Top Dark Web Websites - Onion Links Inside!

The debate around the best dark websites is both positive and negative in its present context. These websites are privy to abusive and illegitimate content like buying/selling of weapons & drugs. But they also stand as a ray of hope for people who have no access to outside information. Read More

Best Dark Web Websites to Access Censored Content, Encrypted Emailing, and More

What Puts it On the List

Facebook’s onion version offers the same features and functionality as that of the surface web. Additionally, it can be used by people to communicate with the outside world without getting noticed by the authorities.
Top Features
- Connect with people and exchange texts or media
- Upload photos, videos, or text status on your timeline
- One account is enough to use Facebook on multiple devices
- Sync your contacts to add connections faster
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Facebook is one of the most popular social media apps existing at the moment. Moreover, now Facebook can be used on the Apple TV as well. The app includes features such as texting, sharing posts, photos, videos, and more. Also, you can add connections and build communities in the form of pages and groups.

What Puts it On the List

Even on the surface web, DuckDuckGo offers smart encryption to conceal user activities in comparison to other search engines. However, this dark web search engine privacy features are enhanced due to the Tor network.
Top Features
- Escape advertising tracker networks
- Increase encryption protection
- Search privately
- Decode privacy policies
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DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser was Founded back in 2008. DuckDuckGo has consistently been on the side of the user when it comes to protecting data and Android security. Eschewing the traditional practice of farming and selling on your personal information, the pro-privacy company is a genuine advocate for online security.

The DuckDuckGo Privacy browser features a tracker blocker, an option for forced encryption and a fire button next to your tabs which, when pressed, completely toasts your browsing history. So, it is one of the best picks for you to protect your privacy online.

What Puts it On the List

As a news portal, BBC has played a pivotal role in transforming global politics. This is the reason its onion version was released for people living under tyrant regimes to seek information from the outside world.
Top Features
- Circumvents censorship for users in blocked countries
- End-to-end encryption using the Tor browser
- Regional support for the language
- Acute focus on international news content
- Works separately from the surface web website
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Do you know that the BBC is banned in China, Russia, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe? And, there is no way to use it without getting traced unless you use the Tor network. To showcase its importance, BBC is among the biggest news portals available today and not having access to it is a pure travesty if international news is essential for you to consume.

Well, there is a darknet version of BBC. It offers a secure and anonymous way to explore BBC news and content. Its onion site provides the same articles, features, and multimedia content as that of its surface web version. However, the primary difference is in the enhanced privacy and security the Tor network offers.

Comparing it to its surface web version, this is among the dark websites that ensure unbiased news and information without censorship or reprisal. Its commitment to free access to information is a hallmark of BBC’s mission. It delivers numerous benefits that include high-quality journalism, diverse perspectives, and comprehensive coverage of global news. In fact, this is one of the onion sites that is vital to individuals in oppressive regimes or for those who prioritize privacy.

What Puts it On the List

Archive Today works like an online archive. It gives access to web pages that might get lost in time or are lost in time. It saves page content along with its graphical element without exposing your IP.
Top Features
- Capture any webpage simply by entering the URL
- Two capture methods to fetch text and graphical elements
- Keeps track of past captures into archived versions
- Capture pages that are restricted by search crawlers
- Permanent archival of snapshots indefinitely
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Archive Today also known as ‘archive.is’ is a time capsule for pages that may no longer be available on the web. The service saves the text and a graphical copy of the page. This helps its users to explore information that might get lost with time.

It also has a dark web version that operates in the domain of the best dark web search engines because of its unique offering. The hidden service is particularly useful for those people who live in regions with strict internet censorship and surveillance. In fact, users can save pages, create snapshots, and even archive content without exposing the IP addresses.

Both its darknet and surface web version offer similar services. It provides unbiased and comprehensive news with great journalistic coverage and educational content. Overall by ensuring that crucial information remains accessible and verifiable, the platform is contributing to a more informed and transparent digital society.

What Puts it On the List

The Hidden Wiki works like Wikipedia but for the darknet. It has multiple privacy-focused features and tools that help journalists, whistleblowers, etc. Plus, it provides access to various parts of the darknet like forums, repositories, etc., that no other service is doing.
Top Features
- Constantly evolving resources via user contributions
- Guides and tools on anonymity tools
- Alternate search options for specific privacy concerns
- Tools to bypass censorship in regions
- Forums to discuss a variety of topics
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The Hidden Wiki is a prominent dark web directory. It provides a centralized list of various links to many onion sites. The service serves as a gateway to help users explore the unindexed side of the internet categorically.

