Do you really want anonymity and secure browsing? We can’t deny that from you. Without a doubt, what happens on the dark web is quite interesting, scary, and sometimes alarming.
Yet, lots of people flood in to get first-hand experience. To begin, the dark web is so tricky to find that you must use specific utilities like Tor. It doesn’t end there! You’d need to surf through platforms with the .onion extensions otherwise, nothing will work. So, whether you’re going to do good or bad, this is how to start: get your Tor browser and .onion sites.
There’s only one way to find out! Tag along with this educational guide. We’ve got all you need to satisfy your curiosity. What about the dangers? Don’t worry! We’ve got practical safety measures just for you, so you’re covered.
Caution: Safety First, Dark Web Links Next
Before you download that Tor browser and dive into the dark web, you should know what keeps you safe in this unindexed part of the internet. Yes, Tor is anonymous; VPN helps with encryption. Also, ensure that you only use a paid no-log VPN service.
But if you aren’t conscious, then none of these technologies will hide your identity. So what do you do? We hear you ask. You need to complete a puzzle to stay safe.
Only set up the Tor browser from the legit source which is only on the official torproject.org website.
Next, make sure to encrypt your traffic with an efficient VPN, there are quite a number of good options but if your preferred option has obfuscated servers, then you’re good to go! We recommend NordVPN (currently on over 70% off) but you can use any that you like given that your choice is as secure and fast as NordVPN. Furthermore, have a premium antivirus running on your device, whether mobile or desktop. To save your time and effort, we’d recommend Norton Antivirus.
With all these in place, there’s one most important measure: NEVER disclose your personal credentials. No matter how good your sense of consistency is, DO NOT use your social media username on the dark web or even an email that has one or more of your legal names.
Should your data leak, just know it’s almost impossible to revert. So, we’d advise you to work with Norton 360 Deluxe to monitor what’s happening around you while in this space. You’d get alerts and steps to guard your credentials.
What’s more! NEVER be part of any illegal activities. Yes, visiting the dark web isn’t a problem in most regions. However, the legal repercussions when you get caught in buying contraband, monetizing stolen credentials, hacking tools, etc isn’t a child’s play. Wondering how you’d get caught? Law enforcement use this unindexed part of the internet, too.
Dark Web and Onion Sites – What are These?
Onion sites and dark web websites aren’t anything ambiguous. These are basically live sites within the unindexed web and can only work with special facilitators like the Tor browser.
In other words, any website that cannot open on your regular browser but works fine on the Tor browser, is a dark web site. To foster recognition, they always have “.onion” followed by random strings of numbers and letters; 56 characters in length.
As the name implies, the layer-on-layer encryption as well as routing protocols for such sites on Tor is not what you can find on your everyday browsers. As such, political dissidents, whistleblowers, and those that want no trace of their activities thrive on onion sites.
Without a doubt, bad actors thrive here as well. Since traffic travels across more than one server node and no activities are logged, anonymity is almost 100% achievable on the dark web. Interestingly, most people combine VPNs and Tor for that 100% guarantee.
Our Detailed List of Best Dark Web Sites Today (17 Total)
No knowledge is a waste but we’d cut to the chase: here are the top 17 safe dark web links you can explore without significant safety concerns.
Simply click on the hyperlinks to access them:
1. DuckDuckGo
- Direct onion URL: https://duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion/
You know how Google is the default search engine on your regular browser, DuckDuckGo is the default on Tor browser. It’s privacy-centered in that it tracks none of your searches and saves none of your personal credentials.
What about cookies? They can’t track you. On the flip side, DuckDuckGo does not index content on the dark web; which means it can only fetch content from the deep and surface websites via Tor.
That said, you’d need a dark-web-specific engine like Torch to open .onion sites. But for regular private browsing, this search engine works just fine through the Tor Network.
