If you decide to venture into the dark depths of the deep web, make sure you’ve bolstered your device’s security with powerful privacy and security tools that can defend against dark web threats. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
Alternative Anonymous Networks
Enable MFA wherever possible to protect your accounts from unauthorized access. 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. Wikipedia manages one of the best Tor sites for encyclopedic knowledge.
External Links
It’s recommended not to be too vigilant here and leave the investigation to the professionals. Furthermore, it’s critical to understand that Whonix is not a stand-alone browser. It is a component of Whonix, an operating system that functions as a whole inside a virtual computer. It includes all the essential productivity software, including MS Word and an email client.

The BBC Tor Mirror is an international version of the BBC that focuses on world affairs, and it’s extremely useful for those who live under strict censorship laws. Sci-Hub provides free access to scientific papers, with millions of documents. Scientific journals often put their articles behind a paywall and charge high fees for access, but Sci-Hub offers open access to read or download research papers. While it’s a deep resource, it’s also illegal in many countries, because it may violate copyright restrictions, so check out the laws in your area before visiting. The Hidden Wiki is the dark web’s unofficial Wikipedia, where you can find “.onion” links for many dark web pages, services, and other content.
This makes it safer for those who can’t freely access certain content. A large portion of activities on the dark web involve illegal content, transactions, or services. Simply accessing certain sites or engaging with the wrong links could implicate you in criminal investigations. You will never know when you stumble upon illegal materials, inadvertently download malicious software, or expose yourself to identity theft. But if you must visit the dark web for ethical reasons, here are some safety precautions. Many people use it for privacy-focused communication, whistleblowing, or accessing restricted information in censorship-heavy regions.
The threats of online browsing can extend into the unplugged world if your computer or network connection can be exploited. Anonymity is powerful with Tor and the framework of the dark web, but it is not infallible. Any online activity can carry breadcrumbs to your identity if someone digs far enough. Malicious software — i.e. malware — is fully alive all across the dark web. It is often offered in some portals to give threat actors the tools for cyberattacks.
Facebook — Dark Web Version Of Popular Social Media Site
There are various sites on the dark web dedicated to the distribution and discussion of hacking tools, cyberattack services (such as DDoS attacks), and information on data breaches and leaks. These sites can be used by both hackers and individuals looking to exploit vulnerabilities. Tails always starts with a clean slate and any evidence of the activities you engage in while using Tails disappears when you shut down Tails.
The Best Dark Web Links (Tested & Working In

Furthermore, .onion websites are constantly changing locations, disappearing, or popping up in new forms, adding to the challenge. Because of this, there’s no single dark web search engine that covers everything comprehensively. Instead, users rely on a handful of specialized search tools, each indexing a different slice of the dark web landscape.
How Do I Access The Dark Web?
For example, randomly clicking a link can land you in extreme content, such as child pornography, which is a serious criminal offense to access. Threat actors also exploit vulnerabilities in your systems and software to gain access to them. So, you should also make sure that your system’s operating system and other installed software are patched with the latest updates. What’s more, they can also sell you personal information on the dark web as your personal data has a monetary value on the dark web.

Transparency And Clear Communication
Install Avast SecureLine VPN to encrypt your internet connection and protect your privacy wherever you go online. As the digital world continues to evolve, the Dark Web will undoubtedly remain an important and often controversial part of the internet’s landscape. Whether used for good or ill, its shadowy nature is unlikely to fade anytime soon. One of the most famous examples is WikiLeaks, the international organization that publishes classified and sensitive documents. WikiLeaks uses the Tor network to allow whistleblowers to submit confidential information securely and anonymously.
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.
- According to Recorded Future research1, out of 55,000 onion domains discovered, only 8,400 have a live site.
- As such, we do not recommend using Tor if you want to do data-intensive activities like streaming in HD, gaming, torrenting, or making video calls.
- Those who access the dark web do so via the Tor (The Onion Router) browser.
- The dark web represents a much smaller segment of the deep web, accessible only through specialized tools like the Tor browser.
- Well known for its emphasis on security and privacy, the Tor browser distinguishes itself from mainstream browsers like Firefox or Chrome.
The surface web (often referred to as the “visible web”) is the portion of the web available to the general public and indexed in the standard web search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The content of all these pages is stored on Google’s servers, but it’s mostly outdated, old content; smartphone app content; journals; court records; private social media profiles, and much more. Rosalyn Page has been writing about technology long enough to remember when the only thing to worry about was Y2K. Since then, the dot-com boom became the dot-com bubble, technology fundamentally altered our lives, and everything has become about security. With a particular interest in privacy, data, and security, Rosalyn has covered social media, AI, IoT, deepfakes, marketing tech, the cloud, enterprise tech, consumer tech, and digital transformation.

The encryption technology routes users’ data through a large number of intermediate servers, which protects the users’ identity and guarantees anonymity. 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. 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.
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If you’re new to the deep/dark web, DuckDuckGo’s onion link should be your first port of call. This parent site gives access to all other dark websites through a simple search. Click its “Onionize” button to search the onion links for any other dark web websites. To access the dark web safely, you will need the Tor browser as it allows you to navigate .onion sites. Additionally, using a VPN like Forest VPN is highly recommended to protect your identity and encrypt your internet traffic. Naturally, this makes the dark web a breeding ground for illegal activity.