Known for being a hub for drug trafficking and a hangout for hackers, it is also an essential tool for whistleblowers, persecuted individuals, and journalists: the Darknet. But what exactly lies behind it - and how does one access it?
"The darknet is always associated with crime, but anonymity online is not prohibited; it's an expression of freedom rights," says computer scientist and IT security expert Felix C. Freiling. Freiling is a professor of computer science at Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg“. "If someone engages in illegal activities, they can indeed be pursued. Law enforcement has the capability to investigate within the darknet. However, everyone has the fundamental right to hide their IP address," explains the expert in forensic computing.
What is the darknet anyway?
The internet can be broadly categorized into three sectors: the Clear Web or Surface Web, the Deep Web, and the Darknet. While the Clear Web is accessible via search engines, it is not possible to access Deep Web content through search queries. This region includes, among other things, corporate or personal data, mostly protected by login access. It is the largest segment of the internet. A unique feature is the Darknet.
The Darknet is a closed network that features websites not discoverable by regular search engines and only accessible through a special Tor browser. Since communication there is encrypted, users remain largely anonymous. This is achieved through a "tunnel system," where one's data traffic is meant to be lost within the data traffic of others.
How do you access the darknet?
To access the darknet, one needs a so-called Tor browser. With this, you can also surf the internet normally. However, when using the Tor browser, the web server you are accessing does not see your IP address, but rather only the IP address of the previous server through which the request was routed. Therefore, you can hide your own IP address.
The biggest difference from traditional browsing: You must already know the address you want to go to. Opening a search engine and looking for a website is not really possible. According to Freiling, there are indeed search engines for the darknet, but they often contain outdated information.
Additionally, web addresses do not end in “.de”, “.com”, or “.org”, but in “.onion.” To access websites outside the regular web, a so-called onion address is required. The biggest challenge when browsing the darknet is therefore finding or knowing the desired websites.
For this purpose, there are so-called “wikis,” which are pages that collect and link to darknet sites. Such wikis are also available on the clear web. You then have to search for these onion sites within the Tor browser.
What to watch out for when surfing the darknet?
Felix Freiling offers reassurance regarding safety in the darknet. The expert compares browsing the darknet to spending time at „Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof“: "It's like talking to the wrong person at „Nürnberg Hauptbahnhof“. Suddenly, you have tablets in your pocket. Naturally, you might land on sites that are creepy, and at that point, you must react. But you also need to be cautious on the clear web, as you can find such sites there too."
According to Freiling, the darknet is intriguing for anyone who wants to conceal their IP address. However, out of curiosity, it's perfectly fine to take a look. It's best not to do this alone but with someone who knows their way around. Security vulnerabilities can also arise when sharing personal data. "You usually notice when you're crossing the line into illegality. The biggest risk is unwittingly downloading something onto your computer, like images or hacking software," he warns.
The information in the article is from the lecture "Das Darknet: Eine Exkursion auf die dunkle(n) Seite(n) des Internets". This lecture was given by Professor Felix C. Freiling as part of the „Nürnberg Digital Festival“ on July 1, 2025. The „Nürnberg Digital Festival“ continues until July 9 in the metropolitan region.