Just like in the old days of the internet, the dark web maintains numerous indexes of sites, like The Hidden Wiki. Unlike Ahmia and Haystak, however, DuckDuckGo doesn’t search .onion sites. Use it to search the normal internet from the privacy of your Tor Browser. Haystak also offers a premium version that allows advanced search, access to historical content, and email alerts. Your real information could be exposed at these nodes, allowing third parties to intercept your dark web activity.
Can I Access The Dark Web Without Tor?
Check out these best onion sites to access the dark web securely and anonymously. There are no laws restricting access to websites on the dark web. However, using the dark web for illegal activity can be a criminal offense. After all, some websites on the deep web are like those on the open internet, except that they are hidden behind a paywall or protected via passwords to limit access. Signup for PureVPN to get complete online security and privacy with a hidden IP address and encrypted internet traffic. Launched in early 2023, LeakBase quickly emerged as a top English-speaking alternative to BreachForums.
Do I Have To Use A VPN?
Although browsing the dark web is not illegal, it contains unsavory activities that can expose you to danger. Remember that any website engaging in illegal activities such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, hacking, and human trafficking violates international laws and, therefore, is illegal. It is designed to provide online anonymity and privacy to its users.
Roberts responded by paying someone known online as “redandwhite” the sum of $150,000 in bitcoins to kill the blackmailer. (Roberts received photos of that killing too, but the Canadian police can’t match it to any murder they’re aware of.) In June 2013, Roberts ordered a set of fake IDs from redandwhite. Customs opened a package from Canada containing nine fake IDs bearing Ulbricht’s photo and birth date. In January 2013, a Silk Road employee apparently stole bitcoins from users, then managed to get arrested on another charge.
As mentioned before, your ISP and government institutions are not able to see what sites you visit on the Tor network, but they can probably see that you use Tor. However, there are several “.onion” search engines like “onion.city”, “onion.to”, and “notevil” that you can use to find suitable marketplaces. From this point onwards, you can enjoy complete anonymity and security while being able to access “.onion” websites and other dark web browser domains. When you install a VPN, all of your activities on the dark web will be hidden from unwanted snoops from your ISP or the FBI.
Deep Web Vs Dark Web Vs Surface Web
This added layer of security keeps your identity hidden and shields you from online threats. They gather on the dark net to buy and sell credit card numbers, weapons, drugs, counterfeit money, stolen online account credentials, malware, and more. Not everyone on the dark web is a cybercriminal or a dissident on the run from a murderous regime. Some visitors simply enjoy the anonymity and might just join an online chess club there or Blackbook, the social networking site exclusively for the dark web.
It’s also used by journalists, advocacy group members, and political refugees in hiding. Reuters, Fox, NBC, CNN – all of them keep open dark web channels to receive anonymous tips from whistleblowers. Always remember that the dark web is a people-centric community. So, it’s only natural to find ways to keep in touch with your darknet buddies and/or customers. There are several email and IM services which you can use, and it’s highly recommended to pick one if you want to step up your dark web game.
- The site has been around for over two decades, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since its inception – no reports of malware, hackings, or scams.
- It can be a haven for journalists, activists, and curious netizens.
- For example, Briar is an extremely private chat app designed to help journalists communicate anonymously with sources.
- It is designed to provide online anonymity and privacy to its users.
- ZeroBin has a cool autodestruct feature that makes the message go kaboom (not literally) after the recipient reads it.
Alternative Anonymous Networks

If we need a website to get links to other hidden sites, we will choose Hidden Wiki. But if you are thinking you can find links to the deepest part of the dark web using this site, it’s not that simple. Like regular browsers with domain names, the Tor browser also has its own domain designation. These “onion” sites are only accessible on the dark web and bear the “.onion” domain at the end of the URL.
Words Of Caution When Using Dark Web Sites
The Farmer’s Market was vulnerable because it left financial tracks in the real world. He encouraged users to craft stories with characters “like adult men prone to violence” and centering around girls named Libby and Abby. McIntosh later confirmed to authorities that this was a reference to 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German, two children murdered in 2017 by a man in Indiana. Accused of helping oversee one of the largest collections of child pornography on the dark web, McIntosh, 65, pleaded guilty to two federal felony charges in August. You might also consider placing a credit freeze with each of the national credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Accessing Onion Sites On Android

Unlike many dark web forums, LeakBase is accessible on the surface web but remains popular for trading stolen data, malware, and hacking guides. XSS is a long-standing name in Russian-speaking dark web forums. Originally launched in 2013 and rebranded in 2018, it facilitates the sale of malware, stolen databases, and unauthorized access credentials. The forum is available both on the surface web and via TOR, enhancing accessibility for vetted users.
SuperBe Models – Artsy Safe Porn Site
- Setting up I2P requires more configuration on the user’s part than Tor.
- She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and a triple Master’s degree in Literary and Cultural Studies.
- You can also search for onion links on DuckDuckGo’s onion page by clicking Onionize.
- Yes, you can still be tracked on the dark web despite its privacy features.
- Set Tor Browser’s security level to “Safest” for critical dark web activity.
It provides safety and anonymity for journalists, privacy-conscious users, or those in high-censorship countries. You need to ensure you’re only accessing reliable dark web sites, and the ones listed below are among the safest ones that currently work. Another great source to find and explore dark web marketplaces or other sections is to visit Reddit’s resourceful forum. You can look for information on /r/deepweb, /r/TOR, or /r/onions, of which the latter is useful to find hidden wikis and more.

External Links

Unlike darknet mode, opennet uses a handful of centralized servers in addition to the decentralized peer-to-peer network. The big downside is that your ISP will know you are using Tor, which is cause for concern in some places and will put many people off using this method. In this instance, too, it is important to use a logless VPN and pay with Bitcoin if you can to stay anonymous. The VPN over Tor technique is also susceptible to an end-to-end timing attack, though it’s highly unlikely. The dark web, or dark net, is a small part of the deep web that is kept hidden on purpose.

Because Tor is very slow, many dark web-only websites avoid complex designs and fancy graphics to deliver a faster experience. Dark websites, on the other hand, can only be accessed with Tor (or something similar). Despite multiple attempts to break Tor (some of which have had some partial success), it remains by far the best way to achieve true anonymity on the internet. Protect your online identity with an encrypted password manager.
However, data is required for understanding, monitoring, and improving the network. Furthermore, data will help to detect attacks against the network and possible censorship events. The BBC news website has a special .onion site, which you need to access via the dark web.