2. Awazon Market
- Direct onion URL 1: awazone7gyw54yau4vb6gvcac4yhnhcf3dkl3cpfxkywqstrgyroliid.onion/auth/register_now
- Direct onion URL 2: awazonevlc63543fjvtli35bk2iopdyyaaytkmmiop5avny6b24uljqd.onion/auth/register_now
If it’s anonymous e-commerce, then it’s Awazon Market. From the name, you can tell where it draws inspiration from “Amazon.” Try not to confuse the interface of the two platforms because they look similar.
Still, their functions are different. Awazon is where you’d find illicit services and goods, banned substances and even stolen credentials. It took over from AlphaBay which crashed in July 2023. To use this platform, you’d need to sign up for an account and then you can explore what’s in store using the search filter.
Thanks to their vendors’ verification scheme, there’s a good control in their operations. But this doesn’t make it safe or even legal. You’d face heavy legal repercussions if you take part in illegal transactions here.
3. Torch
- Direct onion URL: http://xmh57jrknzkhv6y3ls3ubitzfqnkrwxhopf5aygthi7d6rplyvk3noyd.onion/
Here’s a search engine just for the dark web. It’s where users explore onion sites and make the most of the Tor infrastructure. Compared to DuckDuckGo or Google, Torch handles unindexed websites operating far from the surface web. And, so far, it’s indexed millions if not thousands of pages.
There are no filters or fancy features except the search bar and results page. Just type your phrase, search, and scroll through the list of matching .onion sites. As always, be mindful of the links you click here. To be on the safer side, avoid untrusted or unfamiliar links.
4. Vortex Market
- Direct onion URL 1: https://vortexgayswedenw5odpj3fv7ddjvywfpoc3hsjeonpvic6g5yf3zmqd.onion
- Direct onion URL 2: https://vortexshopctlmqxyymj5fd73766kujn67audfvtxtsr7f5srduikdad.onion
Vortex is a darknet e-commerce platform (like Awazon we covered earlier) that runs on the Tor network, which allows it to operate anonymously.
It provides a variety of products and services that range from completely legal and illegal to those in definite legal gray areas. To protect these transactions, Vortex Market relies on the standard darknet tools of cryptocurrency and strong encryption like most other platforms of its nature.
5. Proton Mail
- Direct onion URL: http://protonmailrmez3lotccipshtkleegetolb73fuirgj7r4o4vfu7ozyd.onion/
Think encrypted communication, think Proton Mail. By default, encryption is end-to-end, architecture is zero-access, and you need very little of your personal information.
Compared to other email services like Yahoo, Gmail, or Zoho, this service cannot read users’ emails. If they tried, it’d fail.
Why? The keys that encrypt your end-to-end communication stores locally on the device in use. You can even enable password protection or self-destruct. So, even upon surveillance requests, your emails remain anonymous.
No phone number, no backup email, and for the user info, whatever you provide works. You just have to remember them the next time you visit.
6. The CIA
- Direct onion URL: http://ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sxyjstad.onion/
This onion site is a bridge between law enforcements and sources reporting suspicious activities and threats. It comes in handy in jurisdictions where digital surveillance thrives. As such, it facilitates intelligence gathering and makes it easy to monitor cybercrimes across borders.
Thanks to the anonymity and encryption, sources are safe despite endangering their lives to give out critical information.
The interface has no fancy navigation. Once you’re in, you submit the tips and that’s it. What’s more! No submissions are neglected.
7. Tor Metrics
- Direct onion URL: http://hctxrvjzfpvmzh2jllqhgvvkoepxb4kfzdjm6h7egcwlumggtktiftid.onion/
This isn’t an onion domain but it gives an intriguing excerpt of the dark web. It sees the region of visitors using Tor.
It shows what’s trending and available without taking any form of personal information. Tor Metrics presents this information in charts and graphs with numbers to show even more data of users by country, relay nodes, bridge and bandwidth usage.
