These websites live on the unindexed, hidden part of the internet known as the dark web. To access the dark web, you need a dark web browser like Tor Browser. And many people use a VPN with Tor, because while the Tor network offers anonymity and privacy, extra security is recommended when accessing the dark web. Before you download Tor, make sure you’re taking precautions to keep yourself safe at all times. Using a VPN with Tor provides an extra layer of protection when accessing the dark web.
Should I Use A VPN To Access Tor?
This is largely due to harmful elements in the dark web, and Ahmia contains certain questionable and largely illicit links. Therefore, use NordVPN to view search results and browse anonymously. In addition, Haystak offers a premium plan that allows deeper search, email alerts, and access to historical content.
Step 4: Start Searching onion Websites
These sites are a hybrid tutorial-underground where wannabe hackers ask questions and professionals sell their services or stolen data. Onion links have no regular domain names registered under the domain name registry. Instead, they are designed using a cryptographic key and can be accessed only through software like the Tor browser. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Top 10 Dark Web Search Engines
The website is available on the surface web and has a .onion site. This means you can visit the site anonymously using the Onion browser, especially if you live under an oppressive regime. Purchases through links on our pages may yield affiliate revenue for us.
Hacking Groups And Services
And, with an automatic kill switch that guards against unexpected exposure if the connection drops, you can enjoy powerful privacy protection as you navigate even the darker corners of the web. Proton Mail is an anonymous email service that operates an onion site. Unfortunately, many dark web websites are devoted to the illegal trade of leaked personal information. If you’ve ever experienced an uptick in phishing attacks and spam after a data leak or breach, it may be because your personal information has been posted to the dark web. Swiss based ProtonMail is an encrypted email service that is quite popular with the cryptocurrency community.
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. While you don’t need to log in to access any of the dark web links listed here, you can’t find them with a search engine like Google. The only way to access the dark web is by using the correct browser and knowing the URLs of the pages you want to visit.
Why Do Dark Web Search Engine URLs Keep Changing?
Torch—a portmanteau of “Tor” and “Search”—is a seasoned dark web search engine that was one of (if not) the first of its kind. Its large search library, speed, and commitment to user anonymity make it a preferred choice for many people who browse the dark web. Install Norton VPN to encrypt your internet connection and help protect the data you share online. The dark web has a reputation for being a shady marketplace, but it has many legitimate uses, too. For example, journalists and informants can securely communicate and share sensitive information over the dark web wherever they are and without risk of interception. Several news and information sites like The New York Times and the BBC also have Tor versions, which can provide the news to places where their normal sites are censored.
Torch is one of the oldest and most well-known dark web search engines, providing access to a vast index of .onion websites. The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that requires a special browser like the Tor browser to access it. Normal search engines like Google and DuckDuckGo don’t index this part of the web due to its illegal nature.
This is no different from the “.net” or “.com” of the regular Internet. However, please note this article is for research and educational purposes only. The dark net is full of notorious hackers, scammers, malware, and other viruses. We recommend using NordVPN and a robust antivirus like TotalAV to keep you safe while browsing the dark web. Even if you have good intentions, it’s easy to stray off the beaten path in the dark web and stumble onto illegal sites and materials.
Best Tor Sites Available On The Dark Web – Quick List
Using common sense like avoiding clicking on shady links or download buttons, sticking to known sites and adding a VPN for an extra layer of protection, you should be fine. While people and organizations do host legitimate and useful sites on the dark web, it’s still best to tread cautiously. Despite Tor’s privacy-focused design, malicious entities are more likely to target your data in transit and on .onion sites.
Also, some toxic chemicals are peddled on the dark web that may cause severe damage to the targets. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy to ensure user privacy and employs 256-bit AES encryption. It is also available on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. However, it’s important to note that NordVPN can see your traffic details before encrypting them, even though it does not keep logs. First, most of the content on the dark web is highly illegal, and no matter the precautions are taken to stay anonymous, you should be aware that you enter the dark web world at your own risk. If you are curious about accessing the deep web, you are likely already using it daily through pending website redesigns, blog posts under review, and pages accessed during online banking.
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. The dark web is a part of the internet that isn’t accessible with regular browsers or search engines like Google and Bing.
- The only way to access Tor sites that the Tor Project recommends is to use Tor Browser(new window), a modified version of Firefox that routes all connections through the Tor network by default.
- Known for its massive index and premium version, Haystak is favored by cybersecurity professionals and threat analysts for its depth.
- It isn’t illegal to simply visit a website on the dark web, but many sites engage in illegal activity.
- Tor Metrics highlights that about 22% of daily Tor users come from Russia, while the USA ranks second at 15%.
- It hosts an onion site so people in countries with restricted press freedom can access its journalism, which covers everything from hacktivism to government repression.
Initially, the dark web was mainly used by government agencies, big businesses, hackers, and cybercriminals. However, technological advancements such as encryption and privacy-focused browsers like Tor enabled the general public to access it. Some whistleblowers and journalists use these portals to safely leak information, especially when a source requires complete privacy. As listed above in our article, even respected organizations like the BBC and ProPublica have a version of their site on the dark web. No user names are tied to actual identities, and no moderation like one may find on Reddit.
Malware And Viruses
You should also limit the number of financial transactions you make on Tor banking portals. Enable MFA wherever possible to protect your accounts from unauthorized access. This space for private free speech also carries the risk of exposing you to harmful content. Hidden Answers is one of the biggest question-and-answer dark web sites. This makes Riseup a vital tool for people in oppressive environments or anyone concerned with online privacy.
