Google indexes all the pages on the internet using web crawlers and indexes the content on different pages. This is the content that is available when you use a search engine to look for something on the internet. However, in the case of the Tor darknet, the content is not available when you use a search engine like Google.
Pallav Pathak
To look for websites that have such content, you require a Tor search engine. You can also find lists of .onion websites on the internet as well as onion address search engines like Ahmia. Such search engines let you browse the Tor network and look for onion addresses using your regular browser. If you're wondering how to find onion Dark Web sites safely, this is just the guide you need.
Dark web search engines
Real World Onion Sites
One of the best places to look for onion websites safely is Real World Onion Sites. It lists all active onion websites along with links to various services and is updated regularly. What makes it a safer option compared to other onion search engines is that it does not include links that let you access the more dangerous side of the dark web. You can use it to access news and tech-related outlets such as BBC News while the Tor network ensures complete anonymity.
Dark.Fail
You can find legitimate and active onion addresses using Dark.Fail, which is run by an anonymous journalist. You can rest assured that the links you find on Dark.Fail will not be dubious ones, so the chances of getting scammed are pretty low here.
Ahmia.fi
While you can use Ahmia.fi on the regular internet or clearnet to search for onion links on the Tor network, it also has an onion address available. You can easily find links to onion addresses that are relevant to your search terms. However, keep in mind that all addresses may not be searchable because of how the Tor network works.
That said, Ahmia can help you find working onion links, which you can then use via the Tor browser. Ahmia will automatically remove content that contains child abuse but will not do so for other types of content, such as adult content so you have to adopt a cautious approach.
Torch
Torch is best known as a Tor search engine and has over 80,000 requests a day but does not work as a standard search engine. For instance, if you use it to search for social media sites like Facebook, it will not show you the onion link for the website. It will show you posts on Facebook-related topics, such as where to buy stolen Facebook accounts, how to hack Facebook accounts, etc.
Not Evil
Unlike Torch, Not Evil functions like a regular search engine and you will be able to find onion links for websites using it. For example, if you search for Proton, it will show you the onion site for Proton Mail. Not Evil succeeds the TorSearch search engine and the Evil Wiki that lists onion addresses.
Haystak
According to Haystak, it indexes more than 1.5 billion Dark Web pages and filters out harmful content. However, you need to phrase what you are looking for properly and even then the results may be quite limited. So, when you search for something, it won't show you onion links to the website but will show you other pages that may be referencing the website you are looking for. Haystak also has a premium version that features email alerts, historical content access, and advanced search.
Onion Links
Onion Links works like The Hidden Wiki and provides an easy entry point if you are new to the Dark Web. You will find a list of onion sites and services on various topics that are common on the Dark Web, though the links may not be trustworthy so you need to proceed with caution to avoid phishing and other scams.
The Hidden Wiki
While The Hidden Wiki is a popular platform for those looking for Dark Web onion websites, it often hosts suspicious or fake links. You will find links to darknet marketplaces, domain hosting services, secure messaging services, cryptocurrency wallet services, and more on The Hidden Wiki.
TorLinks
TorLinks can be considered to be a secondary or backup directory for The Hidden Wiki. It features commercial links like gambling and crypto sites as well as non-commercial links like social media platforms but is not as detailed as The Hidden Wiki.
Other .onion websites
Sci-Hub
Sci-Hub lets you access millions of scientific papers for free. While scientific journals usually require payment before you can access their articles, you can view and download them for free using Sci-Hub. Keep in mind that because it provides access to paid content for free, Sci-Hub is illegal in many countries.
ProPublica
ProPublica is a news outlet that has won the Pulitzer Prize and is a non-profit that works to highlight issues that can impact the public on a large scale. ProPublica joined the Dark Web to protect themselves and keep their journalists safe.
Wasabi Wallet
Wasabi Wallet allows you to manage, sell, and buy cryptocurrency on the Dark Web. It charges a small fee for its services and provides reliable and anonymous transactions.
Archive.today
Earlier known as Archive.is, Archive.today is website that works to preserve the scientific and cultural knowledge available on the web. It was established back in 2012 and contains snapshots of websites so you can check how they looked and functioned back when the snapshot was taken. Archive.today allows you to see how corporate and government websites have evolved over the years and safeguard your cultural heritage. Furthermore, you can archive any website and access historical records of websites from the platform.
Impreza Hosting
Like normal websites, websites on the Darkweb need to be hosted somewhere, and Impreza Hosting is among the most secure hosting services while also being completely anonymous. The hosting service rents servers, offers domain registration, provides .onion URLs, and does all this without requiring any personal information. And it accepts payments in cryptocurrency, so no one can track your transactions with the platform.
If you reside somewhere where access to Facebook is restricted, you can use the onion version of the social media platform. While the website itself is infamous for its invasive policies regarding user data, its onion address allows people to communicate with others freely across the web, which is especially useful for those living under repressive regimes.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also has a Darkweb website since it is blocked in many parts of the world and focuses on international affairs. This allows people to access the news portal using the Tor mirror in areas where it is unavailable. However, some features of the regular BBC website, such as the BBC iPlayer are not available when using the onion address of the website.
ProtonMail
ProtonMail is an encrypted email service based in Switzerland that is extremely secure and often used by cryptocurrency enthusiasts. It allows you to sign up without requiring any personal information, though it is not completely free to use. If you're looking for a completely anonymous, easy-to-use email service, ProtonMail is an excellent choice.
SecureDrop
SecureDrop is a file-sharing platform for the deep web, a preferred choice for journalists and people in similar occupations. It allows you to share confidential information over the Internet while remaining completely anonymous. Whistleblowers and other sources often share sensitive information with media outlets using SecureDrop URLs. What makes it such a great option is that the platform does not log your IP address when you send files through it and all files are automatically encrypted.
Things to know
- Some search engines, like DuckDuckGo, allow you to access onion sites since it shows Dark Web links when you perform a search despite not being a Dark Web search engine.
- As mentioned before, when browsing the Dark Web, always use caution. While it can allow you to find content not available on the regular web, the risks can be great if you choose to ignore the safety guidelines when using the Dark Web.
- Avoid clicking on links you are unsure about and do not copy and paste addresses as you would on the regular web. Such links and addresses can easily lead to phishing and other scams.
- Whether you use the Tor browser or access the Tor network in some other way, make sure to use a VPN whenever you do so as an added safety measure.
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