This helps privacy fanatics and researchers identify where Tor thrives, pinpointing global occurrences in surveillance, censorship, and also the need for digital anonymity.
8. Facebook Onion Site
- Direct onion URL: https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/
In countries like Iran, China, or North Korea where there is strict censorship, Facebook’s onion version thrives.
Why? It gives people in these regions access beyond digital borders no matter how the government shuts them out. This way, users keep in touch with family and friends amid restrictions.
Even though Facebook is popular for collecting data and tracking, people in oppressive jurisdiction find it as their go-to option for protests and distributing updates concerning human rights misconduct.
About safety, Facebook’s onion version carries the same encryption like all other sites. So any person monitoring visitors here would definitely break a sweat without any good results, even the government.
9. ProPublica
- Direct onion URL: https://www.propub3r6espa33w.onion
Want to expose corruption and power abuse? This is the right place; an investigative platform for news which hosts a .onion site to allow residents in regions without press access to see its journalism.
It covers all issues from social justice, corporate wrongdoing, and government repression to hacktivism.
One fun fact about ProPublic is the absence of illegal activities and content; there are no links at all. You’d mostly find publications of “hard-hitting” investigative journals; no wonder it has won more than one Pulitzer Prizes. It covers niches that mainstream media run from.
10. SecureDrop
- Direct onion URL: http://sdolvtfhatvsysc6l34d65ymdwxcujausv7k5jk4cy5ttzhjoi6fzvyd.onion/
Want to share files with journalists? Then SecureDrop is just right for whistleblowers like you. Classified documents, proof of human rights abuses, or internal fraud-related business emails; name it. This platform is the bridge between journalists and sensitive files from whistleblowers.
Even your favourite news outlets The Guardian, The Economist, and even the New York Times host this platform to gather information without risking the identity of the sources. Thanks to the “onion” type encryption layers, even server breaches can spill the whereabouts of the sources.
SecureDrop uses PGP technology in that the sender and recipient can verify themselves using their public key before exchanging any documents.
11. Riseup
- Direct onion URL: http://vww6ybal4bd7szmgncyruucpgfkqahzddi37ktceo3ah7ngmcopnpyyd.onion/en
Are you an organizer, an activist? Or do you have communities of individuals pursuing a change in the society? Then Riseup gives your voice anonymity and safety as you communicate with like-minded fellows on the dark web.
Whether you choose to chat or share updates via email, the platform won’t log your IP or cooperate with government bodies within legal bounds.
Riseup would rather terminate services than give out user information to court on requests. With email accounts, chat services, mailing lists, and access to VPN, you just have to focus only on what matters most.
12. Sci-Hub
- Direct onion URL: http://scihub22266oqcxt.onion/
If you want scientific knowledge at its peak, then this onion database is for you. You’d find millions of science-related research papers from all over the globe, saving you at least $30 to $50 you could have spent on premium publishers.
Sci-Hub’s motive is simple: liberate information for free to institutions and individuals in developing regions who can’t afford pricey subscriptions for journals; thanks to Alexandra Elbakyan.
What’s more! The platform intends advancing research on life-challenging ailments like cancer via its unbiased scientific materials.
However, due to historical outages, the site’s location is subject to change frequently because of legal actions from copyright holders and publishers.
13. Hidden Answers
- Direct onion URL: http://answerszuvs3gg2l64e6hmnryudl5zgrmwm3vh65hzszdghblddvfiqd.onion/
Imagine Reddit or Quora on the dark web. You can make inquiries on any topic, issues, and lots more without triggering censorship.
Thanks to the free speech principle, no discussions on any topics are hidden or banned. Be yourself, speak your mind.
There are active community members so your curiosity would definitely get adequate satisfaction. No moderators or admins are blocking your comments or discussions.
14. SearX
- Direct onion URL: http://ulrn6sryqaifefld.onion/
This is a multipurpose metasearch engine. The dark web and surface web can use it. However, it does not share IPs or search histories maximum anonymity. It cuts off cookies so they can’t profile your activities online. As such, you get more unbiased search outcomes rather than customized ones.
