You’ve probably heard of the dark web long ago and are curious. However, its reputation is very poor because it is full of violence and pornography. Still, in the midst of the chaos, the dark web is worth exploring, as you’ll find some great sites.
What Is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a subsection of the internet not indexed by regular search engines. The darknets which constitute the dark web include small, friend-to-friend peer-to-peer networks, as well as large, popular networks such as Tor, Freenet, I2P, and Riffle operated by public organizations and individuals. Users of the dark web refer to the regular web as Clearnet due to its unencrypted nature. The Tor dark web or Onionland uses the traffic anonymization technique of onion routing under the network’s top-level domain suffix .onion.
The dark web carries a notorious reputation as the haven of criminals, terrorists, nefarious sites, and everything in-between. In truth, it is a mixture of many things with a healthy sprinkling of myth and legend.
Are the dark web and the deep web the same?
The dark web has often been confused with the deep web, the parts of the web not indexed (searchable) by search engines. The term dark web first emerged in 2009; however, it is unknown when the actual dark web first emerged. Many internet users only use the surface web, data that can be accessed by a typical Google browser. The dark web forms a small part of the deep web but requires custom software in order to access its content. This confusion dates back to at least 2009.
Next, let’s take a look at some of the great websites on the dark web:
The Best Dark Web Websites
1. The Hidden Wiki
Onion URL: http://zqktlwi4fecvo6ri.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
To visit a .onion site, you’ll have to both know it exists and know its URL. There are a few ways to find active .onion sites. One of them is by using a directory of sites, like The Hidden Wiki.
Some websites are completely legitimate, such as domain name services and email providers. Some websites may face government scrutiny in your country. So, be careful to click on your Dark Weblink.
2. Facebook
Onion URL: https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/
You can access Facebook via the dark web by using the official Facebook .onion mirror.
Doing so has two primary benefits. Firstly, you can create and use an account anonymously. You can use Facebook’s services without exposing yourself to the company’s privacy-eroding tentacles.
3. SoylentNews
Onion URL: http://7rmath4ro2of2a42.onion/
It doesn’t matter where you sit on the political spectrum; almost everyone can agree that the mainstream media is barely fit for purpose.
One solution is to use an open-source, community-driven news aggregator such as SoylentNews. Users can submit stories from around the world, and there are also public discussion forums and an automatic comment moderation system.
4. ProPublica
Onion URL: https://www.propub3r6espa33w.onion/
ProPublica was one of the first major news organizations to launch a dark web version of its website in 2016.
ProPublica is a nonprofit news organization that aims to “harness the moral power of investigative journalism to expose abuses of power and betrayal of public trust by governments, businesses, and other institutions.”
One of its journalists, Hannah Dreher, won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for covering gangs in Los Angeles. It is also ProPublica’s fifth Pulitzer Prize.
5. DuckDuckGo
Onion URL: https://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/
DuckDuckGo is one of the leading private internet search engines on the open web. It doesn’t track your browsing history, location, or any other data.
There is also a dark web version of the search engine. It’s a great dark web search engine that provides users with extra protection and anonymity.
6. Galaxy3
Onion URL: http://galaxy3m2mn5iqtn.onion/
If you don’t want to trust the dark web version of Facebook, you can try a social network based entirely on the dark web.
The best option is the Galaxy3. Obviously, you won’t meet many of your real-life friends and colleagues there, but you’ll find computer code experts, people looking for adult parties, and tons of other “interesting” characters.
7. Hidden Answers
Onion URL: http://answerszuvs3gg2l64e6hmnryudl5zgrmwm3vh65hzszdghblddvfiqd.onion/
Hidden Answers is akin to a dark web version of Reddit; we think it’s one of the best dark web sites. Users seek advice, post stories, and discuss a wide range of topics. Unlike Reddit, Hidden Answers offers users complete anonymity.
8. Mail2Tor
Onion URL: http://mail2tor2zyjdctd.onion/
Mail2Tor is an alternative email provider. It lets anyone send and receive email anonymously via webmail or with an email client.
All messages are encrypted, and the company does not log your IP address.
9. OnionDomain
Onion URL: http://onionname3jpufot.onion/
If you want to host your own .onion website, you will need a domain name. You can get a normal domain name for free, but if you want a special URL, you need to pay.
Because of the way the web works, you can’t buy an onion domain name from a regular registrar like GoDaddy. So, you will have to opt for OnionDomain’s professional services.
10. TorLinks
Onion URL: http://torlinksd6pdnihy.onion/
TorLinks is an alternative to The Hidden Wiki. It provides an endless list of dark websites.
While there are some similarities, the list of sites on TorLinks is a lot different from the sites on The Hidden Wiki. Considering that .onions sites often go offline and disappear, the more directory sites you know about, the better.
The dark web isn’t for everyone, but some of them are worth exploring. It should be noted that unless you know how to access and use the dark web, these dark webs we have listed in this article will not be of much use to you. Before you access the dark web, make sure you know how to do it securely and anonymously.
