Many news publications, like the ones listed above, have a SecureDrop on their .onion sites. Founded by security researcher Juha Nurmi, Ahmia is essentially a list of “hidden” sites that do want to be found. Onion sites are “crawled” and added to the list provided their “robots.txt” file permits it, and if it is not on their blacklist of sites with abuse material. Site operators can also submit their own .onion sites for indexing.
How To Change The Tor Browser’s Security Settings On Android
Choose a trustworthy VPN service that has a strict no-logs policy and supports connection without DNS leaks. Avoid free VPNs as they often lack adequate security or monetize user data. The sheer number of illegal activities on the dark web has been a growing concern for governments worldwide. For this reason, many have taken steps to police top dark web sites actively.
The security level is set to ‘Standard’ by default, but you can change it to the ‘safest’ and enjoy more security while accessing the dark web. Cybercriminals on the dark web marketplace always look for new victims to target them with scams or infect their devices with malware, spyware, or adware. Thus, use the best antivirus software that protects against these online threats. The marketplace has several rules that every user is bound to follow. If any user is found not complying with the law, strict and immediate action will be taken against them.
Strengthening Your Digital Hygiene
There are a whole host of dark-web-based social networks, such as Galaxy3. You’ll be surprised to know that you can access Facebook via the dark web by using the official Facebook .onion site. Just be aware that you may find a lot of Facebook images will be hidden when Javascript is disabled (as recommended). Some examples include human trafficking, drug trade, weapons dealing, and pornography, to name a few.
It aims to advance research on terminal illnesses like cancer with access to unbiased scientific publications. Sci-Hub is a massive database that eliminates the barriers to getting scientific knowledge. It contains millions of scientific research documents from around the world. The site seeks to liberate information by making it free to individuals and institutions. Radar Rundown Ad blockers are the best protection against disruptive ads.
Keep Your Identity Hidden
Dread is a great alternative if you fancy checking out another dark-web-based social network or forum with news and discussions. It’s difficult to say as nobody really knows how much of the internet accounts for the dark web. However, if we take most estimates into consideration, the dark web makes up around 5% of the whole internet. The dark web makes up a small portion of the deep web, which itself is much larger than the surface web. Estimates suggest the dark web constitutes less than 5% of the entire internet.
Lastly, to stay up-to-date with the happenings on a particular dark web website, forums are set up as a hub for information exchange. It can’t provide solutions should users encounter issues while using the website. We also made sure to select only sites that have been around for a considerable amount of time without being taken down or being the subject of any privacy or security scandals.
What Are The Best Dark Web Websites?
Ahmia primarily indexes .onion sites on the dark web, not both surface and dark web content. It is specifically designed to make hidden services on the Tor network more accessible. It offers a clean, user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of searching for hidden services. The dark web contains content that’s only accessible through networks like Tor. Tor browsers create encrypted entry points and pathways for the user, so dark web activity remains anonymous. The encryption technology routes users’ data through a large number of intermediate servers, which protects the users’ identity and guarantees anonymity.
The Best Dark Web Links — Safe & Verified Sites In 2025
- The email service is available both on the surface and on the dark web.
- It uses attractive visuals made more visible by the dark theme and the use of contrasting colors for fonts.
- Cryptocurrency miners and other malicious software often target dark web users.
- The website is a showcase of the company’s expertise in 3D design, digital art, and seamless animation.
The site is strongly resistant to hackers and encrypts your data in transit as well as the rest. Among many open-source whistleblower sites, SecureDrop is currently a leading platform. Many prominent media sources and journalists maintain a presence on this website location to securely accept documents from anonymous senders. These include big names, such as Al Jazeera, CBC, Forbes, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and many more.
What Is The Best Uncensored Search Engine?
Moreover, you don’t have to be frustrated by low speeds and lag, as the service offers exceptional fast upload and download speeds. With it, you also get mainstream VPN features like the no-logs policy, 256-bit military-grade AES encryption, and multi-platform operability. It’s best monthly deal costs only $4.99 per month and has a free version.
You need Tor, an anonymous browser, to visit websites on the dark web, which may attract your ISP’s attention and other law enforcement agencies. Specialized dark web search engines are designed to crawl and index dark web content, though sometimes, they also crawl for surface web content. First, you need to know how to access the dark web, and once you’re in, you can’t just perform a normal Google search. You’ll need a dark web search engine, and we’ve compiled the best ones for you to try. This is how the site admins encourage users to post their stolen credit card details on their site first. Deep and dark web credit card sites include forums and marketplaces that host the trade and share of illicit content relating to credit cards.
Using link verification tools or services that scan .onion sites for known malware or phishing attempts can also reduce risk. Above all, keep your Tor Browser and security software updated, and use privacy-focused browser settings to minimize exposure. The Hidden Wiki is accessible primarily through specialized anonymity networks like Tor and, to some extent, I2P (Invisible Internet Project).
It is also used by whistle-blowers, journalists, and other individuals who are not involved in illegal activity but need to protect their communications and identities. Through the dark web, users in places of high censorship can also access information and news. TorLinks serves as a backup or secondary directory site to the popular Hidden Wiki.
It’s divided into commercial links (from crypto services to gambling sites) and non-commercial links (like social media). As always, use Tor Links with care, as it includes onion links to dubious or illegal activity. DuckDuckGo is a search engine available on the Tor network that lets you browse the surface and dark web. Essentially, it’s a search engine like Google or Safari, but unlike other search engines, it doesn’t track your browsing activity or collect user data. So, search results won’t be based on your browsing history, location, or anything else. And I liked that if I visited a site that had a .onion version, it prompted me to switch to that version.
