The darknet is a mysterious part of the Internet that most people only access through the TOR browser. Websites with the “.onion” suffix host hidden services that are not accessible through regular browsers (unless you make many settings).
The TOR browser, however, allows you to visit these services while giving the charm of anonymity. When the dark web is mentioned in the news, it is often associated with illegal activities.
Darknet sites Can Also be Useful
Usually, the positive and sometimes useful things you can find in the darknet are never mentioned. This Blog was designed to show you that there is another side to darknet.
We have compiled a list of darknet sites that you can visit if you are interested in the dark web. Some of the websites on the list are quite serious, while others are there just for fun.
Happy exploration!
Warning: First of all, security when accessing the darknet
If you go to the darknet, it is wise to take security measures. Because the dark web is unregulated, the risk of becoming infected with malware and falling victim to cyber criminals who hunt for your data increases.
Make sure you have a antivirus solution installed and that you are using a reputable Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN will support you by encrypting and obscuring your Internet traffic (This protects your privacy on the Internet)
Searching in the darknet
Although the dark web doesn’t have any major search engines like Google, there are still capabilities of which allow you to navigate the darknet landscape through search engines and directories - if you know where to look! A number of the following sites can help you:
1. Hidden Wiki (Hidden Wiki)
The Hidden Wiki is a dark Wikipedia where you can find links to various darknet sites. As you can see in this article, the URLs of dark web pages often look ridiculous. This makes it difficult to find the website you are looking for. The Hidden Wiki is looking for you. Moreover, it provides informative pages on a variety of topics that may be interesting to read.
Make sure you don’t click on links that you don’t want to see, because the “hidden wiki” doesn’t just index legal websites. In fact, there are many different Hidden Wiki sites with different content. “Hidden Wiki” was known for hosting or at least indexing pedophile websites.
Many copies of The Hidden Wiki have also been created. Don’t be surprised if you come across the “Official Hidden Wiki” or the “Uncensored Hidden Wiki”. However, it is best to stay away from these spin-off sites.
To date, most hidden Wiki sites contain links to some parts of the darknet that you would not like to visit. The best way to solve this is to just stick to categories that are relatively risk-free.
2. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that is also available on the regular Internet. Unlike other search engines, DuckDuckGo does not collect or provide any of your personal information.
A search engine is perfect if you want to be completely anonymous online. In the darknet it is used because it also shows .onion websites. Most regular Internet search engines do not index .onion websites. That way, a regular search engine won’t take you to the darknet, but DuckDuckGo can.
Link to DuckDuckGo: https://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/
3. Candle
This darknet site exists to help you see the way through the dark web. Candle is a darknet-only search engine and works basically the same as Google, except that it’s not as useful.
The dark web is simply not designed to be clearly organized and indexed. The main purpose of most services in the dark network is to remain hidden and be accessible only to dedicated people.
Candle should be seen as a minor tool, a small candle in a large dark hallway. The search engine will allow you to see only a tiny fraction of what is really there.
WARNING: Be careful when clicking on any links offered by the Candle search engine, as they are not filtered for harmful or illegal content.
Link to Candle : http://gjobqjj7wyczbqie.onion/
4. Not Evil
This is another search engine in the dark web. This website is interesting because it seems to contradict its own mission, which should be “a shield against the arbitrariness of the intolerant majority.”
This darknet site Not Evil strictly prohibits illegal content, such as child pornography, weapons, drugs or any other illegal content.
This, however, does not prevent the site from posting links to illegal hidden services. If you are looking for “cocaine”, for example, the search engine “Not Evil” will provide links to online markets, guides or sites related to referrals related to illegal substances. Not Evil also hosts a chat service where anyone can create a new topic. These themes range from forbidden to lewd. However, most content is spam.
It is reasonable to assume that hackers, fraudsters and even law enforcement officials may be in such chat services. Law enforcement officers sometimes go to the darknet to try to catch criminals. They may even try to provoke you to take illegal action as part of a “cutting operation”.
Link to not evil : http://hss3uro2hsxfogfq.onion/
5. SearX
Searx is another search engine that can be used in both regular and dark networks.
The advantage of SearX is that you can make search queries incredibly detailed. You can search for files, images, maps, music, news, social media posts, videos and more.
So, if you’re looking for something incredibly detailed, SearX is the darknet search engine for you.
Link to SearX : http://ulrn6sryqaifefld.onion/
Popular darknet sites
The dark web is filled with amazing sites. One of them is Facebook. While we don’t recommend logging in to Facebook for online security, it’s impressive that this social media site has such a huge presence in the darknet.
6. Facebook
This is a mirrored website of real Facebook. By creating a Facebook account over a dark network, you can try to make it completely anonymous. However, this requires a lot of work, because, as we know, Facebook likes to collect all the data that they can only find.
