It’s a hidden collective of sites that you could only access through a special browser. Since all activity on the dark web is anonymous by default, it is definitely where the murkiest transactions on the internet take place. A study by researchers at King’s College London that examined the contents of over 2,700 darknet sites found that approximately 60% of them hosted illicit content. The deep web is the part of the internet you can’t access through search engines like Google and Bing. Also referred to as “non-indexed” content, it’s any content hidden behind some kind of access control such as a log-in or code word. It contains 7,500 terabytes of information, compared with only 19 terabytes of information in the “surface” web.
Puis-je Accéder Au Dark Web Avec Un VPN Gratuit ?

A VPN protects your connection against everyone, not just your ISP and the authorities. It encrypts your connection to prevent outsiders from being able to read your data and masks your IP address with one from a VPN server—so whoever’s looking can’t get any useful information. This process also prevents your ISP from seeing your data or where it’s going. Since the ISP can’t detect you’re accessing dark web URLs, it won’t trigger any alarms about your online activity. The dark web, or the darknet, is a small subset of the deep web.

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. Founded around 1999 by activists in Seattle, it has since grown to over six million users worldwide.
Dark Web Tools And Services
It offers a clean, user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of searching for hidden services. The Dark Lair is another strong contender for those looking for dark web directories beyond the Hidden Wiki. It boasts a broad catalog of .onion sites categorized into marketplaces, forums, crypto services, and more.
How To Access Onion Sites
You can conduct discussions about current events anonymously on Intel Exchange. There are several whistleblower sites, including a dark web version of Wikileaks. Pirate Bay, a BitTorrent site that law enforcement officials have repeatedly shut down, is alive and well there.
How To Access The Dark Web Links On The Hidden Wiki
- Immediately close your entire Tor Browser window (not just that active tab).
- The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden, requiring a specific browser—Tor—to access, as explained below.
- This is a great way to improve your privacy because Tor isolates each website you visit, meaning third-party trackers and ISPs can’t reveal your identity.
- If the website you are trying to visit has Recommended mark it means it has been verified and is safe to use.
- So, it’s only natural to find ways to keep in touch with your darknet buddies and/or customers.
Nowadays, many people use the Tor browser to surf the public internet and navigate the deeper parts anonymously. Another essential security feature is that all incoming and outgoing data from the app is encrypted, including any private and public keys involved. Hence, you never know when a popular .onion site is going to vanish, or even die. Though it’s still helpful, a static list isn’t enough (we try to keep our own, the one above, up-to-date, though). The best thing is to actually understand how to find the fresh, new links.
Is DuckDuckGo A True Dark Web Search Engine?
Unlike traditional websites with familiar domains like .com or .net, .onion sites use a unique encrypted address that can only be accessed via the Tor Browser. This encryption ensures that both the visitor and the site remain anonymous, making it an ideal environment for privacy-focused activities. As when visiting ordinary websites, stay alert to security risks on onion sites. Don’t click on suspicious links, be skeptical of what you read, and avoid dark web marketplaces if you don’t want to stumble on illegal activity or content.
- Buy login credentials to a $50,000 Bank of America account, counterfeit $20 bills, prepaid debit cards, or a “lifetime” Netflix premium account.
- By using tools like Haystak and Forest VPN, you can minimize these risks and enjoy a more secure browsing experience.
- Whistleblower platforms enable confidential document submission without compromising the identity of sources.
- If you want to be untraceable and undetectable, connecting to the dark web via the Tor browser is a major step towards that, but not the only step you’ll need.
- Tordex is an uncensored dark web search engine that is accessible through the Tor browser.
Report It To The Authorities (if It’s Safe To Do So)

Unlike Ahmia and Haystak, however, DuckDuckGo doesn’t search .onion sites. Use it to search the normal internet from the privacy of your Tor Browser. Your real information could be exposed at these nodes, allowing third parties to intercept your dark web activity. That’s why we recommend connecting to VPN before accessing Tor—VPN encryption protects your data, and changing your IP adds an extra layer of privacy to protect you.
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. For example, you can find information unavailable to the public and share data privately while protecting your online identity. Note that most dark web transactions are carried out using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. It is the dark web’s version of Wikipedia with a massive links directory.
Though people usually think of dark websites as the wrong online place, that’s not the complete truth. Although the underground internet world is rife with everything bad, it also hosts positive elements. It then depends on you, as the user, how you surf the dark world. Husain Parvez is a Cybersecurity Researcher and News Writer at vpnMentor, focusing on VPN reviews, detailed how-to guides, and hands-on tutorials.

If the VPN connection fails, the automatic kill switch will kick in, temporarily breaking your traffic. You should never use your personal information on the dark web anywhere else in your life. In fact, create new throwaway accounts and documents if possible.
Puis-je Accéder Au Dark Web Sans Tor ?
Ensure you have used prepaid and unidentifiable credit cards when purchasing on the dark web. Avoid using payment methods that can easily expose your identity. Since malware lingers across the dark web, your device can easily become infected, even if you are an unsuspecting user. In some countries, evading government restrictions to seek new political ideologies is punishable. For example, China uses the Great Firewall to block access to Western sites. Accessing blocked content can result in being placed on a watch list or imprisonment.
That is why we emphasize caution, vigilance, and adherence to best security practices when exploring these hidden corners of the internet. Browsing onion sites safely requires using the Tor Browser, which anonymizes your internet traffic. It’s recommended to use a VPN alongside Tor for additional security. Always verify .onion links through trusted directories like the Hidden Wiki or reputable forums. Avoid clicking on suspicious links, disable JavaScript where possible, and never share personal or financial information on dark web sites. Regularly update your Tor Browser and use strong, unique passwords.
The dark web comes with its own set of tools and services, including web browsers and search engines (which I’ll get on to in a moment). Part of what makes the dark web the dark web is that you can’t access it through your normal web browser, nor can you look something up on it via a Google search. Naturally, this makes the dark web a breeding ground for illegal activity.