While you’re at it, now might be a good time to check whether any of your personal information has been leaked on the dark web. ProtonMail is an email service that uses end-to-end encryption, making your email accessible to you and only you. The service retains no copies of any data that passes through a ProtonMail account. Although ProtonMail also exists on the clear web, accessing it via Tor provides an extra layer of privacy if you don’t want to leave a trace of you even using ProtonMail. Some locations block access to the site, so the New York Times began hosting on the dark web to unblock links to their news and make it accessible to everyone around the world. Borderless news reporting and uncensored media are among the most important and practical uses for the dark web.
However, not Evil is not a repository for illegal services and illegal material. Please note that not Evil does not tolerate adult content, narcotics / gun markets, or any other illegal content. A common misconception about the dark web is that it’s the same as the deep web, but this is not the case.
Deep Search is an open-source dark web search engine designed to index and explore onion space, the hidden services within the Tor network. Known for its accuracy, Deep Search stands out by delivering precise and useful results, avoiding the spammy links commonly found on similar platforms. These sites often appear in onion directories, but they come with extreme risks. Many are scams designed to steal money, while others are honeypots monitored by law enforcement.
Ahmia also discourages access to illegal content and promotes safer internet practices. Confidential government files and pages tied to unlawful trafficking often get filtered out. You can access DuckDuckGo on the surface web, but a Tor version is also available.
Top Trusted Onion Sites In 2025, The Legal, The Useful, And The Infamous
If you choose to visit the dark web, you must take the necessary measures to protect your privacy and security. This article lists some of the best dark web websites you can visit securely. Some of these sites are very helpful (but unseen as Google doesn’t show them), while others are just for fun. If you’re having trouble opening a specific onion link, or the overall Tor speed is slow, we have detailed tips on how to make Tor faster.
Trusted Directories And Forums (stay Away From Hidden Wiki)
In order to avoid censorship of their content, they’ve created a .onion site to ensure it’s accessible for all. Technically, yes, but you’ll still need to use the Tor network to access .onion sites, even on Chrome or Firefox. Chrome offers proxies that can give you access to dark sites, while you need to change the configuration of Firefox to do so. However, these methods can compromise your online security and would be very slow, so it’s better to just use Tor.
- In addition to these tools, you need to exercise extreme caution when browsing on the dark web because there are tons of phishing and malicious sites on there.
- Its commitment to user privacy, combined with its comprehensive suite of tools, makes Tails an essential asset for Tor enthusiasts.
- While technically not an onion site, we’re including Sci-Hub (sci-hub.se) as an interesting example of a site you can access via Tor.
- Ahmia has a very strict policy against abusive content, and any link with such content, if reported, is added to a blocklist and isn’t shown in future search results.
- Launched shortly after the Colonial Pipeline attack in 2021, RAMP has quickly carved a niche for itself among Russian-speaking dark web forums.
Do I Need A VPN If I Use Tor?
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. Using Tor to access dark web links isn’t illegal, but your ISP will notice, and others may too. It’s, ironically, more conspicuous than using popular browsers and sites. Because of its anonymity, the dark web is filled with illegal services and is used by numerous criminal groups, including ransomware gangs. 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.
Bitcoin Mixers And Anonymous Wallets
Using trusted directories, PGP encryption, and secure wallets helps protect against fraud. As a result, it is probably a good idea to double-check and verify any onion links you find using a secondary source such as Onion Links or DarkWebPug. Tor project coined the term Onion Routing (TOR stands for The Onion Router) to describe the process by which users gain online privacy and anonymity using the network. Tor works by directing internet traffic through a global network of volunteer nodes. This network of more than 6,000 relays conceals the user’s location from anybody engaging in online surveillance, as well as the websites visited. The Dark Web may have a sordid reputation, but there’s plenty of legitimate websites out there for people who just want to browse anonymously.
Exploring Legalities Surrounding Onion Sites
OnionShare is a powerful open-source platform that lets you share and receive files anonymously, host websites, run an online service, or chat anonymously. The tool is simple to install, fast to learn, and gets you started immediately. In this section, we have listed the most popular resources on the Dark Web. Please note that you must take great care when using the Dark Web as sites often contain adware, spyware, malicious links, and scams.
Top 10 Darknet Markets Of 2025
The Hidden Wiki has long been one of the most recognizable entry points into the dark web. It began as a simple, categorized directory of .onion links — helping new users find forums, search engines, whistleblowing tools, and more. Back when reliable dark web search engines were limited, the Hidden Wiki served as a trusted compass for exploring the hidden layers of the internet.
They offer user generated reviews of forums and darknet markets, alongside breaking stories and news from the Tor-sphere. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best tor and onion links for you to check out, in no particular order. Yes, a VPN enhances your online privacy on the Dark Web by sending your traffic through its private server network and encrypting your connection. However, not all VPNs come with robust security and privacy features, so make sure to use a premium VPN that won’t leak your data on the Dark Web. Onion sites are slower than regular websites due to Tor’s privacy-focused design.
It also offers a comprehensive list of marketplaces, exchanges, and websites linked to fraudulent activities, helping you stay informed. Torch is known for its quick loading times, enhancing the user experience. It provides unrestricted and uncensored search results, allowing access to a wide range of hidden content. However, over the years, the Hidden Wiki name has become controversial. Because it’s such a well-known brand, countless clones and fake versions have appeared across both the surface web and the Tor network.
The tool is designed so that even the server cannot read the content you paste. It’s ideal for posting sensitive instructions, onion links, or short encrypted messages. Since it runs entirely in the browser with JavaScript, no plaintext is ever sent to the server.
