However, it does not function as a regular deep search engine; instead, it provides an opportunity to access data that would otherwise be inaccessible. This makes it perfect for retrieving content that has been deleted or modified on the surface web. There are a lot of great resources that explain what the dark web is, where it originated from and the nefarious activity that occurs there on a daily basis. This article is focused on identifying safe access options and then the multiple search options available using freely available dark web search engines that crawl the dark web. A free dark web scanning tool that checks whether an IP address was part of the Tor network at any given time. This helps researchers to identify whether an IP address behind a scanning or other type of malicious activity was indeed a Tor exit node.
The Legal And Ethical Aspects Of Dark Web Search Engines
BreachWatch continuously scans the dark web for credentials that match those stored in your encrypted vault. A dark web scan is an important step in protecting your personal information. It checks whether any of your credentials, like email addresses, usernames or passwords, have been exposed in a data breach and are circulating on the dark web. If any are found, you can take immediate action by updating your passwords and enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Monitors your identity online and in the deepest and darkest spaces to alert you of identity fraud, personal information exposure and more.24/7 real-time monitoring and alerts.
This ensures that you receive the most relevant information without being influenced by your browsing history. DuckDuckGo is particularly useful for research, as it provides access to a wide range of invisible web resources. Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links, as Torch indexes a wide range of content, including potentially harmful sites. For added safety, consider using a VPN alongside the Tor browser to further protect your identity. The search engine delivers accurate search results by focusing on indexing legitimate hidden services. Whether you’re conducting research or searching hidden services, Ahmia provides a reliable platform for uncovering valuable information.

The CSO Guide To Top Security Conferences

It inspects underground marketplaces, Telegram, IRC, Tor, I2P pages, forums, and paste sites and sends alerts to notify the affected organizations. Furthermore, users can also set filters like entities and search builders to define particular variables to return, like IP addresses, email, and cryptocurrencies. For any organization looking for a solution that searches and monitors the dark web across various sources, then DarkOwl is the best option. It offers a complete package that users always look for and thus emerges in the best dark web monitoring tools list. ACID Intelligence is a leading threat intelligence company that protects companies from cyberattacks on the dark web. It continuously scans and monitors the dark web forums and websites to detect attacks early in the planning stage.
Prioritize Your Online Security

The dark web is a part of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines like Google. It requires special browsers, most commonly the Tor browser, to access its sites, which are often characterized by the ‘.onion’ domain. The best part of SearchLight is that users can try it for free for seven days.
ACID Intelligence
By delivering some of the most relevant search results, NotEvil stands out as one of the best and most reliable search engines on the dark web. Automated, continuous monitoring of the dark web can enhance your security operations by providing early warning of threats emanating from the dark web. Arm your organization with access to +475 billion recaptured data points from the clear, deep, and dark web – data that was once difficult to track is now searchable at the click of a button. The Tor Browser is a free and open-source web browser that is based on the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
Unlike other dark web search engines, DuckDuckGo doesn’t index illegal content, focusing instead on providing safe, unbiased results. The 12 search engines we have introduced you to should provide a solid base on which to start your hunt for content. Sadly, one of the most famous deep search engines from the past, Deeppeep, no longer exists, but all the sites in the article can help to recreate the lost features. Dashlane also offers a dark web monitoring tool, VPN and WiFi protection, and secure data storage.
Saved Searches
It stands out for not tracking user activities or saving search histories, ensuring a private browsing experience. Dark Search also delivers unfiltered results and includes a feature that allows users to directly report illegal content. While dark web search engines are essential for accessing the dark web and monitoring potential threats to your business, they are not without their own risks. Each search engine opens the door to potentially harmful content, making caution a necessity. While it doesn’t index dark web content, it’s the default search engine on the Tor Browser because of its strong privacy features and lack of tracking.
FAQs About Dark Web Search Engines

NotEvil indexes a range of privacy-focused services, including encrypted email providers, VPN services, anonymous messaging apps, and decentralized communication platforms. NotEvil indexes news platforms covering privacy violations, government surveillance, cybersecurity threats, and dark web trends. Users may find vendors offering encrypted communication services, penetration testing tools, and ethical hacking software. Ethical hacking guides, encryption tutorials, and dark web safety tips are some of the content that researchers and privacy-conscious users can explore. NotEvil provides access to educational materials and research papers on cybersecurity, privacy, and encryption. For more cybersecurity insights and tools to enhance your privacy, explore Cyberlad.io.
SpyCloud is a renowned cybersecurity vendor that provides a good range of cybersecurity solutions to protect users against threats and cyber-attacks. ATO Prevention is the dark web monitoring tool that safeguards users from account takeover by warning them about compromised passwords before malicious actors can use them. CrowdStrike is a pioneering cybersecurity leader in business for almost a decade. It offers various security solutions but markets its dark web monitoring tool as the CrowdStrike Falcon X Recon.
- Centralized indexing (e.g., Torch, Haystak) is vulnerable to takedowns or operator bias.
- They operate on Tor, encrypting queries end-to-end, but users must still enable “Safest” mode and use VPNs to prevent leaks.
- Whether you’re tracking data breaches, uncovering financial fraud, or identifying threat actors, these resources will help enhance your dark web investigation capabilities.
- Following these precautions and being mindful of ethical use cases will allow you to navigate the dark web more safely.
- NotEvil could evolve its filtering to include trust scores, leveraging community reports and AI to flag phishing or malware-laden sites.

While they make accessing Tor-hidden websites easier without the Tor browser, they can compromise your privacy and security by acting as intermediaries that might expose your data. Using the Tor Browser with a VPN is a safer and more secure option, as it provides end-to-end encryption and better privacy protection. Torch is one of the oldest dark web search engines, having served the darknet community for years. It boasts a vast archive of over 400,000 pages, providing comprehensive coverage of .onion sites, including forums, blogs, and marketplaces. The dark web is a part of the internet that isn’t accessible with regular browsers or search engines like Google and Bing.
🕸️ Tools To Crawl Data From The Dark Web
With these tools, businesses can find indicators that can result in a breach. Also, they gain insights into the attacking methods and develop a cyber defense strategy. Not Evil is a dark web search engine specifically designed for “.onion” sites. True to its name, Not Evil distinguishes itself by not employing advertising or web tracking. As a non-profit operation, Not Evil relies on a community of volunteers to identify and report false results and “abusive” sites, contributing to the integrity of its dark web search results.
The Candle search engine is effective but minimalistic—it gives you only the top ten most relevant results for your search queries. And the search box can’t read certain characters like parentheses or quotation marks, which can be limiting. Before exploring, make sure you’re familiar with the laws in your jurisdiction. Even someone’s accidental exposure to illegal content can result in them experiencing legal consequences. Before downloading a file, ensure it’s from a reliable and verified .onion site.