Visiting onion sites on older Tor versions can needlessly expose you to added risks. Many dark web links could get you mixed up in some kind of criminal activity of another, whether you’re looking for it or not. The deep web is rife with sales of illicit drugs, weapons, and goodness knows what else, and steering clear of these nefarious web pages is easier said than done. Tor Metrics highlights that about 22% of daily Tor users come from Russia, while the USA ranks second at 15%.
Hidden Services: Websites On The Dark Web
If you must use one, ensure it’s a VPN with a strict, independently audited no-logs policy. The same applies to downloading files, which often contain tracker elements. You should avoid downloading files via Tor to maximize your anonymity.
Dark Web Links: The Onion Patch – Best 20 Websites You Shouldn’t Miss
Torch is one of the more established dark web search engines, designed to help users navigate the Tor network and discover onion sites. Unlike traditional search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo, Torch indexes hidden websites that operate beyond the reach of the surface web. But users should always be cautious and avoid clicking unfamiliar or untrusted links to steer clear of scams or malware. The Hidden Wiki is a longstanding directory of dark web sites that offers a way to browse onion services. It’s been around for many years and helps users navigate the dark web by curating links to various resources. Note that Hidden Wiki links sometimes lead to unsafe content, so be wary about what you click.
It offers outstanding privacy features and there is currently a discounted rate available through this link. While this is good advice for any type of web browsing, be particularly careful not to offer up any personal details, such as your credit card info or email address. Use cryptocurrency to buy anything, and use a disposable email address for any type of communication on the dark web. Check around with other users and ask if they know anything about the new marketplace.
Using Tor Browser FAQs
Supreme Court will allow the FBI to search and seize any computer that’s using the Tor browser or VPN. Rule No.41 allows a federal judge to issue a search and seize warrant for any person who is using anonymity software like Tor. Now that you’ve completed the download, it’s time to install the Tor browser on your device. (The installation instructions that follow are for the macOS platform, I’ll mention where it’s different for Windows.) Simply double-click the downloaded file in your download folder.
It has a proprietary onion site in the Tor network to give you safe access even if your country restricts VPN usage. Since malware lingers across the dark web, your device can easily become infected, even if you are an unsuspecting user. In some countries, evading government restrictions to seek new political ideologies is punishable.
How To Create AI Art In 2025 Without Any Coding Best AI Art Tools &
A robust antivirus can help block malware and other online threats, even on the dark web. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate. This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage. You can head over to Archive Today to look at snapshots taken by other users.
- Freebie VPNs will track their users’ online usage, as they make money by selling this tracking info to advertisers and other nosy parties.
- While Tor offers anonymity on the dark web, your online activities leave breadcrumbs that can reveal your identity.
- Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections to protect as many devices as possible.
- The exit node knows what you’ve requested and connects you to it, but it doesn’t know your device and its IP address.
- Moreover, due to its popularity, many copycats of the Hidden Wiki exist.
- However, the dark web environment can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous, filled with scam links, phishing sites, and other malicious threats.
Additional Security Measures
To learn how to safely access the Dark Web sites listed above, read our Dark Web Access Guide here. Dark web links operate on a system of layers (like an onion) where each layer encrypts traffic as it passes through multiple relays. As a result, your dark web use may draw unwanted scrutiny from your ISP or law enforcement.
Best Dark Web Websites: Video
It has some advertisements on its home page, but they’re for popular searches and services to help get you started. So, I put together a list of the best dark web sites in 2025 to help you get started. I also included instructions on how to access the dark web, and outlined how to stay safe when browsing dark web links (the dark web is also home to many scams and malicious sites). Google only indexes websites on the open web (freely accessible and public), while dark web sites use .onion domains that are not visible to traditional search engines. Unlike other dark web search engines, DuckDuckGo doesn’t index illegal content, focusing instead on providing safe, unbiased results.
Malicious Software
The Hidden Wiki empowers people to access alternative viewpoints, engage in uncensored discussions, and exercise freedom of information that surface web search engines cannot guarantee. For developers and site operators, hosting on the dark web requires privacy, uptime, and resistance to attacks. Daniel’s Hosting specializes in anonymous hosting services optimized for Tor sites, providing secure environments and DDoS mitigation. OnionShare is a popular open-source tool that allows users to share files securely and anonymously via Tor, widely used by activists and journalists for confidential document distribution. The Tor Project’s official onion site offers secure downloads of the Tor Browser and developer resources, helping users access and contribute safely to the Tor ecosystem. These platforms underpin the technical infrastructure necessary for dark web functionality.
In some ways, dark web websites offer more browsing freedom, but the lack of safeguards can leave you exposed to hackers, malware, and other online threats, like viruses or other malware. The lack of regulation leaves the dark web rife with offensive content and unsafe websites. The BBC and other well-known news services are blocked in some parts of the world. But people can still access independent media via BBC Tor Mirror and similar dark web news portals. The BBC Tor Mirror is an international version of the BBC that focuses on world affairs, and it’s extremely useful for those who live under strict censorship laws.
Disadvantages Of The Tor Browser
But if you connect to the VPN before connecting to Tor and an IP leak occurs, only the VPN’s IP address will be exposed. ProPublica has a clearnet site, but its dark web version won’t see your IP address, so you get better privacy. You can also use its .onion link via the Tor network to access the site in restrictive countries, where it might be unavailable. DuckDuckGo also lets you access chatbots anonymously, has image, video, news, shopping, and other search options. Another cool features it you can sort results by age (past day, week, month, or year), and lots more. The dark web offers anonymity and privacy, but it also presents significant challenges.
Using Onion Over VPN — All You Need To Know
If you’ve ever checked your medical results online through a portal that required a login, you were navigating the deep web. It’s huge, making up about 90% of the internet, but it’s mostly mundane, hidden behind login screens for privacy and security. Tor was originally an acronym for The Onion Router, which references Tor’s multiple layers of security. It’s worth noting that another solution to blocked exit nodes is to use bridges(new window), but these have nothing to do with the dark web.
These sites are a hybrid tutorial-underground where wannabe hackers ask questions and professionals sell their services or stolen data. You only need to upload your PGP key or let the platform create one. Use it to link your GitHub account, Twitter, Bitcoin address, and Facebook. This .onion link makes it impossible for hackers to impersonate your profile. Also, you can set a strong password to protect your message and choose how long it will take to expire.
Android users need to download the Tor Browser app, while iPhone fans should get the Onion Browser app. While the best dark web sites listed above are a good starting point for a safe, legal surfing experience on Tor, there really is no substitute for a VPN. Users can ask questions, share answers, and engage in discussions without revealing their identities. It’s maintained by a volunteer-run collective from the USA that protects the platform from malicious attacks and pledges to support social justice and progressive causes. Riseup’s secure email and chat help individuals communicate without fear of surveillance or data interception. With onion sites like Wikipedia, you can continue learning and gathering information on a wealth of issues, even in places where the standard Wikipedia is restricted or censored.