These services range from forums, marketplaces, repositories of information, and privacy-focused resources. The interesting part is that it is unregulated giving its users the opportunity to express themselves freely with privacy.

However, what makes this Tor website compelling is its uncensored nature. Individuals living under oppressive regimes can use the power of speech to share their ideas. It also provides various resources to journalists, activists, and whistleblowers who require a secure communication channel to share sensitive information. Additionally, you get privacy-enhancing tools and services that make it transformative in the modern internet landscape.

What Puts it On the List

The New York Times is another major news portal that provides all sorts of news in different multimedia formats. It works on factual reporting and maintains its journalistic integrity making it a go-to portal for people living in oppressive regions.
Top Features
- Most articles are free to read to a certain number
- In-depth investigative journalism with high-quality reporting
- Multimedia content like videos, podcasts, and interactive graphics
- News coverage from around the world
- Vast archive of articles from the past dating back decades
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The New York Times is a renowned global news organization. It is known for its rigorous journalism and in-depth reporting. Established in the year 1851, it has been pivotal in its domain and has been delivering comprehensive coverage on a wide range of topics. Be it politics or international affairs, the NYT website offers breaking news, feature articles, opinion pieces, and multimedia content.

Its darknet version is well-organized, user-friendly, and continuously updated on the latest news worldwide. However, it is important to know that its surface web version offers a more polished and responsive interface.

The New York Times' commitment to factual reporting and journalistic integrity makes it transcendent in the upliftment of society. Also, this is the reason it is even accessed in countries where it is banned through its .onion site. Its content spans a broad spectrum of interests that caters to a wide audience and fosters a well-informed public. Overall, it is truly one of the best dark websites that enhance accessibility and keep its readers informed in any part of the world.

What Puts it On the List

ProPublica is a six-time Pulitzer Prize award winner. Their journalistic integrity lies in asking tough questions to the government and powerful corporations to bring positive change in the world and society.
Top Features
- In-depth investigative journalism for wrongdoing and injustice
- Secure methods for sources to submit information anonymously
- Multimedia formats like data visualizations, documentaries, etc.
- Document repositories and tip lines for readers
- Sparks legislative changes and policy reforms
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ProPublica is a non-profit newsroom. It is dedicated to investigative journalism catering to the public interest. Founded in the year 2007, its mission is to expose the abuses of power and betrayals of public trust by different organizations like governments, businesses, and capitalistic corporations.

Its surface web version is similar in content and design. It, among the best onion sites, has delivered high-impact news that has sparked changes. Its work has earned it numerous awards including six Pulitzer Prizes. In fact, its website covers investigative reports, data-driven journalism, and interactive projects, all freely accessible to the public.

ProPublic’s darknet version provides a secure and private way for users to consume legitimate news. Its investigative approach has held many powerful entities accountable. It brings the attention of the common public to critical issues that are often overlooked by the mainstream media. To sum up, its journalism is a public service that fosters change through information by engaging the common citizenry.

What Puts it On the List

Ahmia is one of a kind search engine that offers a user-friendly interface with an outdated look. It has indexed a plethora of dark web links and blacklists abusive material.
Top Features
- Open source with codebase available on Github
- Works on regular web browser without needing Tor
- Search specific keywords or phrases related to hidden service
- User safety via filters for illegal or harmful content
- Access to documentation including info like crawling process, indexes, etc.
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Ahmia is a specialized search engine that is often considered among the best Google search alternatives considering darknet. It indexes and facilitates access to the Tor network’s dark web links. The search engine offers a minimal user-friendly old-school interface and offers navigation to the opaque and fragmented dark web.

One of the key advantages of using this among the best dark web search engines is its enhanced privacy features. It also adds a layer of security by not tracking user searches or collecting personal data. This is crucial for users who are concerned about surveillance or censorship in their region.

Ahmia helps users access a wealth of resources. Resources that are often hard to discover on the surface web. Basically, in today’s world, it works as a bridge between the open internet and the more secretive aspects of the Tor network.