The best part is the HTTPS POST that your queries travel through. It prevents what you search for from showing up in logs of web servers.
Whether images, files, maps, social media content or videos, there’s always a detailed result for your queries aggregated from engines like DuckDuckGo, Bing, Google, and the rest). What’s more! It is open-source, so anyone can look out for fishy lines of code in the backend.
15. BBC Tor Mirror
- Direct onion URL: http://bbcnewsv2vjtpsuy.onion/
It’s difficult for prominent news providers to thrive in regions like North Korea and China. Why? Geo-blocks on many websites and even heavy digital censorship. For that, even your favourite news outlet, BBC, can’t operate.
But thanks to the .onion version of BBC news. With the Tor browser, you can access live updates and news reports through the dark web.
No censorship, anonymous access, and even flexibility all in one place. Also, it’s the international edition you get, so no need to worry if it’s UK-centered or not. You’re getting worldwide coverage from wherever you are.
16. SecMail
- Direct onion URL: http://secmailw453j7piv.onion/
SecMail is among the dark web’s hot cakes for email services. Without any ambiguous processes, one can send and receive encrypted emails.
However, each user has a data limit of 25MB compared to standard services like Gmail with 15GB. Regardless, this size is efficient for basic communications and PGP-encrypted chats.
To sign up, create a username that has no connection to your real names and choose a strong password you can remember. Always make sure to access your account on SecMail through Tor to make the most of its anonymity.
17. Archive.today
- Direct onion URL: http://archivecaslytosk.onion/
From Archive.is to Archive.today, this time capsule site takes snapshots of sites on the dark web. Should the original site or its content vanish, these snapshots will come in handy.
For improved accuracy, it preserves the text of the page as well as its graphical copy. This scheme makes Archive.today one of the best onion sites to visit.
If you’re looking for reliable and short links to noncompromisable records of any site, this is your go-to option.
How to Get New, Functioning Dark Web Links
It’s common for sites, links, and even content to vanish from the dark web out of the blue. If not authorities shutting them down, then DDoS attacks are responsible.
One thing is sure, they bounce back one way or the other. So, how do you find the new links?
Let’s show you!
Search in Forums and Trusted Directories Except the Hidden Wiki
We already told you how the Hidden Wiki works; no moderator, suspicious links everywhere. So, you want to avoid it, first and foremost. The directory, Daniel, could have been your best bet but it’s no longer existing. You may search for “Daniel alternative” or “Daniel replacement” on dark forums to alternatives.
Otherwise, Dread is a good option. This community platform allows members to discuss new innovations, share links, make reviews, and so on. Get in touch and make your requests. They can help verify legit sites from scams.
Check Via Search Engines
This may help but don’t get your hopes high. Dark web engines also carry limitations and without sophistication like Google’s search engine, the quality of results suffer. One thing you can do is try the .onion version of DuckDuckGo; there’s not much it indexes so, you may find irrelevant links.
Other options you might consider at NotEvil and Ahmia because they list .onion links with a preferable coverage of content on the dark web.
Go to Verified Social and News Networks
Check the clearnet section of prominent news outlets and platforms like SecureDrop, ProPublica, etc. They often disclose official addresses of .onion sites there. It’s among the safest means of getting legit dark web pages.
Some users even use encrypted channels like Keybase or Telegram to also share these links. You’d likely find more current varieties than static options in directories.
Note: Don’t trust one source of onion sites, especially when marketers or random users share them. Never click on any link recklessly even if it says “see more”
Check the link address multiple times and compare it with other links you may have found from reliable sources. That way, you avoid phishing websites, data theft links, and even malware.
