For example, there are separate categories for blogs, email services, file uploaders, forums, and more. I tested all the website links on The Hidden Wiki and almost all of them work (I was able to access sites like Deep Web Radio and ProPublica without any issues). The Hidden Wiki is the best way to start browsing the dark web because it contains dozens of links to popular .onion sites.
ZeroBin offers an extra secure version of this service by only encrypting and decrypting text in the browser, meaning their servers have no knowledge of what is passing through it. One of the most popular ways to get around the dark web is not to use a search engine at all. Just like in the old days of the internet, the dark web maintains numerous indexes of sites, like The Hidden Wiki. Haystak also offers a premium version that allows advanced search, access to historical content, and email alerts.
How Do I Use A VPN With Tor?
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. Since you’ve now installed the Tor browser, you can safely browse dark web websites and other (previously) hidden websites. 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. The VPN is a second layer of extra protection, on top of the protection that the Tor network already offers.

Some users also share links on encrypted apps like Telegram or Keybase that you can check. Another website is Dread, which is often called the “Reddit of the Dark Web.” It’s a community platform where users can discuss new markets, share onion links, add reviews, and much more. If you’re lucky enough, you can find it on clearnet privacy forums. All websites on the open web can be accessed through standard web browsers such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome.
Never Share Personal Information

However, it’s important to note that NordVPN can see your traffic details before encrypting them, even though it does not keep logs. A VPN helps you browse the web more securely and privately by adding an extra layer of encryption to your data. However, not all VPNs are reliable, and some may collect your personal information while others slow you down. If you are curious about accessing the deep web, you are likely already using it daily through pending website redesigns, blog posts under review, and pages accessed during online banking. These pages are hidden for various reasons and do not threaten your computer or safety. This guide tells you all there is to know about the darknet and how to access both the deep web and dark web safely.
Top 10 Best Dark Web Search Engines In 2025 Safe & Anonymous Browsing Tools For Tor Users
This website is made public with the intention to aid the Internet users with navigation of the so called dark web. We have never received a compensation in any form for operating this website. We are not responsible for any harm or loss you may receive by following links listed on this site.
It uses TrustedServer technology on the entire server network to wipe out your data after every session. Since the dark web is a hidden and uncontrolled part of the web, there is a high amount of malware infections present there. As a result, you should avoid opening unfiltered sources, torrent sites, and dark web links unnecessarily and downloading every file you come across. For this reason, you must watch out and avoid opening anything that looks suspicious to you. The anonymity provided by onion routing comes at the cost of slowing your internet considerably.

Dark Web Links For News
Sections of the dark web are often closed down too, as part of police operations. Even with Tor and onion routing in place though, you’re not suddenly completely invisible and free to do whatever you want, without repercussions. Certain details of your traffic can be intercepted at the entry and exit points of the node, by the people running those nodes, if they know what they’re doing and what they’re looking for. You’re also open to threats like end-to-end correlation attacks, so while Tor is a lot more secure and private, it’s by no means completely safe.
Finding Onion Sites
The Guardian Tor site is a mirror of its regular Tor site, offering the same news, analysis, and opinion as its regular web portal. Tor was originally an acronym for The Onion Router, which references Tor’s multiple layers of security. Onion Services are websites that exist within the Tor network and can only be accessed from the Tor network. Since these websites are themselves Tor nodes, there’s no need to use an exit node that could be blocked or monitored.
With over 1M indexed pages, it’s reliable and offers a Google-like feel. Known for its massive index and premium version, Haystak is favored by cybersecurity professionals and threat analysts for its depth. Please check your local laws to ensure your use of VPN complies with statutory requirements. However, the technology that Yippy manages, was created in Carnegie Mellon. In addition, this included the acquisition of an unlimited license for the software known as Vivisimo’s Velocity, acquired by IBM in 2012 and renamed IBM Watson Explorer.
- However, since the dark web is also used for criminal activities, it is not advisable to visit and surf this part of the internet.
- On the other hand, we have Tor2Web, which is a service that helps people who are not yet in the Tor network.
- Believe me – there are plenty to go around and each and every one of them are being kept under surveillance.
- As of last week, many of the child pornography sites were still operational.
- These sites provide a level of privacy and anonymity unavailable on the surface web, offering content and goods that cannot be easily found through traditional online platforms.
- For individuals in locations facing strict restrictions or those under oppressive governments, ProPublica is the perfect platform to share their stories.
Know Where You’ll Visit
When you try to enter a .onion website, it will reroute your access request around the internet, bouncing it off three random servers before you reach the target website. This is an estimated reading time to let you know how long it will take you to read all the content on this particular PrivacyRadar.com page. However, it has a sneak peek, easy guide steps, and/or a quick list providing quick in-page navigations and easily-found answers if desired.

This was Kidflix—a notorious dark web platform that had grown into one of the largest paedophile platforms in the world. But its reign has now come to an end, as German investigators, in coordination with pan-European police agency Europol, led a major operation to dismantle the streaming service. Selwyn Rosenstein was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2022, for operating a dark website for unlawful exploitative images. Spearman went by the nickname “Boss” and was labeled by the Justice Department as “one of the most significant” purveyors of child sex abuse material in the world.

Founded in 1998 as Ixquick.com, we later changed the name to Startpage.com. At Startpage.com, they take into account the privacy dangers of recording people’s search behavior, and given their team’s strong convictions about privacy, they decided to act accordingly. Dark web domains are generated in a cryptographically secure way, so they look like random strings of 16 characters or more (like 3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion, for example). For example, I looked up google.com and was able to find a snapshot of Google’s home page from 2008. The Mail Plus plan adds up to 15 GB of storage, unlimited messages, and 10 email addresses, plus advanced email settings (like automatic forwarding). You can also get Proton Unlimited and Proton Duo plans that add even more extras.
Secure Your System And Mental Well-being
During my testing, I found its categorized index particularly helpful for discovering trustworthy sites across various topics. This search engine’s mission is to be leaders in providing services on the deep web, protecting the anonymity of each user. In addition, they share information of great importance, about the Tor network and the Tor project. Its free plan comes with up to 1 GB of storage, 150 messages per day, and 1 email address.
Detailed Overview Of Each Search Engine
His arrest in 2022, his guilty plea a year later and his eventual life sentence were part of an unprecedented takedown of a prodigious child abuse network. Gannicus Oliver is an experienced tech journalist (he loves writing on emerging techs and digital privacy issues) and an online business consultant. In his free time, Gannicus enjoys uncovering thrilling adventures and traveling around the world. Then, a law enforcement agency (still unidentified) provided information to the FBI that later accessed the site’s host server. Removing your sensitive personal information from the dark web once it has been exposed is virtually impossible.