For instance, services like ProtonMail and SecureDrop (mentioned above already) have hidden sites for their users who live in countries with high levels of censorship. Just like Google, the dark web has some search engines present on it. Though they have their limitations, most of the time you’ll see irrelevant or spammy links for your search results.
Hot On Social
But its reign has now come to an end, as German investigators, in coordination with pan-European police agency Europol, led a major operation to dismantle the streaming service. In 2014, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 1.1 million reports regarding child pornography incidents. But in a matter of years, that figure has skyrocketed to more than 18 million in 2018. Son was sentenced to 18 months in prison in South Korea; however, the nine-count indictment against him was only unsealed on Wednesday.

Dark Web Tools And Services
Sections of the dark web are often closed down too, as part of police operations. Even with Tor and onion routing in place though, you’re not suddenly completely invisible and free to do whatever you want, without repercussions. You’re also open to threats like end-to-end correlation attacks, so while Tor is a lot more secure and private, it’s by no means completely safe. Visiting onion sites on older Tor versions can needlessly expose you to added risks. Many dark web links could get you mixed up in some kind of criminal activity of another, whether you’re looking for it or not.
Using Onion Over VPN — All You Need To Know
Unlike physical abuse which leaves visible scars, the digital nature of child sexual abuse material means victims are constantly re-traumatised every time their content is seen. He also called for greater online child safety, stressing how online behaviour could have long-term consequences. Tlhako urged parents to monitor their children’s phone usage, and the social media platforms they are using. The dark web is a complex part of the internet, and specialized search engines are essential for safely experiencing it. ProPublica is a non-profit, Pulitzer Prize-winning news outlet that focuses on abuses of power and issues of public trust. ProPublica’s investigative journalism can upset powerful interests, so the outlet joined the dark web to help their journalists and readers access their content anonymously.
Use A VPN
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. Using a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN with dark web search engines is essential for protecting your privacy. It hides your IP address, encrypts your internet traffic, and prevents your activity from being traced. A VPN also masks your online behavior from ISPs, which could flag you as suspicious for accessing the dark web. This added layer of security keeps your identity hidden and shields you from online threats.
DuckDuckGo Onion Search

It supports Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, ensuring safe transactions between parties. Escrow has handled thousands of trades, helping to reduce fraud in Dark Web marketplaces. Not all onion sites are dangerous, but many host illegal, harmful, or deceptive content.
Fortunately, you can’t just stumble onto dark web websites by accident. Given the above threats, it’s a good idea to use Tor over a VPN to access the dark web. ZeroBin encrypts any text pasted into it, and its own servers don’t even know what you pasted.
It’s particularly useful for journalists, whistleblowers, and those who urgently need to send or receive confidential data. Users can ask questions, share answers, and engage in discussions without revealing their identities. Riseup provides email and chat services that keep no record of your online activity. Ethical porn is adult content that prioritizes the well-being and consent of all involved, focusing on creating a respectful, fair, and safe environment for performers. It promotes transparency, fairness in pay, and ensures that performers have control over their work. It’s the quality of porn that got a site higher on the list, too, if, say, the safety measures of two particular sites were on par.
OnionShare
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. Bear in mind too, that your internet provider will be able to see you connecting to Tor nodes, even if it doesn’t know exactly what you’re doing. Many people install a VPN as well, but then you’re putting your trust in an additional third party to not track your activities or report them to anyone else. Tor is like the public-facing door to the dark web, and there are even mobile apps for Android and iOS.

This browser is the most suitable option for accessing the dark web, thanks to its multiple layers of encryption. Each time you connect to a dark web link, your request and traffic are routed through at least three different server points, ensuring your IP remains hidden. Because it’s a members-only platform, you’ll need to register first. Thankfully, you don’t need to use your official name or email; just use a fake username (we tested it successfully).
- Paid services like online magazines and video-on-demand are also found here.
- “There are important uses for hidden services, such as when human rights activists use them to access Facebook or to blog anonymously,” he added.
- Ahmia’s .onion link is a search engine that indexes hidden services on the Tor network, allowing users to find .onion sites safely and efficiently.
- The CIA’s onion site allows users to securely report threats or suspicious activity, especially in regions where online surveillance is common.
- It is a tool for those looking for onion sites and also to find onion sites.
- ProPublica is a popular online publication that won five Pulitzers in 2016.
Why Is Tor So Slow?
Use community-trusted directories, forums, and check reputation scores or comments on Reddit/darknet forums. Recon is used to find information about darknet vendor profiles and monitor their activity. Haystak has a free version but also offers a premium version with advanced features and deeper indexing.
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. Earlier known as Archive.is, Archive.today is website that works to preserve the scientific and cultural knowledge available on the web.
If the VPN connection fails, the automatic kill switch will kick in, temporarily breaking your traffic. NordVPN is one of the best VPNs to combine with the Tor browser whenever you want to surf dark sites. It offers top-of-the-line security and fast speeds for a smooth browsing experience on the dark web. Today, many organizations exist that are created only to handle these reports anonymously and effectively. They know how to process the information and get it to the correct law enforcement agencies internationally. Since malware lingers across the dark web, your device can easily become infected, even if you are an unsuspecting user.