Borderless news reporting and uncensored media are among the most important and practical uses for the dark web. Bypassing firewalls and other forms of geo-blocking helps people to access news websites and social media they normally wouldn’t be able to — and do so with less fear of recrimination. While some of these markets were shuttered by law enforcement agencies – some took the easy way out with exit scams. Here are some of the now-defunct dark web markets that were notorious for cybercrime. There’s also a privacy angle—some users live in countries with censorship or surveillance, and the dark web gives them a space to communicate or access information more freely.
Sci-Hub, often referred to as a “pirate” academic database, is a groundbreaking online repository that provides free access to millions of research papers and academic articles. That it is an open source project that is in charge of handling suggestions and comments anonymously. On the other hand, we have Tor2Web, which is a service that helps people who are not yet in the Tor network. The site started as a fork of the ahmia search engine, this will remain a central part of the site.
Torch is one of the oldest dark web search engines, and it’s generally considered one of the safest. It has some advertisements on its home page, but they’re for popular searches and services to help get you started. Ahmia is a search engine for .onion sites — you search for a keyword and Ahmia retrieves relevant results. I tested it 10+ times, and it always provided me with accurate search results. For example, I used the “radio” keyword and the third result was Deep Web Radio, which is a popular online radio station on the dark web.
However, the quality of the resources you choose to engage with can make all the difference in ensuring a safer, more productive experience. By applying well-defined criteria, you can more confidently separate valuable platforms from malicious or untrustworthy ones. Classic darknet markets sell diverse illegal goods; data stores focus on leaked or stolen data like credentials, databases, and ID records. WeTheNorth is a Canadian market established in 2021 that also serves international users.
Whistleblower Aid On Tor
It doesn’t censor out any content, so you’ll have free access to more than 400,000 indexed pages. I like that you can ask the search engine to match all of your search words for exact results, or only some of them for broader search results. It lets you search both clearnet and dark web sites, but it blocks all trackers, doesn’t use your location data, and never stores your search history. For most people and use cases, using only a VPN will offer sufficient privacy with much faster speeds than Tor alone. A VPN provides strong security for everyday browsing without the extra delays, middle checkpoint, and then finally the exit gate. The extra connection layers can act as a significant burden to your browsing experience if you’re doing something that is bandwidth intensive.
History Of Dark Web Marketplaces
My tests showed reliable performance for smaller files, but larger transfers can be slow due to Tor’s limitations. Pitch is a dark web-based Twitter/X alternative, providing a secure platform for anonymous discussions and information sharing. Unlike many dark web platforms, it maintains strict content guidelines while protecting user privacy. DigDeeper offers in-depth analysis of technology and privacy topics rarely covered by mainstream media. The website’s articles focus on digital rights, surveillance, and security research.
How To Remain Safe When Using Darknet Browsers
Dark web websites are hidden under layers of encryption that cloak user activity, which can be a boon to whistleblowers, activists, and others who don’t want anyone tracking their activity. So, I put together a list of the best dark web sites in 2025 to help you get started. I also included instructions on how to access the dark web, and outlined how to stay safe when browsing dark web links (the dark web is also home to many scams and malicious sites). While the dark web contains illegal activities, not all content is illicit. Many onion sites provide valuable resources such as news, secure communication, and educational materials. Despite its reputation, the dark web isn’t solely defined by illicit marketplaces or nefarious activity.
The dark web also helps individuals communicate about or sell illegal items such as weapons, drugs, malware, etc. Many people see hacked information and stolen card data being sold on the dark web. For example, you can find information unavailable to the public and share data privately while protecting your online identity. Note that most dark web transactions are carried out using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Talking about copycats and potential risks, due to its high risk and low signal-to-noise ratio for legitimate content, we advise beginners and privacy-conscious users to avoid The Hidden Wiki.
Top 10 Dark Web Markets
Reddit is actually available on the dark web now, so there’s no need to rely on third-party tools to access it via Tor. Just bear in mind that the addition of anonymity to a platform like Reddit causes people to behave without a filter. However, for many, this appears to have been a simple publicity stunt, as they’ve since abandoned them. BBC News is still around, though, along with a handful of others, ensuring that users can access impartial information, wherever they are in the world. It is an archive stored on the Dark Web that keeps a snapshot of websites on the surface internet. The useful site allows you to see how a website looked at an earlier date.
Why Use Forest VPN?
Many news publications, like the ones listed above, have a SecureDrop on their .onion sites. Onion sites (aka Tor sites) are websites only accessible on the dark web; you can’t view them using a regular browser. Their URLs (aka dark web links) have .onion as the domain, instead of the common surface web domains like .com or .net. I personally recommend Tor over VPN because it’s the safer option — the VPN encrypts your traffic and changes your IP address, so the Tor network can’t see them.
More Dark Web Sites Featuring News
- Immediately close your entire Tor Browser window (not just that active tab).
- Ensure that your Tor browser and security software are always up to date.
- With its low 5% vendor fee, secure transactions, and verified sellers, it’s an ideal choice for buyers looking for a trusted marketplace.
- The original offers categorized .onion links, from forums to file-sharing tools.
- These services form the communication backbone for sensitive conversations in high-risk environments.
Forums play a crucial role in shaping the dark web’s social landscape, enabling users to exchange knowledge, share security advice, and discuss market reputations. Dread is arguably the most prominent forum, likened to Reddit but within the dark web. It hosts active discussions about market updates, hacking techniques, and security tips, with a community that actively moderates content to minimize scams. The Hub is another well-established forum offering extensive guides and support for newcomers and veterans alike, covering everything from vendor reviews to operational security.
The only difference is that it passes your traffic through random nodes before reaching the destination. This means your activities cannot be traced or your browser history exposed. 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.
We’ve compiled an up-to-date list of the best onion sites so you can get a taste of what’s out there. A reliable VPN encrypts your traffic before it enters the Tor network, preventing surveillance from your ISP or malicious actors. During my tests, ExpressVPN’s military-grade encryption and verified no-logs policy provided consistent protection against tracking and monitoring.
🧭The Hidden Wiki – Still Useful Or Too Risky In 2025?
The Hidden Wiki itself does not host content but acts as a conduit to other sites. The Hidden Wiki serves as a critical guidepost within the complex and often misunderstood realms of the dark web. Unlike the surface web, which is indexed by popular search engines and easily accessible, the dark web requires specific tools and knowledge to navigate. Both DuckDuckGo and Ahmia are safe choices for finding Tor Browser links without being tracked. Any onion websites you visit from these search engines is another story. Dark Web Links are unique URLs that grant access to websites hosted on the “dark web”, a hidden part of the internet that isn’t indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing.
It is a popular tool for journalists, researchers, and users who need to document online content. While some .onion sites provide essential services like secure communication and censorship-free journalism, others spread malware or run scams. With this in mind, finding verified links is crucial for avoiding threats on the dark web.
