This is a public domain, where you can talk about anything from crony capitalism and animal liberation to pandemics. Speak your mind here without fear, as onion links are immune to censorship. A favorite of journalists and their anonymous sources, SecureDrop makes it easy to share confidential information without revealing your identity.
Purchases through links on our pages may yield affiliate revenue for us. We review and list tools and products without bias, regardless of potential commissions. The internet is huge—even in its shadows—it is possible to wander legally there.
The Best Dark Web Websites You Won’t Find On Google
Freenet is a decentralized, peer-to-peer platform designed for the secure and anonymous sharing of information over the Internet. It focuses on privacy, censorship resistance, and ensuring free access to content. To access the Freenet-based dark web, you need to install the Freenet application. Perhaps the best-known thing you can buy on the Dark Web is information collected in what seems like the almost daily data breaches we read about in the news.
Download Tor Browser
Then, simply click the operating system that you are using and download the file. While an iOS version of the official Tor browser is not available, there are Tor-compatible browsers available in the App Store. So, once you’ve activated your VPN and your privacy is secured, it’s time to visit Tor’s official download page. We’ve also previously mentioned the “dark users” that use the dark web for illegal reasons, but the less said about them, the better. Absolutely no one knows who’s surfing on the dark web, who is selling, who is buying or anything like that – as long as you take the correct safety and online privacy precautions.
OnionShare
- One genuine exception is a site called Keybase, which helps you securely share files and chat online.
- Many news publications (including many of the ones listed above) use SecureDrop on their .onion sites.
- Also, there’s a vast amount of unsavory content on the dark web, as well as a significantly high number of hackers and scammers looming on the platform.
- Law enforcement agencies worldwide have grappled with the challenges posed by the Dark Web, attempting to balance the need for online privacy with the necessity of combating criminal activities.
SecureDrop is a secure communication channel for whistleblowers to share information with journalists safely. Many major news organizations, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, have SecureDrop sites. Viruses and hacker forums are prevalent, with various types of malware and opportunities for illegal hacking services, which could compromise your personal devices.
How Can I Ensure My Safety While Browsing The Dark Web?
Malicious software — i.e. malware — is fully alive all across the dark web. It is often offered in some portals to give threat actors the tools for cyberattacks. However, it also lingers all across the dark web to infect unsuspecting users just like it does on the rest of the web. The dark web refers to sites that are not indexed and only accessible via specialized web browsers.
Exposure To Illegal Content
The Dark Web is a breeding ground for cybercrime, with many websites hosting malicious software, phishing scams, and other types of malware. Visiting untrustworthy websites or interacting with unverified sellers can put your personal data and financial security at risk. Cybercriminals often use the Dark Web to distribute ransomware, steal personal information, or commit fraud. Facebook’s official dark web version helps users access the platform in countries where it’s blocked.
If you live in the EU and want to know what data your provider has collected about you, the GDPR gives you the right to request a full report. However, it is often prohibited for ISPs to sell your data to third parties. Sometimes, they even know more than you would like about private matters, such as your health or finances. So, if you aspire to use Tor privately, you can use VPN or Tor gateways (Tor nodes that are not publicly indexed). Tor Bridges or a VPN will help you to use Tor privately, as your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will not see that you’re connected to a Tor node.
#1 Install A VPN
Doing so will protect you from accidentally accessing illicit content or becoming a victim of malware. Security solutions like anti-virus software protect your system and network from malware and other threats. The dark web, being a hub for criminal activities like identity theft and malware distribution, exposes you to various security threats like malware or phishing.
Top 10 Dark Web Search Engines Of 2025 For Safe & Private Access
These legitimate media companies keep a presence on the dark web to help users who might, for a variety of reasons, have difficulty accessing their content on the open web. In the internet’s darkest corners, a myriad of hidden websites cater to an array of needs and interests. From encrypted communication channels and hacking forums to illicit marketplaces, the dark web is a destination for millions of daily users. Read on to learn more about the five main types of darknet websites and what they contain. It doesn’t track browsing habits or personal data and won’t expose a user’s identity or location.
Not all dark web services are genuine, and many scam “.onion” sites offer downloads infected with backdoors and trojan horses. Being cautious while browsing the dark web is essential, as significant risks are involved. The Dark Web has a social media platform called the Dark Web Social Network (DWSN), which is similar to regular social networking sites.
Following the NYT, the BBC launched a dark web “mirror” of their international edition in 2019. Note that some features of the normal website are not available on the .onion version, including BBC iPlayer. Archive.today is considered an important tool to track changes across government and corporate websites, preserve cultural heritage, and keep knowledge outside of autocrats’ reach.
Tor was initially developed by the US Navy to facilitate secure communication for informants. Similarly, the CIA launched its .onion site to provide worldwide anonymous access to its resources. It serves the same purpose as ProPublica – facilitating access in countries where it may otherwise be restricted.