The Dark Web in a Nutshell – How It Works
The idea is simple, if it’s not on Google, Bing, and Yahoo, then it’s not indexed. And what part of the internet works with unindexed content, the dark web. For this, you can only view these unindexed content with unique browsers like the popular option, Tor.
Unlike our regular browsers, Tor works through relay nodes in an encrypted system. Their work is to jog your traffic across random locations in the world before getting it to the actual destination.
Simply put, this is “onion routing,” a process that hides your data in layers like an onion and peels one at every relay node. At the end of the day, tracing your request or traffic back to you becomes hard.
Deep Web and Dark Web – Are they Different?
Without a doubt, you know the three parts of the internet; surface, deep, and dark web. They all operate on different levels but most people still think the deep web and dark web are the same.
For clarity, let’s show you some significant differences:
| Surface Web | Deep Web | Dark Web |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Smallest of the internet. 2. Anyone can access it. 3. You don’t need special configurations. 4. Regular browsers can access it. | 1. Not searchable using regular search engines. 2. Needs special tools for access. 3. You must login or provide a password to access content. 4. User must have a unique URL or IP. | 1. Inaccessible without specialized programs like I2P and Tor. 2. Much larger compared to the surface web. 3. Thrives on P2P connections. 4. Fosters anonymous activities. 5. Supports good and nefarious activities |
Now you know the difference, curb your curiosity. Visiting the dark web is risky on its own, but with the safety measures we’ve shared so far, you’d do just fine.
Regardless, NEVER participate in illegal activities in this part of the internet; monetizing illegal goods, services, stolen data, and lots more.
Types of Websites on the Dark Web
As dangerous as this space is perceived, there’s still some level of organization. Whether you’re in for good or bad, you’d find different types of dark web websites to do your thing.
As such, websites here are demarcated from each other:
Autoshop Marketplaces
Here’s where you find illicit stores making money from stolen credentials like corporate email, banking details, logins, and so on.
The “auto” is because everything here runs automatically in that buyers remit payments with crypto and the system sends out the data paid for instantly. No human or central authority needed!
Escrow Marketplaces
These types work like the autoshops except that the setup for processing payment is different. There’s a trusted middle man that holds the payment of a buyer in escrow until the seller delivers the services or goods.
If the seller fails, the middle man refunds the buyer. Most times, the middle man is the marketplace itself and this mechanism protects the buyers from nefarious sellers.
Hacking Forums
As the name has it, you’d find communities of hackers exchanging knowledge, tools, exploits, and even discussing vulnerabilities.
They likely share phishing guides or even leaked personal credentials amongst themselves. As a forum, you’d find private ones, invite-only, and mostly public options to join right away.
Ransomware Leak Sites
These types of dark web websites are almost everywhere. What they do is to make stolen data live using “dedicated leak sites” (DLS) and then manipulate their victims to pay HUGE sums as ransom. Ransomware attacks are rising, and fortunately, counter-tools are coming into the picture too.
Clone Sites
.onion isn’t a red flag for websites on the dark web. Most reliable news outlets, government entities, and even social networks create dark web clones of their platform.
Why? To let users in restricted areas make the most of the platforms. It’s like bypassing surveillance or censorship without actually breaking any laws.
Whistleblower Sites
If you want to give out controversial or sensitive information to the public, organizations, or journalists, these sites are your best bet.
Whistleblowers come here to leak the wrong conduct in corporate settings, government overreach or even human right abuse. The best part? Their identity remains down-low.
Anonymous Communication
For zero-trace, encrypted messaging between users, these platforms come in handy. They cut down the chances of monitoring from corporations or governments. The list can keep going because there are so many types of dark web websites in existence. There are platforms for extremists, fraud service providers, botnet panels and lots more.
Again, your motive determines which type you’d go for. And mind you, even though it’s legal in major jurisdiction, what you do on the dark web determines whether you’re safe or on the bad records of the government.
