Switzerland-based Proton (formerly ProtonMail) is one of the most secure email services, and has a reputation for not logging IP addresses. If you care about your privacy on the Internet, no other site comes close. Tim Berners-Lee, one of the founders of the World Wide Web, is currently involved in its operations. Lastly, to stay up-to-date with the happenings on a particular dark web website, forums are set up as a hub for information exchange. It can’t provide solutions should users encounter issues while using the website.
Navigating The Risks
The dark web is unregulated, which is why it is important to protect yourself while browsing. Of course, bypassing paywalls is ethically questionable and may be illegal in some jurisdictions. That’s why many people choose to do so anonymously on the dark web, rather than using the clear web version of the site. The dark web is home to a variety of useful and legitimate resources — educational materials, encrypted email services, anonymous forums — that can’t be found elsewhere.
Pro Tip: Use A VPN To Stay Safe When Using The Dark Web Search Engines
However, Facebook’s dark web version will still log your data, so keep that in mind. While your IP address is hidden, the site can still collect information you share on your profile. Just remember that this is a Dark Web resource, which means that much of the content is likely in breach of copyright. That said, it is one of the most famous and popular Dark Web sites, and it does have legitimate uses. For instance, in the UK, any book older than 70 years old (past the date of the author’s death) is no longer subject to copyright restrictions.
It is a good website for finding out which websites are currently working. If you need a listing of currently active websites, contact their support, and they will provide you with that. It saves a select version of each page and preserves it even after upgrades have taken effect on the original site. Accessing tunnels is illegal and dangerous, which is why records of these “adventures” can only be found on the dark web. If you want to access this site, do it only for fair purposes and with proper security measures. However, not all books on this site are legally available, so they don’t have copyrights.
User Interface And Usability
Use specific keywords to refine your search results and avoid generic terms that may lead to irrelevant pages. Bookmark frequently visited services for quicker access in the future. Tor (The Onion Router) is a free and open-source dark web browser that enables anonymous communication by routing Internet traffic through a volunteer network of over 6,000 relays. The Tor Browser opens access to “.onion” sites, unique addresses within the dark web. Its multi-layered encryption is a cornerstone of anonymous browsing on the dark web.
The dark web is a part of the internet that isn’t indexed by traditional search engines like Google—you can’t find it through standard browsing. It’s accessed using specialized software called Tor (The Onion Router), which anonymizes users and hides their locations. While many people use the dark web for legitimate reasons like privacy (such as journalists or activists in oppressive regimes), it’s also known for illegal activities. This can include the sale of drugs, weapons, stolen data, and counterfeit items. Regular search engines like Google and Bing don’t index dark web websites, so you need a dark web search engine to help search these hidden areas of the internet.
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Not Evil is a dark web search engine specifically designed for “.onion” sites. True to its name, Not Evil distinguishes itself by not employing advertising or web tracking. DuckDuckGo, known for its privacy-focused approach on the surface web, also has a presence on the dark web.

How Do Dark Web Search Engines Work?
- Users can look for old V2 onion addresses, images, and content on I2P.
- The key difference is that the dark web requires tools like Tor to access.
- Tools like PageOn.ai enhance your exploration by offering features that simplify research and presentation creation.
- Their crawlers run through the Tor network, allowing them to load .onion websites anonymously.
- To mitigate these risks while exploring the dark web, it is crucial to use a reputable dark web browser like Octo coupled with proxies for an added layer of security.
It’s recommended to open the search engine site on Tor itself so a DDG onion link is generated. DuckDuckGo is the default search engine inside the Tor browser, and once you turn on the Onionize toggle switch in the search box, you’re able to use it to find dark web links. These typically come with “.onion” after them, rather than something like “.com” as on the standard web.
Is DuckDuckGo An Actual Dark Web Search Engine?
However, there are steps you can take to stay safer on the dark web, including never sharing personal info, using a VPN, and installing antivirus software. You might have arrived here through Google, but you’ll be hard pressed to use Google to get to the dark web. In this blog, we explore the top 10 Dark Web search engines of 2025, focusing on safety, anonymity, and usability. Whether you’re a journalist, researcher, cybersecurity professional, or just curious, these platforms can help you navigate the deep corners of the internet — carefully and securely. Whether you’re looking for stronger privacy, a simple interface, or a tool designed specifically for hidden services, there’s likely an option that fits your needs. Think about what matters most for your browsing and security, and make informed choices to navigate the dark web safely.
How To Stay Anonymous While Browsing The Dark Web?

Navigating the dark web is challenging due to its decentralized and constantly changing nature. Websites frequently change their URLs to evade detection and shutdowns, making it difficult to find reliable and up-to-date information. The lack of standardization and numerous malicious sites further complicate navigation. Additionally, lawful individuals who value their privacy use the dark web to protect their personal information from surveillance and data breaches. DarkNetLive is an onion news site that provides up-to-date information related to the dark web and its use.
The Tor Browser, as we know it, is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. To download the Tor Browser, visit the official website at Torproject.org. Once you’re on the website, click “Download Tor Browser.” Then, select the appropriate version for your operating system and follow the prompts to complete the installation. It’s a lesser-known but highly effective unrestricted search engine ideal for in-depth exploration. Renowned for its precision, it offers highly accurate and relevant results, making it a trustworthy resource for dark web users.

Ahmia — Another Tor Search Engine
These advancements have made it possible to find information that was once nearly impossible to access. As a result, deep web search engines have become indispensable tools for researchers, journalists, and curious individuals like you. To mitigate these risks while exploring the dark web, it is crucial to use a reputable dark web browser like Octo coupled with proxies for an added layer of security. Keep your software always up-to-date, exercise extreme caution when clicking on links or downloading files, and avoid sharing personal information. Understanding the inherent dangers of the dark web and taking proactive safety measures are essential for a secure dark web experience.
- Threat intelligence experts analyze open-source data and collect information relevant to criminal activity.
- ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for Tor and accessing the Dark Web.
- Be sure that your experience with Whonix will be comparable to Tor because both programs share the same source code.
- This makes it perfect for retrieving content that has been deleted or modified on the surface web.
- Onion sites do not use regular domain names that are registered with a central authority (domain name registry).
- But finding reputable onion links and dark web websites can be a challenge.
The only way to access the dark web is by using the correct browser and knowing the URLs of the pages you want to visit. Scroll on to learn more about dark web links (also called Tor links or onion sites), get the right links for some of the best Tor sites, and find out how to visit them safely. Before we get into dark web search engines, let’s get into what the dark web is.