What Puts it On the List

CIA is amongst the most well-known intelligence agencies that operate within the US and monitor activities in sensitive areas where global interests are vested. Its onion version can be a huge asset in terms of intelligence to people who want to safeguard themselves and the people around them.
Top Features
- Submit tips to the CIA without revealing identity
- Offers a secure platform for interested individuals
- Allows individuals to access information in blocked regions
- Encrypted communication between users and the CIA
- Tailors content on Onion site to specific regions or user groups
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The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is a US-based intelligence agency. However, it operates in a unique segment on the dark web. It provides comprehensive information on the agency’s mission, history, and organizational structure.

It, one of the dark web websites, offers resources for the public related to national security issues and career opportunities. In contrast, its Onion version offers two things: Enhanced security in browsing and Security of user identity. The version is aimed at individuals who are under oppressive regimes or in sensitive situations. Furthermore, the benefit of anonymized browsing is that it safeguards users from surveillance and tracking by a tyrant government.

The CIA’s presence on the dark web brings several advantages. This ensures that all the critical information and services remain accessible even in restricted areas. The initiative is symbolic of the CIA’s commitment to maintaining secure channels of communication and information distribution.

What Puts it On the List

ProtonMail is an email service that was developed by scientists and engineers working at CERN. The unique thing about this service is its zero-access encryption model which means even its servers can’t read the data.
Top Features
- End-to-end encryption enabled
- Encryption is automatic and remains invisible to the user
- All messages are stored in encrypted format
- Encryption is open to inspection by security experts
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ProtonMail is an open-source encrypted email developed by world-renowned scientists at the CERN Institute. Proton is a leader in privacy when it comes to email. The key features of this excellent email option include self-deleting messages and the ability to send and receive password-protected emails.

End-to-end encryption is standard with ProtonMail, so you can rest assured that no one at the company is monitoring your communications.

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Onion Websites: Key Points

If you want to use onion websites, here are some of the essential points you must remember:

Accessibility: Regular web browsers aren’t capable of accessing onion websites or dark web links. So, you need a Tor browse that anonymizes traffic and allows you to access hidden sites on the dark web.
Content: There can be legitimate content like whistleblowing platforms or access to censored information from certain countries. Contrarily, it is also a breeding ground for activities like selling drugs, weapons, or stolen data.
Anonymity: A key feature of onion websites is retaining anonymity. However, the website and the user are hidden so it is difficult to track who’s running the site or who is visiting it. This attracts all types of users both legitimate and illegitimate.
Risks: Considering the anonymous nature of the dark web, it can be a dangerous place. In fact, malware, scams, and illegal content are often common on these websites.

What is the Dark Web and Its Importance?

The dark web is the hidden part of the internet. It is not accessible through regular search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo. This requires specific software like Tor to navigate. So, here’s a breakdown:

What is it?

Imagine the internet like an iceberg. The surface web is the tip of it that is available to you through search engines like Google. The larger part is the deep web that are private databases or password-protected areas. From that, a tiny portion of the deep web requires special software to access.
Dark web websites use “.onion” addresses and anonymize the traffic using the Tor network making it difficult to track the users or the website’s operators.

Furthermore, the importance of the dark web has both positive and negative bifurcations. Let’s see:

Positive Uses:

Whistleblowing: These platforms allow anonymous reporting of the wrongdoing within the organizations. Some of the real-world incidents that involve these platforms are The Panama Papers, The Shadow Brokers, The Ashley Madison Data Breach, etc.
Censorship circumvention: This is accessing information that is otherwise blocked. In fact, many governments like China control the information from the outside world also known as the “Great Firewall”. To breach it, many Chinese users access the dark web to access that information.
Privacy-focused services: These are tools that are used for communication or securing document storage with high anonymity. Some of the examples are Signal (messaging app), Tor Browser (web browser for the dark web), Tutanota (Email Service), etc.

Negative Uses:

Illegal activities: The dark web is often infamous for selling drugs, weapons, and even stolen data. Some incidents that you learn about are the Silk Road, Alphabay and Hansa Market, Besa Mafia, etc.
Scams and malware: These are malicious actors that exploit anonymity to spread malware or trick users into scams. Here are some real-life examples: “The Wannacry Ransomware Attack”, “Cerber Ransomware”, “Dream Market Fraudulent Listings”, etc.
Unreliable information: Lack of regulation means that the information found on the dark web can be false and misleading. Some of the ways this information is spread are fake news and misinformation, fake government documents, fake cryptocurrency, bogus security breaches, etc.

