Using a VPN with Tor provides an extra layer of protection when accessing the dark web. This means your ISP (internet service provider) won’t know you’re using Tor, and potential attackers on Tor can’t easily track your true IP address at vulnerable nodes. To find .onion links for dark web sites, you’ll need to use a dark web search engine. Many of them are safe for beginners to use since they filter out dangerous/illegal content to only provide safe .onion links. My favorites are DuckDuckGo (usually the Tor browser’s default search engine), The Hidden Wiki, and Ahmia.
How Do I Find onion Links For Sites?
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. TorSearch serves as both a rudimentary dark web search engine and a directory of auxiliary services. The homepage affords direct links to diverse darknet sites and resources. While search functionality is relatively straightforward, lacking advanced options, its performance is nimble.
And unlike Reddit, this darknet site offers its users complete anonymity. To visit a .onion site, you’ll have to both know it exists and have its URL ready. One of them is by using a directory of sites, like The Hidden Wiki.
The Best Onion Sites On The Dark Web In 2025
Other sites explicitly block search engines from identifying them. One option is to try DuckDuckGo’s .onion version, which is great for privacy. Other options include Ahmia and NotEvil, which focus on listing .onion links.
Are Dark Web Search Engines Safe To Use?
Most other clearnet domains for similar services either just redirect, or share their own onion alternative. You can access this search engine using traditional browsers like Google chrome/ Firefox etc. The one aspect I don’t like with Torch is its duplicate results.
Its presence on the dark web also supports intelligence gathering and helps track cybercriminal activity. Forest VPN is a top choice for those looking to enhance their privacy and security online. Unlike other providers, Forest VPN is transparent about its operations, offering a free version supported by advertising and a premium version with enhanced features. Its eco-friendly approach, with battery-saving technology, ensures you have a minimal carbon footprint while browsing. DeepSearch is an open-source search engine designed for exploring the dark web within the Tor network. For every search query, it lists a dozen of promoted sites at top, which are highlighted with green box.
Tornet Global Search
Whether on the clearnet or the dark web, using search engines and other browsing tools can lead to data leaks that expose your search history and other personal information. That’s why it’s important to use online security tools that protect your personal data. A dark web search engine is an online tool designed to find websites on the unindexed part of the internet known as the dark web. Dark web websites are not listed on regular search engines, but dark web search engines can help you find them. Because of its anonymity, the dark web is filled with illegal services and is used by numerous criminal groups, including ransomware gangs.
First, Install A Reliable VPN
Awazon became the successor of the popular AlphaBay market, which the authorities shut down successfully in July 2023. Like any other site of such nature, Awazon Market isn’t free from risks, so be careful while accessing it. Moreover, due to its popularity, many copycats of the Hidden Wiki exist. So don’t be surprised if you encounter different versions that claim to be genuine, and be very careful.

Tor And The Onion Browser
Yes, you can access the dark web on mobile — you just need the right app. Android users need to download the Tor Browser app, while iPhone fans should get the Onion Browser app. While the best dark web sites listed above are a good starting point for a safe, legal surfing experience on Tor, there really is no substitute for a VPN.
For example, DuckDuckGo is the most popular but often shows repetitive results and is sometimes unrelated to the question. Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections to protect as many devices as possible. Also, try its services risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee. The Camouflage Mode is intended for people living in countries with heavy internet censorship, like China.
- Set Tor Browser’s security level to “Safest” for critical dark web activity.
- Torch’s wide search capability makes it attractive to people who want to browse the dark web.
- Another vital precaution is to ensure that your .onion URLs are correct.
- Using Tor to access dark web links isn’t illegal, but your ISP will notice, and others may too.
- Not Evil is a reflection of what the community is looking for and what the community reports as abusive or inappropriate content.
- It is not a crime to access uncensored news or a site you want to use in case of restrictions or outages due to our topic.

This is a free service that lets you upload images to share them with other people. It’s great for people who live in or travel through restrictive countries to securely access and use image hosting and sharing services, which might be unavailable. It’s also worth noting that the dark web is not the only place where illegal activities take place on the internet.
However, technological advancements such as encryption and privacy-focused browsers like Tor enabled the general public to access it. These sites are a hybrid tutorial-underground where wannabe hackers ask questions and professionals sell their services or stolen data. You only need to upload your PGP key or let the platform create one. Use it to link your GitHub account, Twitter, Bitcoin address, and Facebook.

Founded by security researcher Juha Nurmi, Ahmia is essentially a list of “hidden” sites that do want to be found. Onion sites are “crawled” and added to the list provided their “robots.txt” file permits it, and if it is not on their blacklist of sites with abuse material. Site operators can also submit their own .onion sites for indexing.
Here, you can find forums for free speech, marketplaces for legal goods, and even libraries of information not available elsewhere. However, accessing the dark web requires more than just curiosity; it demands specific tools and knowledge. Discover how to safely use a dark web search engine for exploring the hidden internet.
It describes itself as a tool for social change and “a project to create democratic alternatives.” Riseup requires you to have the onion link as well as an invitation. Of course, bypassing paywalls is ethically questionable and may be illegal in some jurisdictions. That’s why many people choose to do so anonymously on the dark web, rather than using the clear web version of the site. The CIA is contactable on the dark web, providing a completely anonymous way to get in touch with them.