As discussed above, user profiles on the deep web are home to valuable personal data to criminals. It is important to use strong, unique credentials for every account. Theoretically speaking, it should be impossible to locate dark web servers and track visitors.
Other options include Ahmia and NotEvil, which focus on listing .onion links. SecMail is one of the most popular email services on the dark web. While this is not much compared to standard email services, it is enough for PGP-encrypted messages. Unfortunately, it requires you to have an invitation code to create an account. This means you have to know someone who is already using the platform.
The Tor Network provided a way to open safe communication channels for political dissidents, while also offering a channel for American intelligence operatives to communicate from around the globe. Journalists in overly restrictive countries also appreciate the anonymity of the dark web. For example, the deep web is often a platform used by political activists who own a blog. But it also contains other news and religious sites, private discussion forums, and medical records.
Difficulty In Accessing Information:
As long as there’s a demand for the ability to privately browse the internet and, more importantly, host websites anonymously, the deep web will exist. Due to its decentralized structure, there is no real way to “shut down” the deep net, just like you can’t really shut down the regular internet. The dark web refers to the subsection of the deep web that provides illegal services. This runs the gamut from illegal substances to personal information, credit card details, child sexual abuse material and, allegedly, assassination contracts.
How To Access The Deep Web? (
Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Husain Parvez is a Cybersecurity Researcher and News Writer at vpnMentor, focusing on VPN reviews, detailed how-to guides, and hands-on tutorials. Husain is also a part of the vpnMentor Cybersecurity News bulletin and loves covering the latest events in cyberspace and data privacy.
However, make sure you’re careful which links you click on — some of them lead to sites that contain illegal content and services. 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). On the other hand, the dark web’s main application is to provide anonymity to website owners and users. The obscurity makes the dark web the perfect platform to host websites for illegal and illicit activity.
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- Such networks, not accessible by other people, can be encrypted or password protected.
- The deep web is also used by corporate organizations that want to protect sensitive business-related information, such as hospitals with online networks for internal use only.
- That means that if your incoming traffic is routed through a node operated by cybercriminals, they can inject malware into the code of the response, without you ever knowing that it’s happened.
- Other options exist, but they are generally created to fulfill specific purposes, such as file sharing.
- Yet, the surface internet we routinely access is only a fraction of what the web truly encompasses.
The dark web is a small section of the deep web that is hidden on purpose, requiring specific software to access. The deep web is generally safe and secure to use; owners of private websites or services are responsible for maintaining their security. That said, cybercriminals increasingly target this part of the internet because of the lucrative personal data lying within. That’s why basic online hygiene has become critical to protecting yourself online. The anonymity and privacy the dark web offers make it a popular springboard for crime. As a result, it’s replete with illegal and illicit activity, such as drug dealing and arms trafficking.
What Is Threat Hunting?
The open web, also called the surface web, includes any public web content that is indexed by search engines. Webpages on the open web will show up in search results on sites like Google and Bing. Though a large volume of traffic visits on the open web every day, it only represents 4% of the content on the internet. To access the dark web, you’ll need special search engines like Candle, Not Evil, and SearX, all of which require a specialized browser like Tor to work. On the dark web, neither users nor web administrators reveal themselves to each other, including their identity or their location.
We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own. For this guide, we’ll use the Tor Browser as an example, but any other web browser (like Brave) that supports the Tor protocol will work just as well. Other examples of compatible web browsers include the Onion browser, Firefox and Chrome, but the latter two require you to install a separate plugin.
DuckDuckGo — Private Search Engine That Can Access The Dark Web
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. This .onion link makes it impossible for hackers to impersonate your profile.
Essentially, it’s a search engine like Google or Safari, but unlike other search engines, it doesn’t track your browsing activity or collect user data. So, search results won’t be based on your browsing history, location, or anything else. And I liked that if I visited a site that had a .onion version, it prompted me to switch to that version. Dark web sites are hidden by non-indexing, making them completely anonymous.
More On Tor Onions
A VPN and Tor should be used together and it is advisable to connect via a VPN to Tor, rather than vice versa, for the best protection possible. If you need to access dark web resources, these are the steps you need to take. Here’s everything you need to know about this other internet, as well as how to access it. The internet opened the door to a realm of possibilities that permanently changed the business landscape and our personal lives.
Pro Tip: Use A VPN To Stay Safe When Using The Dark Web Search Engines
In addition, Darknetlive has a list of dark web vendors, which is very convenient — it offers detailed information about each vendor, including .onion addresses (in alphabetical order) and FAQs. Since you use regular web browsers and search engines, the search experience is seamless. Valentina Bravo is an editor at Cloudwards with a rich background in technology topics, particularly productivity tools and online security. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and a triple Master’s degree in Literary and Cultural Studies. Outside of work, she is a travel enthusiast, music lover and avid learner interested in global cultures, spirituality, psychology and neuroscience. The dark web is part of the hidden web, which comprises non-indexed websites that are mostly used for illegal and illicit activity.
- This information about the implication of accessing not only the deep web but also the dark web empowers the person to make responsible decisions and fathom the complexity of internet interaction.
- These sites are a hybrid tutorial-underground where wannabe hackers ask questions and professionals sell their services or stolen data.
- In most cases, whistleblowers have sensitive information about the government or a company.
- Have you ever wondered how come a result pops up on your screen when you type something on a search bar?
- Like the deep web, the dark web is used for positive as well as nefarious purposes.
- In addition, just surfing the dark web can unleash malware on your computer.
OnionName — Buy Readable Onion Domains
It’s made up of websites indexed by search engines, such as Google, Yahoo, or Bing. These are the websites we visit without thinking twice, like news outlets, e-commerce sites, blogs, and social media platforms. 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. However, you can find legitimate content and activities here, too.
While the Tor Project relies mainly on a centralized directory of relays, I2P uses a distributed dynamic routing system, which makes it a much more robust alternative. The bottom part of the iceberg is the “dark web.” This is the tiny chunk of the internet that is intentionally built to be hidden away and cannot be accessed using standard web browsers. Get the latest in privacy news, tips, tricks, and security guides to level-up your digital security. Browsing the dark web can expose your device to malicious software. Malware, including viruses, trojans, and ransomware, can infiltrate your system, leading to data theft, loss, or damage. If you need a great Tor VPN, I recommend ExpressVPN — all its servers allow Tor traffic, it has excellent security and privacy features, and it provides fast browsing speeds.
