Launching My Raspberry Pi-powered Dark Web Presence: A Journey into the Deep, One Step At A Time

In the world of tech enthusiasts and hobbyists, Raspberry Pi has earned its reputation as a versatile and affordable computing device. From DIY projects to educational endeavours, the possibilities seem endless. I, too, embarked on a Raspberry Pi journey, but with a twist. Here is my journey into the mysterious realm of the dark web.

Understanding the Dark Web

The term “dark web” often evokes images of secrecy, intrigue, and even illicit activities. It’s important to demystify this concept and provide a clear understanding for those who may be unfamiliar.

The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that isn’t indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. It exists on encrypted networks, the most famous of which is the Tor network (short for “The Onion Router”). The term “dark” does not necessarily imply something sinister; it simply refers to the fact that these websites are not easily accessible through standard web browsers.

At the heart of the dark web is the Tor network. Tor was originally developed by the U.S. Navy for secure communication and has since evolved into a privacy tool for internet users worldwide. When you use the Tor Browser, your connection is routed through multiple Tor nodes, encrypting your data at each step. This process makes it exceptionally challenging for anyone to trace your online activities back to you, enhancing privacy and anonymity.

So why did I build a website on the Dark Web?

In the vast landscape of the internet, sometimes we embark on unconventional journeys just for the thrill of it. My decision to build a dark web presence for my existing surface website, www.lakshmanadeepesh.in, was precisely one of those adventures. But if I were to sum it up in a single phrase, it would be this: I did it to look cool!

My journey into the dark web began with my portfolio website which had been part of my online identity for half a decade. It was time for a transformation, a way to elevate my digital presence beyond the ordinary. The Raspberry Pi, with its versatility and power, was my chosen instrument for this endeavour. It had been patiently waiting on my desk, and I knew it was capable of not just hosting a dark web presence but doing it in style.

Let’s be honest — there’s an undeniable cool-ness factor associated with having a dark web presence. It’s like having a secret room in the digital world of the internet. It’s about being able to say, “Yes, my website has ventured into the dark web.” It’s a nod to the tech-savvy, adventurous side of our digital lives.

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the setup, I want to give a big shoutout to Charles H. “Chuck” Keith III, better known as NetworkChuck for inspiring and educating folks to understand the basic concepts of computers and the internet in a simplified manner! Here’s to the educators who light the way in the digital realm!

The Raspberry Pi Setup

My trusty companion for this adventure was the Raspberry Pi 4B with 8GB of RAM. Why did I choose this particular model? Well, it had been sitting on my desk, waiting for a purpose, and I couldn’t think of a better way to utilize its potential. The heart of my Pi was the Raspbian OS, running a 64-bit configuration.

Prerequisites:

• A Raspberry Pi (In my case, Raspberry Pi 4B with 8GB RAM). You can use any version for this project
• Raspbian OS 64-bit (or a compatible distribution) installed on your Raspberry Pi.
• Access to the Raspberry Pi either directly or through SSH.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before you begin, it’s essential to make sure your Raspberry Pi’s operating system is up to date. Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Nginx

Nginx is a popular web server that will serve your website on the dark web. To install Nginx, use the following command

sudo apt install nginx

Once Nginx is installed, you can start and enable it to run at boot time:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 3: Install and Configure Tor

Tor is the software that allows users to access your .onion website anonymously. To install Tor, use the following command:

sudo apt install tor

After installation, open the Tor configuration file and uncomment the following lines

sudo nano /etc/tor/torrc

HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/hidden_service/
HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:8080

Save the file and restart the tor service

sudo systemctl restart tor

Congratulations! You have successfully unlocked the powers of the mighty TOR!!!!

At this point, you have an onion domain running on the onion protocol setup on the Raspberry Pi, Run the following command to get your .onion address

cat /var/lib/tor/hidden_service/hostname

This .onion address is what users will use to access your dark web website. This looks like a gibberish hashcode ending with .onion. This is your URL

Step 4: Configure Nginx for Your .Onion Address

Your Nginx configuration files are typically stored in /etc/nginx. You'll need to create a configuration file for your website in /etc/nginx/sites-available/. If you have followed the previous steps correctly, you’ll see a default file in the/etc/nginx/sites-available directory. Here's an example of a simple Nginx configuration for a .onion address.

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

server {
    listen 127.0.0.1:8080;
    server_name yourwebsite.onion;  # Replace with your actual .onion domain from step 3

    location / {
        root /var/www/html;
        index index.html;
    }
}

Save the file & test the configuration for syntax errors:

sudo nginx -t

If there are no errors, reload Nginx to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl reload nginx

If you’ve followed these steps diligently, congratulations! You’ve successfully set up your website on the Onion router. Welcome to the darkness of the web!

Now, it’s time to put your setup to the test. Open the .onion address you obtained in Step 3 using the Tor Browser on any device. If everything has been configured correctly, you should see the default Nginx page. This is a positive sign that your dark web presence is up and running smoothly.

By reaching this point, you’ve joined the ranks of those who’ve ventured into the depths of the web, where privacy and anonymity reign supreme. Enjoy your newfound digital realm, and may your dark web journey be filled with exciting possibilities.

Step 5: Adding custom HTML and JS

Now, what fun is to have a dark webpage with default Nginx page sitting dark on your domain. Let’s take it a notch up by adding custom HTML, CSS and JS

If you’re already familiar with Nginx and have experience with website customization, the process remains the same as you would do on the surface web. Here’s how to add your custom HTML content:

• Navigate to the HTML Folder: cd /var/www/html/
• Add or replace custom HTML sudo nano index.html
• Reload Nginx sudo systemctl reload nginx
• Test — Once you’ve added or modified your HTML content and updated the Nginx configuration, test your dark web website by opening the .onion address in the Tor Browser. You should now see your custom content displayed.

A Glimpse into the Future

Beyond the initial project lies a horizon filled with possibilities. Adding a Flask-based web app to monitor and automate aspects of my life, like plant care, is on the horizon. The dark web, with its privacy-centric ethos, may hold fascinating opportunities for innovative IoT (Internet of Things) ventures.

If you are interested to see my website on the darkweb, you can use tor browser and follow this onion link — fr5zqek2ztmw52jlgvtj73vb2rykqe266mwnkmsnu2uu22s7e4w7xoid.onion

The only source of knowledge is experience — Albert Einstein