How to Access Onion Sites?

As discussed, to access dark web websites you need special software that can interact with the Tor network. This software enables anonymous browsing and lets you access these hidden sites. So, here’s how to go on dark web and access websites:

Step-by-Step Guide to Access Onion Sites

1. Download and Install the Tor Browser

Go to the Official Tor Project Website: Visit torproject.org for the web. If you want to visit the dark web on your smartphone, download the Tor Browser app for Android and the Onion Browser for iOS.
Install: Follow the instructions that are specific to the operating system you are using to connect with the dark web.

2. Launch the Tor Browser

Open the Tor Browser: Once the browser is installed, open the Tor Browser.
Connect to Tor: When you open the Tor Browser for the first time, it will ask you to connect to the Tor network. Simply, click on “Connect” and start the process.
Wait for Connection: The browser will establish a connection to the Tor network. However, this will take a few seconds.

3. Navigating to Onion Sites

Enter Onion URL: Once connected, you can enter the .onion URL of the Tor websites you want to visit into the address bar. Typically, these URLs look like “http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion (for DuckDuckGo’s onion site)".

Alternative Access Methods:

Tails OS: Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System) is a live operating system. It can be booted using a USB stick or a DVD. This OS is designed to preserve your privacy and anonymity and it comes as a pre-installed feature along with the Tor Browser.
Tor on Mobile: You can access the Tor network on mobile devices using apps like Tor Browser (for Android) and Onion Browser (for iOS).

Also Read: Looking for the best Android browsers? Here’s a list for a seamless internet experience!

Security and Privacy Considerations for the Dark Web

While doing a dark web search, it is essential to stay safe because it is an unregulated part of the internet. Therefore, here are some of the security and privacy considerations that can help you have a safe experience:

Security Threats:

Malware: Malware is a significant threat to the dark web. These are malicious programs that disguise themselves as downloads and exploit vulnerabilities of your system to steal data or infect it.
Scams: There are many deceptive practices on the dark web. These can be fake websites that can trick you into revealing personal information or sending money.
Zero-Day Exploits: In this, criminals exploit any unknown software vulnerabilities that can compromise the system.

Taking Precautions:

Use a VPN: The first step is to secure yourself using a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN encrypts your traffic and adds another layer of security on top of Tor. It is important to choose a reputable VPN provider that has a strong track record of security.
Keep Software Updated: Make sure that your operating system, browser (Tor), and antivirus software are updated on the latest security updates. This helps close the vulnerabilities of your system that can be exploited.
Strong Passwords: It is important to use unique and complex passwords, especially for the people who access these dark websites. You can also consider a password manager to create and manage strong passwords.
Beware Downloads: Be wary of downloading files on the dark web. Always download from a trusted source and stay away from suspicious attachments or clicking on unknown links.

Additional Considerations:

Legality: Be aware that there are certain dark web marketplaces or forums that can be considered illegal depending upon the location and the content you are accessing.
Exit Nodes: While Tor provides anonymity, the final exit node reaching the website is not encrypted. So, there is a slight chance that there could be a malicious actor controlling the exit node to see your unencrypted traffic.
Human Error: Accidental mistakes can also reveal your identity. So, be mindful of what information you are sharing on dark web forums or websites.

Remember: The dark web is a dangerous place. Even after taking all the precautions, there are still inherent risks involved. So, it is generally recommended to avoid it. However, if you have a specific or legitimate reason, these tips can help keep your surfing safe.

Tips for Using the Tor Browser

Here are some of the tips for effectively using the Tor browser:

Tor is a separate browser so don’t expect the same functionality or speed as a regular browser.
Use a VPN to get an added layer of security while surfing the internet.
Unlike conventional website names, .onion addresses are hard to remember so bookmark the websites you trust.
Be cautious while clicking on any links or opening files unless you are 100% sure.
Avoid using the Tor browser for activities that can reveal your identity like checking social media or using email.
Tor anonymizes traffic but the data at the exit nodes are still vulnerable to malware and human error.

Conclusion

The global situation has always undergone turmoil due to many oppressive regimes, civil wars amongst factions, and fights over resources. In this state, the right to information is not a choice but a necessity. With these best dark websites, it is possible to gain news regarding global politics that could be radical to bring in positive change. Stating this, we hope that our list may have been of help to you, and provide you with all the necessary information you are looking for.