Forums for discussion, reviews and

feedback about TorShops vendors
http://ui4zevqxi26kgenc.onion/
• Freedom For People - A revolutionary group against capitalism
http://5xrder5zmkqkdary.onion/forum/
• SciBay Forum - Chemistry and other sciences forum
http://sbforumaz7v3v6my.onion/
• Onionforum 2.0 - A restart of the popular Onionforum. No login
required http://65bgvta7yos3sce5.onion/
• OnionMe - Forum for personal ads. All ages welcome
http://stlw74hqbtzoshyg.onion/

Email/Messaging

• Tor Mail - Webmail/SMTP/IMAP/POP3. Can send/receive mail

from outside Tor with a [email protected] address
http://jhiwjjlqpyawmpjx.onion/
• SMS For Tor - Encrypted private messaging service
http://sms4tor3vcr2geip.onion/
• SimplePM - A PM service by CWKU. No registration needed
http://4v6veu7nsxklglnu.onion/SimplePM.php

Hacking

• DOXBIN - DOX go here. A pastebin for personally identifiable

information http://npieqpvpjhrmdchg.onion/
• HackBB - Forums for hacking, carding, cracking, programming,
anti-forensics, and other tech topics. Includes a marketplace
with escrow http://clsvtzwzdgzkjda7.onion/
• Blackhats Anonymous - A download website. Currently under
construction http://mqv7qz5rn3sf5dcx.onion/
• hashparty - Password hash cracking site
http://3terbsb5mmmdyhse.onion/
• OnionWarez - Warez forum http://dts563ge5y7c2ika.onion/
• BRAMA - Linux/Wireless/Mobile tech consortium in Poland
http://mtn2fcv7yerki2op.onion/
• TM Comm - For a Chaotic Tomorrow
http://pdjcu4js2y4azvzt.onion/
• Shell In A Box - Shell In A Box
http://rvomgbplxtz4e7jv.onion:8080/
• Requiem - Software for removing iTunes DRM
http://tag3ulp55xczs3pn.onion/
• Crackwar - Pirates are the good guys!
http://xqz3u5drneuzhaeo.onion/users/crackwar/
 • Weird and Wonderful Old Stuff - A collection of old DOS and
Windows software
http://xqz3u5drneuzhaeo.onion/users/dosbox2/
• Onion Desktop - eyeOS web desktop
http://ybi5yfcdw6mxqlvn.onion/
• bugmenot@tor - A user supplied database of account
credentials for various websites http://fcl3t6t66uv3u4og.onion/

Politics

• profunc** - Information dissemination, info/files, political

dissent, communism, socialism http://vc24blsbg5ow5slk.onion/
• The Anarchism Library Mirror - Mirrors books from The
Anarchist Library http://4zeottxi5qmnnjhd.onion/

Weapons

• LiberaTor - Making weapons, military training, and related

subjects http://p2uekn2yfvlvpzbu.onion/
• ParaZite - Collection of forbidden files and how-to’s (pdf, txt,
etc.) http://kpynyvym6xqi7wz2.onion/files.html

As you can see, there is a lot of information available on the deep

web and most of it is relatively benign. Sure…there are a lot of other
sites available through the Tor browser too (some good and some
bad) but the list above should keep new Tor users busy for a while
as they explore the hidden world of the Tor network.
 Chapter 14: Hidden Wiki and Tor
Directories

As you know by now, you can’t open up Google when using Tor to
find the sites and services you are seeking. There are some
browsers that index .onion sites such as DuckDuckGo, but the single
best way to find exactly what you are looking for on the deep web is
to use a Tor directory such as the Hidden Wiki. In fact, many of the
websites and services listed in the previous chapter came from the
Hidden Wiki. But what exactly is the Hidden Wiki and how do you
find it?

The Hidden Wiki is by far one of the best sites available to Tor users
when looking for hidden services embedded within the Tor network.
The Hidden Wiki is full of hundreds of thousands of links that lead to
a myriad of places that are only accessible through the deep web.
Everything is categorized and in most cases there is a short
explanation next to each link so you know exactly where you’re
going before you click.

To access the Hidden Wiki, you first need to make sure Tor is
installed and properly configured on your machine of choice. You
cannot access any sites that end with .onion unless you are using
the Tor browser. At the time of this writing, the original Hidden Wiki is
down but the good news about the deep web is that someone almost
always posts a mirror site when things like this happen. One of these
mirrors is http://jh32yv5zgayyyts3.onion/ and when pasted into the
Tor browser, this link will take you directly to a copy of the Hidden
Wiki with links to just about anything you can imagine.

The Hidden Wiki isn’t the only place where you can find cool .onion
sites to visit while journeying through the deep web. Reddit is an
excellent resource for finding out more information about hidden
services offered via the Tor network. This post has some good
resources that are worth checking out
(https://www.reddit.com/r/onions/comments/1zeve6/huge_list_of_hid
den_services/).

Even on the surface Internet, some useful information can be found

about hidden Tor services. Wikipedia has a list of known sites that
are part of the Tor network (although there aren’t nearly as many
listed here as in the Hidden Wiki. You can view the Wikipedia page
about Tor hidden services here.

Finally, don’t forget to check out the uncensored Hidden Wiki which
can be accessed by visiting
http://uhwikih256ynt57t.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page from within
the Tor browser. No matter where you go first, you are sure to find
lots of information that you didn’t even know existed before picking
up this guide and entering the world of the deep web.
 Conclusion

As you have seen, protecting your identity and browsing habits while
perusing the Internet isn’t difficult. In just a few minutes, you can
enjoy the anonymity that comes with using the Tor browser without
worrying about who might be watching what you do online.

Tor is simple, free, and effective. In addition to protecting your online

identity, Tor also offers you a glimpse into the world of the Deep Web
– a network so large that it makes the surface Internet look small.
What other tool provides so many benefits for free? Very few…if any.

Even if you had never heard of Tor before picking up this guide, you
now know what Tor is (and what it isn’t), how to install it on your own
PC and configure it for optimum performance, the legal issues
surrounding the use of Tor, what the Deep Web is and how to
navigate through it, and even how to support the Tor network by
becoming a relay operator (if you so choose).

There is an entire world lying hidden underneath the Internet that

most people don’t even think about, or aren’t even aware of, and you
now have the tools to access that information without worrying about
who might be watching or collecting data about you while browsing.

Yes, governments and organizations or shady characters are always

trying to get/access/use your private information while online, but
fear not my friends -- the combination of safe browsing habits and a
properly configured Tor client is all you need to make the Internet a
safe place again. So what are you waiting for? There is A LOT of
exploring to do and armed with the knowledge in this guide, you can
do it without fear of reprisal from anyone. True online freedom comes
from anonymity and that is something easily fixed with Tor.
 Thank You

Thanks for downloading and reading this book. If you enjoyed

reading the Tor Browser Handbook, I’d really appreciate it if you
could take a moment to click here (torbrowserhandbook.com/review)
to leave a review on Amazon. It will only take a few seconds, but it
will really help me to reach more readers that will discover this book
thanks to your review.

Don’t forget to pick up your Free Tor Tips & Links bonus report at
torbrowserhandbook.com/bonus!

Sincerely,

S.K.