Whether you’re a journalist, researcher, cybersecurity professional, or just curious, these platforms can help you navigate the deep corners of the internet — carefully and securely. To search for the onion URLs, you need access to a deep web search engine. If you’re new to the deep/dark web, DuckDuckGo’s onion link should be your first port of call. This parent site gives access to all other dark websites through a simple search.
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- The dark web (often referred to as the “dark net”, “black web”, or “black net”) is a small section of the deep web that is hidden and kept inaccessible to regular internet users on purpose.
- If your device is infected with malware, read our guide to remove malware from your computer.
- Some of these sites can be found through regular web browsers, but you’ll then need to switch over to Tor once you’ve got the onion links you want to follow.
- Unlike traditional search engines, it doesn’t track or store personal information, ensuring your searches stay private.
If you choose to visit the dark web, you must take the necessary measures to protect your privacy and security. This article lists some of the best dark web websites you can visit securely. Some of these sites are very helpful (but unseen as Google doesn’t show them), while others are just for fun. If you know the right websites, you can easily access a tremendous amount of information, including research articles, news stories, and more. This onion site was created as a place for whistleblowers to pass information to journalists. It is a safe haven where anybody with information can share it anonymously and without fear of being tracked.
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At its launch, the platform accepted payments through Litecoin, but now it has incorporated support for other payment methods like Monero and Bitcoin. The platform also cares about its users and uses PGP encryption and two-factor authentication to secure their data and communication. Accessing any darknet marketplace is dangerous because it is known to be a hub for illegal trade.
However, due to copyright infringement, Sci-Hub is considered illegal and banned in many countries. Founded around 1999 by activists in Seattle, it has since grown to over six million users worldwide. It publishes a newsletter in multiple languages and not only runs onion services for its website but all its email and chat services. Torch is one of the oldest and most popular onion search engines on the dark web, serving over 80,000 requests per day. Torch is funded primarily through advertising—purchased in BTC, of course—which is why you’ll find the front page blanketed with old-school banner ads of dubious origins.
Many pages have poor encryption standards and no other protections, so simply visiting a Tor site can infect your device. SecureDrop is an open-source platform that facilitates secure communication between whistleblowers and journalists. Developed by the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the dark web site allows users to privately submit documents and sensitive materials without revealing their identity.
Is It Safe To Visit The Dark Web On An IOS Or Android Device?
The dark web is bottomless and continues to grow each day, and so does the number of tools used to get around in it. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used dark web search engines in 2025. In addition, many dark web websites are configured to block or mislead regular crawlers.
Facebook Onion Site
From drug trafficking to arms deals to stolen data, the dark web provides a marketplace for many illegal goods and services. The dual nature of the dark web—as both a haven for privacy and a platform for crime—perfectly illustrates the complex ethical and security challenges it presents. However, there’s a chance you may run into illegal activity on all but the best onion sites.
What Kind Of Content Is On The Dark Web?
These sites provide a level of privacy and anonymity unavailable on the surface web, offering content and goods that cannot be easily found through traditional online platforms. The darknet version of DuckDuckGo is not a search engine for the dark web, but a private browsing tool for the dark web. DuckDuckGo’s regular site can take you to the dark web, as it brings up onion sites and dark web links when searched.
The Hidden Wiki
That’s why they’re often a popular means of communication among activists, whistleblowers, political organizers, and ethical hackers. There are currently several online darknet markets, but they tend to be incredibly volatile due to government intervention. If you do need to access a dark web website for legitimate reasons, you can check directories like The Hidden Wiki to help find options.
The CSO Guide To Top Security Conferences
ZDNET tested the best VPNs available based on speed, number of servers, security features, price, and more. ExpressVPN is our pick for the best VPN overall, thanks to its fast and reliable connection and the wide range of platforms it works on. A VPN will mask your location and stop the online breadcrumbs that can lead back to you.
Impreza Hosting is a service that helps you host a site on the Tor network. It provides an .onion URL and an interface for you to manage your Tor site easily. It also boasts that no personal information is required to use the service, and payment can be made with cryptocurrency. Keybase also offers extremely user-friendly secure chat and file-sharing services through its app.
Organizations exploring dark web content for legitimate purposes, like security research or threat intelligence, must ensure they follow strict compliance policies and use only vetted tools. As when visiting ordinary websites, stay alert to security risks on onion sites. Don’t click on suspicious links, be skeptical of what you read, and avoid dark web marketplaces if you don’t want to stumble on illegal activity or content. The dark web is a small part of the much larger “deep web,” which also isn’t indexed by search engines — but authorized users can access it using common web browsers.
Always exercise extreme caution and verify the legality of any services you access. SecureDrop stands out as the leading platform for secure document sharing used by major news organizations. This open-source whistleblowing system enables anonymous file transfers with strong encryption. Join millions of users who trust ForestVPN for privacy and unrestricted internet access. Riseup offers secure email and chat services tailored for activists and those concerned about privacy. In fact, one of its defining characteristics is constant change—onion addresses shift, platforms evolve, reputations are reassessed, and entire ecosystems rise and fall with startling speed.
A lot of illegal activity occurs on the dark web, and onion websites are popular hangouts for cybercriminals and scammers. But if you use antivirus software, avoid clicking shady links, and stick to known sites you should be okay. It’s also a good idea to set up a VPN for an extra layer of protection. Most dark web links are hosted on “.onion” domains due to the sensitive nature of the businesses or services they host. Tor websites may provide secure access to cryptocurrency wallets and anonymous email clients, and they’re also used to access black market sites. In the image above, (a) is the surface web, which includes publicly visible websites like blogs, shopping sites, and news sites.
