If you choose to access it, you should do so from a sandboxed computer with strong security controls. We hope you found this information on how the dark web works helpful. If your organization needs help with proactive security such as technical testing, advisory and compliance services, cybersecurity solutions, and training, please contact us. Whether you need virtual CISO or regulatory compliance consulting services, testing, solution integration, training or one of our many other services – our expert team has you covered.
Best Dark Web Sites In 2025 + How To Stay Safe
Always remember that while the above measures significantly reduce risks, no method guarantees complete security on the dark web. Always exercise extreme caution and verify the legality of any services you access. Watch for unexpected changes in system performance that could indicate malware.
Keep Your Identity Hidden

It’s used by 50+ news organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Intercept, The Globe and Mail, ProPublica, and more. These news outlets offer dedicated .onion links where you can drop whistleblowing news. Like any other browser, you can search for a relevant keyword using its search bar, and it will show you results if its database has any relevant websites stored. 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. However, Ahmia, like other darknet search engines, isn’t completely safe.
What Types Of Content Can I Find On The Dark Web?
Archive.today stores snapshots of web pages for later access, much like The Wayback Machine. The key difference is that while The Wayback Machine allows website owners to prevent their sites from being archived, Archive.today does not offer this option. Founded by Alexandra Elbakyan, Sci-Hub eliminates all barriers that get in the way of acquiring scientific knowledge.
More Dark Web Sites Featuring News
Major news outlets like The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian host SecureDrop instances on the dark web to give sources a safe, anonymous way to share sensitive information. The dark web, while shrouded in mystery, is a realm of opportunity for those who value privacy and freedom of information. With the right tools, like Forest VPN, you can safely navigate this intriguing part of the internet. Whether you’re a journalist seeking uncensored news or a privacy enthusiast exploring secure communication platforms, the dark web holds a wealth of resources waiting to be discovered. The dark web is a small part of the deep web that requires special software to access, such as the Tor browser.

August’s Top VPN Discounts
Careful though, because many ‘users’ reported malicious links and redirects while perusing Sci-Hub. Signup for PureVPN to get complete online security and privacy with a hidden IP address and encrypted internet traffic. There are search engines on the dark web, but most of them have a hard time keeping up with the rapidly changing landscape.
They provide a crucial service by organizing the chaotic and often dangerous landscape of hidden websites. This article provides a current list of the top dark web search engines in 2024. Whether you’re a cybersecurity professional, researcher, or simply curious about the dark web, this article will help you navigate this hidden internet space. When you access a .onion site, your connection is routed through multiple nodes across the globe, each adding a layer of encryption.
Easy Steps To Access Dark Web On Your Phone Safely In 2024
The best way to do that is to get the link from legitimate sources, like The Hidden Wiki. What’s more, you should always use a VPN (like ExpressVPN) with Tor to protect yourself from IP leaks. I also recommend using an antivirus (like Norton 360) to protect your device from malware infections. It’s also a playground for cybercriminals, illegal activities, and shady stuff. I also like that the security guides are user-friendly — the format is easy to scan, complicated terms are explained very well, and there are videos and screenshots. It’s great how the site has a Security Scenarios section too, where it offers personalized security tips for specific audiences (activists, academic researchers, journalists, and more).
It’s been around for many years and helps users navigate the dark web by curating links to various resources. Note that Hidden Wiki links sometimes lead to unsafe content, so be wary about what you click. Use your common sense to steer clear of online scams and illegal activity. Accessed through the Tor network, a privacy-focused browser that anonymizes user’s web traffic, The Hidden Wiki operates as a directory service. It compiles links to different websites on the dark web, ranging from forums and marketplaces to libraries and blogs.
Dark Web Links: Top Onion And Tor Sites To Explore In 2024
To learn how to safely access the Dark Web sites listed above, read our Dark Web Access Guide here. Dark web links operate on a system of layers (like an onion) where each layer encrypts traffic as it passes through multiple relays. Using Forest VPN is essential for protecting your privacy while browsing these sites.

Join the Every Bit Helps mailing list to receive our newsletter & get access to the latest deals & to our Discord community. Although, if you know where to find them and sort through all the clutter, you’ll also find some great dark web websites. They promise to plague the interior and/or exterior of someone’s home with popular garden ornaments. However, these friendly-looking gnomes sometimes come with a surprise. When ordered, these cursed gnomes are sometimes filled with animal faeces. With Numbers Station, you are immediately directed to an audio player.
- World Market is another largest dark web shops that deals with various goods and services.
- Facebook’s dark web website helps people around the world connect, communicate, and organize.
- The dark net is full of notorious hackers, scammers, malware, and other viruses.
- Learn how to automate financial risk reports using AI and news data with this guide for product managers, featuring tools from Webz.io and OpenAI.
- The dark web often conjures images of illicit activities and shadowy figures.
- In addition, know that while accessing the dark web is legal in most countries, engaging in illegal activities (buying or selling contraband, hacking services, etc.), is illegal everywhere.
The story of dark web marketplaces kicks off with Silk Road, launched in 2011. It was the first big site where people could anonymously buy drugs using Bitcoin, and it gained a lot of attention, until it was shut down by the FBI in 2013. By supplying stolen data, these dark web links fuel many online scams and identity theft operations, playing a critical role in the darker aspects of the internet. While these sites illustrate that there are legitimate uses for accessing the dark web, it’s important to exercise caution when exploring this part of the internet. The ethos of Hidden Answers lies in the belief that free access to information and unbridled expression are fundamental human rights. By providing a space where questions can be asked and answered without judgment or identification, the platform embodies the principles of free speech and informational freedom.
Haystack is an easy-to-use search engine for .onion sites that weeds out malicious and harmful links. However, with thousands of search results, the danger of clicking the wrong link remains. It’s purely used to search dark sites, and can only be accessed via the Tor browser, and isn’t available on the clear net. The deep web is the part of the internet you can’t access through search engines like Google and Bing. Also referred to as “non-indexed” content, it’s any content hidden behind some kind of access control such as a log-in or code word. It contains 7,500 terabytes of information, compared with only 19 terabytes of information in the “surface” web.