Riseup is an invite-only email and communications service that doesn’t hold onto any of the data you generate when you use it. 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. The dark web is home to a variety of useful and legitimate resources — educational materials, encrypted email services, anonymous forums — that can’t be found elsewhere. While technically not an onion site, we’re including Sci-Hub (sci-hub.se) as an interesting example of a site you can access via Tor. Sci-Hub gives access to millions of scientific papers, mostly ones from behind paywalls. However, due to copyright infringement, Sci-Hub is considered illegal and banned in many countries.
OnionShare
However, The Wayback Machine allows website owners to block their sites from being archived, while archive.today does not. ProPublica has a reputation for unwavering investigative journalism. In 2021, they showed how tax rates benefit the rich, and they relied on stolen or leaked IRS documents to do so. In addition to the surface web, ProPublica also hosts their site on the dark web, because they want to make sure that everyone can access their reporting. A robust antivirus can help block malware and other online threats, even on the dark web.
How Often Do onion Addresses For Dark Web Search Engines Change, And Why?
It is specifically designed to make hidden services on the Tor network more accessible. It offers a clean, user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of searching for hidden services. LibreY is a privacy-focused search engine tailored for exploring the invisible web.
Best VPNs For Staying Safe And Anonymous On The Dark Web In 2025
- Many free VPN providers lack basic security features and track your online activity, so they don’t offer much privacy.
- Yes, you can still be tracked on the dark web despite its privacy features.
- Tor Metrics highlights that about 22% of daily Tor users come from Russia, while the USA ranks second at 15%.
- OnionShare is a powerful open-source platform that lets you share and receive files anonymously, host websites, run an online service, or chat anonymously.
- Scammers and criminals are lurking everywhere to take advantage of the unwary.
Ahmia is considered one of the safest because it filters out illegal content and has strong moderation. Yes, DuckDuckGo has a .onion version that works through the Tor browser for anonymous searching. DuckDuckGo offers a .onion version with privacy-first results from both surface and dark web. The core functionality of the dark web relies on onion routing, a method that encrypts and routes user communications across multiple servers, known as nodes. The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that requires specialized software to access.
The dark web, by contrast, includes sites that sit on the onion network and require special software like Tor to access. It is an open-source dark web search engine, that was created to index and investigate onion space or the Tor network’s hidden services. To keep you informed, it also provides a thorough list of exchanges, markets, and websites connected to fraudulent activity. It is specifically designed for indexing dark web sites and claims to have indexed a significant number of “.onion” sites and links.
Secure Your Connection
For experienced users who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, Torch is a go-to, but I’d never recommend it to beginners. I bookmark its .onion link for quick access but pair it with Ahmia or DeepSearch for safer, cleaner searches. Launched in 2014 by Finnish developer Juha Nurmi, Ahmia is a standout dark web search engine that blends accessibility, transparency, and ethics.
But because it’s not regulated, it’s also a potentially attractive place for cybercriminals to hang out. That’s why it’s important to be extra careful when browsing the dark web—sites you can find there may host sensitive content, foster illegal activity, or pose security threats. However, there are steps you can take to stay safer on the dark web, including never sharing personal info, using a VPN, and installing antivirus software. Effectively finding content on the dark web requires slightly different search strategies compared to standard search engines. Here’s practical advice for building targeted search queries and safely navigating .onion websites. Furthermore, .onion websites are constantly changing locations, disappearing, or popping up in new forms, adding to the challenge.
Trusted Directories And Forums (stay Away From Hidden Wiki)
It does not require personal information to use, and it works smoothly inside the Tor network. However, it is important to remember that even the best dark web search engines cannot fully protect you from malicious sites. You enter a query, and the engine returns onion links with clear descriptions. This makes it much easier to avoid clicking random or suspicious links. The premium version also lets you search through old snapshots of sites that may no longer exist, which is useful for investigations or academic work. The hidden web can expose you to malicious sites, so preparing your connection is essential.
Encrypted Communication Tools
The VPN will protect your traffic when you connect with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. This is high-level protection; no one can intercept your data or activities. A top-of-the-line VPN network that ensures maximum security while accessing dark sites online. The most interesting thing about NordVPN is its built-in Onion over VPN feature. It encrypts your traffic at the entry node and changes your IP address.
Moreover, its collaboration with Tor2Web extends its accessibility beyond the Tor network, catering to a broader audience. DuckDuckGo aggregates content from approximately one million web pages on the dark web, providing a substantial repository for users navigating this clandestine realm. Given its extensive coverage and privacy-focused approach, DuckDuckGo stands out as one of the premier TOR Search Engines. Unlike other engines that try to block harmful or illegal content, Kilos leans into it. Users who are simply curious about the dark web may find themselves in risky situations without realizing it. Even with Tor and a VPN, the threat of phishing, malware, and scams remains very high.
Ahmia, in contrast, is a traditional web search engine compatible with the Tor network and filters out unsafe and illegal content when used for dark web navigation. Kilos offers multiple forums and dark web marketplaces for specified products. This search engine also offers advanced filtering, ensures fast search, and is known for illegal activities, so it is not recommended for general usage. Its extensive and unfiltered search results also attract cybercriminals, so it’s important to be extremely careful when using the Kilos dark web search engine. The Ahmia search engine also has a strict policy against “abuse material,” focusing on users’ protection from potentially dangerous content and malicious attacks.
How Tor Nodes Work To Keep You Anonymous
We ensured that the dark web sites we chose had reviews and feedback from real users on other forums; this way, we can be sure of the site’s reliability and legitimacy. The developers of ProtonMail recommend using the Tor browser to visit the dark web version of the service. This ensures greater security and privacy, making it much more difficult for snoopers to get in.
Staying Safe
The Tor browser provides access to Tordex – one of the top unfiltered dark web search engines. It offers a special feature that shows the previous five public searches, giving you insight into popular trends on the dark web. Although Tordex claims to offer unfettered access to dark web content, you should be cautious because the absence of censorship could expose you to offensive or unlawful content. Toorgle allows users to discover hidden websites on the Tor network without necessarily requiring the Tor dark web browser itself.
