I Went on the Dark Web and Instantly Regretted It

Recently, I've been doing a lot of wild, impulsive things — but today, I may have pushed it too far. I accessed the Dark Web.

While many of you might already know what it is, for those hearing about it for the first time: the Dark Web is a hidden section of the internet, layered within what's called the Deep Web. It's a highly secretive, encrypted digital world filled with criminals, drug cartels, terrorist organizations, rogue political activists, undercover journalists, and government operatives.

Dark Web vs Deep Web: Clearing the Basics

The Deep Web makes up roughly 95% of the internet — all the unindexed parts that search engines like Google don't show. Think private networks, academic databases, subscription-only content, and internal corporate sites.

But the Dark Web is the shadowy 5% lurking beneath. It's the criminal underbelly — a hidden world of illegal activities protected by encryption and anonymity. Dark Web sites operate through cryptographic keys, making them virtually untraceable.

Here's just a glimpse of what happens there:

Hiring hitmen

Distributing abuse content, including minors

Selling stolen PayPal accounts, personal data, and counterfeit currency

Access to "Red Rooms" — live-streamed acts of violence and gore

Black markets for drugs and illegal weapons

Hiring hackers to infiltrate social media, bank accounts, and even government servers

Transactions here are anonymous — mainly through cryptocurrency. Payment is the key to unlocking these horrors.

The URLs and Search Engines of the Dark Web

Unlike regular websites ending in ".com" or ".org," Dark Web sites typically use ".onion" domains — long strings of random characters. Major outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times have hidden ".onion" versions of their websites to allow anonymous, censorship-free access.

There are search engines specifically designed for the Dark Web too — like Onion Search, Torch, Candle, and even DuckDuckGo (with the "onionize" feature turned on). Hidden Wiki also provides indexes of some of the more "accessible" sites. But beware: one click can send you spiraling into far darker places than you ever imagined.

How I Accessed the Dark Web

To dive into the Dark Web, you need specialized tools.

Tor — short for "The Onion Router" — is the gateway. Initially developed by the U.S. Navy to secure government communications, Tor has since become open-source. It routes your internet traffic through a global network of volunteer-run servers, layering encryption like an onion.

You can enhance security further by:

Using a VPN with Tor – Adds an extra layer of encryption before reaching Tor.

Using Tails OS – A live operating system that leaves no digital trace, endorsed by whistleblowers like Edward Snowden.

Even with these precautions, the risk remains.

What I Saw — and Why I Instantly Regretted It

At first, it felt almost underwhelming — strange forums, obscure marketplaces. But the deeper I clicked, the uglier it got.

There were forums openly selling hacked bank accounts, PayPal credentials, counterfeit IDs, and illicit drugs.

There were grotesque Red Rooms rumored to stream real-life violence for paying audiences.

There were services offering to hack into social media accounts or launch cyberattacks for a price.

And worst of all — things so horrific, so inhumane, that I refuse to describe them here.

I couldn't believe it. This wasn't a movie plot — it was real, live, and just a few clicks away.

Even the relatively "positive" sides of the Dark Web — where journalists report anonymously or dissidents expose government corruption — felt like tiny flickers of light swallowed by an overwhelming darkness.

The so-called "freedom" offered here is a double-edged sword. Anonymity protects whistleblowers — but it also shelters monsters.

The Problems With the Dark Web

Legally speaking, simply accessing the Dark Web isn’t illegal. Everyone has the right to browse unindexed servers.

What is illegal is participating in the crimes thriving there: buying drugs, hiring hitmen, trafficking stolen identities, watching illegal videos.

What shook me most was realizing how easily evil is facilitated when accountability vanishes. Human lives, identities, and dignity are bought and sold like commodities.

The Dark Web is a mirror — a brutal reflection of the very worst in humanity. A world where cruelty is entertainment and exploitation is a business model.

My Takeaway

I didn’t write this piece to sensationalize. I wrote it because people need to know this world exists — and how dangerously close it is to ours.

Access is simple. The consequences can be life-changing.

I wish I could unsee what I saw.

If you’re even thinking of exploring the Dark Web for curiosity or thrill — take my advice: don't.

Some doors, once opened, can never truly be closed.