When evaluating the onion list’s merits, a strong comparative analysis is essential. While the benefits, such as anonymity and access to unique information, may seem compelling, they must be weighed against the risks of engaging with potentially illegal activities. Understanding this dichotomy is vital for anyone contemplating accessing onion sites, guiding users towards safer and more responsible browsing habits.
BBC News (and Other Leading News Sites)
The site offers access to PGP-verified URLs and runs free of JavaScript or tracking. This platform’s library of websites currently totals 50, which may not sound impressive until you consider that all the links are active and popular. When you access this site, do so with extra protection, even if you are technically anonymous when you use the Tor browser. We highly recommend using a strong VPN like NordVPN to stay safe and private.
Will Services Start Failing To Be Reached In September, Or Before Already?
Tor encrypts traffic, masks your IP address, blocks trackers and browser fingerprinting, and doesn’t store a record of your activity. The darknet version of DuckDuckGo is not a search engine for the dark web, but a private browsing tool for the dark web. DuckDuckGo’s regular site can take you to the dark web, as it brings up onion sites and dark web links when searched. Neither DuckDuckGo’s dark nor normal versions keep a log of your web activity. The dark web may be the Wild West of the internet — a place without rules, gatekeepers, or censorship — but there are still reasons to visit. Check out our list of the best dark web links and how to navigate onion and Tor sites safely.
Stay Safe
Think of this as a hub for information on just about anything you’re looking for, regardless of the topic — yes, even juicy conspiracy theories. On Hidden Wiki, you can find working links to sites like ProPublica, Facebook, Deep Web Radio, and more. Use the Tor Anonymous View button next to every search result to visit websites in complete privacy through the Tor Network. Ahmia promotes transparency by being open-source and allowing contributions. Its operations focus on respecting user privacy and maintaining anonymity through the use of the Tor network. Get the latest in privacy news, tips, tricks, and security guides to level-up your digital security.
Dark Web Links: The Best onion And Tor Sites In 2025

You can read more in the Tor Project’s blog post Onion Service version 2 deprecation timeline. A VPN connection is key to gaining greater privacy, security, and freedom on and off the dark web. With its range of cybersecurity bundles, Surfshark is an excellent choice. Info like your name or email address never needs to be shared on the dark web. You should also limit the number of financial transactions you make on Tor banking portals. Enable MFA wherever possible to protect your accounts from unauthorized access.
Deep Web Search Engines (Onion Links

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. Being on the dark web also lets whistleblowers send material to ProPublica without fear of reprisal. PGP verified list of Onion Services (formerly tor hidden services) on the darknet.
How To Access onion Sites Safely
- 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.
- While you don’t need to log in to access any of the dark web links listed here, you can’t find them with a search engine like Google.
- Tor Browser prevents someone watching your connection from knowing what websites you visit.
- Deep web websites have to be hosted somewhere, and Impreza Hosting is one of those anonymous dark web hosting services.
- Riseup is an invite-only email and communications service that doesn’t hold onto any of the data you generate when you use it.
- The New York Times can also be anonymously accessed via the dark web.
An onion link is a special URL with a .onion extension, designed to be accessed only through the Tor Browser. This type of link provides anonymity by routing your connection through multiple nodes, making it difficult to trace your activity. Although The Hidden Wiki is a general jumping-off point for new darknet visitors, we’ve relegated it to the bottom of our list. It’s often listed as one of the best darkweb sites to visit, but you should take the links on there with a pinch of salt. Many of the onion sites listed there are fake, scams, or otherwise.
These sites can facilitate both beneficial and malicious activities. Understanding the legalities surrounding onion sites is crucial, as navigating these can be complex depending on the jurisdiction. With the rise of cybercrime, individuals must discern what is legal and illegal regarding accessing these sites and the content they harbor. We are a Tor network dark web directory listing created in order to monitor and study popular darknet marketplaces and onion services. However, there’s a chance you may run into illegal activity on all but the best onion sites.

Let’s unravel the mysteries of the dark web, from its safest havens to the threats lurking in its shadows. Even without using Tor, Proton’s services are secured with end-to-end encryption, secure authentication (SRP), and optional two-factor authentication. Most people will not need to use our Tor encrypted email or Tor encrypted file storage access.
This means you will get a VPN’s security and enjoy the anonymity of the Tor network simultaneously. Immediately close your entire Tor Browser window (not just that active tab). Note that engaging with the content in any way is not only distressing but could also put you at legal risk. This is because law enforcement often actively monitors these sites. Since malware lingers across the dark web, your device can easily become infected, even if you are an unsuspecting user.

Step 3: Open The onion Link In Tor Browser
Using a VPN can help strengthen your privacy while visiting the dark web. While many dark web websites, like the former black market website Silk Road, are used to facilitate criminal activity, there are also plenty of legitimate dark web websites. SecureDrop is one of the most reliable file-sharing sites on the deep web. SecureDrop helps whistleblowers anonymously send sensitive material to media outlets via a unique SecureDrop URL.
Below is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to find and open an .onion link safely. Whistleblower platforms enable confidential document submission without compromising the identity of sources. GlobaLeaks is an open-source platform designed for NGOs and media to create customizable submission portals, emphasizing decentralization and anonymity.