Accessing the Dark Web
It’s gotten easier for anybody to dive into the dark web. Initially, only big businesses, government entities, bad actors, and hackers could access it. Thanks to technological changes, we now have innovations that connect you to this part of the internet.
Even though the original motive was to foster private and safe communication in the military, this late 90s project by the US Naval Research Lab is popular in the hearts of the public.
The Tor browser works just like Safari, Google, or even Firefox. However, it uses a different routing process and supports unindexed content unlike the regular options. That said, anyone can access the dark web with the Tor browser without ISPs and websites prying into everything you do.
Is Going to the Dark Web Legal?
Most countries have no bans on using the dark web. However, what you do there determines whether you’re on the good side or bad side. Of course, this part of the internet provides privacy at its peak, unblocks censored information, keeps communications down-low, and even gets rid of tracking.
Still, it’s notorious for stealing sensitive credentials, selling illegal goods, and hacking services. In a nutshell, sticking to the good use of the dark web would save you from any form of legal repercussions when caught in the bad acts.
Again, it houses both good people and bad actors; so when giving out information as a whistleblower, activities, or journalist, hide your personal credentials. You don’t want some creepy masked man to stalk you and freak you out.
Safe Practices to Access .onion Domains
It’s true that activities on the dark web using the Tor browser are invisible to your ISP and government eyes. However, these entities can see when you’re using the Tor network.
Should you live in a country that blocks or closes Tor traffic, then it’d be challenging for you.
What to do?
Get a premium, efficient virtual private network. This technology is good at masking your Tor traffic while adding another layer of security on your connection. When prying eyes look, they can see your VPN connection but they won’t see Tor running behind the scene.
So how do you set up a VPN together with Tor? Let’s show you!
- Research and choose a good VPN service. Go for NordVPN to save time. It’s watertight in security, super fast, and comes with massive server options.
- Setup the VPN’s .exe file on your device and configure it on your router.
- Launch, connect to your preferred server, and surf Tor anonymously.
Keep in Mind
Avoid VPNs without a no-logs policy. You don’t want any third party taking note of everything you’re doing online.
Also, enable the “Tor-over-VPN” feature on your selected VPN. That’s how you hide your Tor connection from ISPs.
What’s more! Stay away from illicit activities. Your setup won’t save you from legal backlash.
Parting Word
The Dark Web is interesting and risky at the same time. While it’s an eye-opener to some, it’s a train wreck for others. At the end of the day, it all boils down to how you use it and the safety measures in place.
Remember, Tor can level up your privacy, but when you slap on a VPN, you get an additional layer of anonymity and privacy. There are lots of VPNs in the market to serve you right. However, choosing NordVPN could save you a lot of time, effort, and money.
You get military-grade encryption, no-logs of your activities, and concealed IP addresses. Certain features like an auto-kill switch come in handy when your connection drops out of the blue. Combine all these and you’re having a 24/7 alert guard, watching your back.
FAQs
Without a doubt! Whether you’re sharing files with journalists, surfing for fun, or fueling a movement, your physical and digital wellbeing is at risk. However, with the safety practices like hiding your personal credentials and using Tor + VPN together, you’re safe.
It depends on your jurisdiction. For people in China or Russia, it’s illegal and comes with heavy legal consequences. However, in most regions like the EU, US, and the UK, it’s legal for good works.
Download and set up the “Tor browser” on your device. Go to directories or search engines like Hidden Wiki, Ahmia, or Torch to find sites with .onion extensions. Make sure your VPN is connected first, for maximum privacy.
This is Tor’s default search engine and it does NOT index .onion websites. As such, use search engines designed for the dark web for example Ahmia or Torch.
In this part of the internet, you’d find websites in order of their functions. For whistlerblowers, there’s a catalog for you. Black markets have theirs, secure email services too, and mirrors of prominent news networks.
Don’t engage in illicit activities. Law enforcement agencies use the dark web too to catch notorious bad actors. They set honeypots. To be on the safe side, take the necessary safety measures.