More importantly, this mirror version of the social network is a way to avoid government censorship. Some regimes censor social media or make it completely inaccessible to their citizens. They do this to eliminate any form of opposition. With the darknet version of Facebook, people can remain anonymous on the social network.
Link to the Facebook mirror : https://www.facebookcorewwwi.onion/
Although bitcoins are only now gaining popularity with the general public, they have been the currency of the darknet for many years. Not surprisingly, there are many cryptocurrency websites in the dark web. On sites like Onion Wallet, GreenAddress and Smartmixer, you can manage your cryptocurrencies and buy and sell them.
You can also check how exchanges are working to see if it’s time to buy or sell cryptocurrency. Because bitcoins are used to buy goods in the darknet, there is also a virtual wallet.
Link to Onion Wallet : http://ow24et3tetp6tvmk.onion/
Link to GreenAddress : http://s7a4rvc6425y72d2.onion/en/
Link to Smartmixer.io : http://smrtmxdxognxhv64.onion/en/start-mixing
8. Mirror BBC TOR
Some countries and governments are severely censoring the Internet and blocking access to foreign news sites. The BBC website is a prime example of a news source that is not available in some repressive countries. At least not on the superficial Internet. That’s where TOR comes in.
The BBC has created a special TOR mirror on its news website, which is available on the dark web. The aim is to offer people a way to access the BBC website anonymously without restrictions, no matter where they live. The dark copy of the BBC News website is an international publication. This means that it is not primarily focused on the UK, but covers news from around the world.
Link to the official BBC mirror in Darknet: http://bbcnewsv2vjtpsuy.onion/
9. TOR Metric
At TOR Metric you can find more information about the TOR project. If you are interested in privacy and how the Tor project works, this darknet site can give you some insight. Also, if you are studying TOR and Darknet for a school project, this website can help you with statistics.
Amongst other things, you can see how many people use the TOR browser and how many .onion websites. TOR user statistics can also give you accurate information about how many active dark networks exist, how many hidden services exist, and where most dark network users come from.
Link to TOR Metric : http://rougmnvswfsmd4dq.onion/
10. Hidden Answers
Hidden Answers can be described as a dark web version of Reddit or Quora. You can ask any question without any censorship. Others in the community will try to answer your queries.
Remember that this is an unfiltered part of the Internet, and you may encounter conversations you don’t want to hear.
Link to Hidden Answers : http://answerstedhctbek.onion/
11. Secure Drop
Secure Drop is a place where informants and journalists can meet. The dark web is the only way informants have a chance to share their information, confident that they will not be tracked. If they do so on the surface, they are likely to be tracked down and, in some cases, punished.
Secure Drop is a .onion website that protects the privacy of whistleblowers and journalists around the world. Many important publishers and news organizations have realized the power of anonymous informants in the darknet and created their own SecureDrop URL.
Some notable examples:
Forbes: http://t5pv5o4t6jyjilp6.onion/
The Financial Times: http://xdm7flvwt3uvsrrd.onion/
Reuters: http://smb7p276iht3i2fj.onion/
Link to Secure Drop : http://secrdrop5wyphb5x.onion/
Email and darknet
There are many other email providers besides Outlook and Gmail. Check out some great email services that are provided for free in the darknet.
12. ProtonMail
ProtonMail is a Swiss encrypted e-mail that is one of the best customer e-mails. They use full encryption and do not keep logs. In addition, you do not need to provide them with personal information if you want to create an account.
Link to ProtonMail: https://protonirockerxow.onion/
13. SecMail
SecMail has become one of the most widely used email email providers in recent years. Although they provide only 25 Mbps per user, this is usually more than enough for encrypted PGP messages. However, this will probably not be enough if you want to use it as a standard email service.
Link to SecMail: http://secmailw453j7piv.onion/
14. Mailpile
Mailpile is another e-mail client that aims to protect your e-mail from others. It encrypts your emails and you can store your own emails without cloud services. Another big plus is the free open source software.
Link to: http://clgs64523yi2bkhz.onion/
The Treasures of the Dark Net
Are you a fan of comics? The comic book library can download thousands of comics, from the most important titles to very niche comics.
Just keep in mind that copyright infringement is possible when you access comics through the Comic Book Library. Even if you are largely anonymous when using TOR.
Comic book library link : http://r6rfy5zlifbsiiym.onion/
16. Deep Web Radio
Looking for backing music while surfing in the darknet? You are lucky, because the dark web has its own digital radio station.
With Deep Web Radio you can choose between different types of music streams via TOR.
Link to deep web radio : http://76qugh5bey5gum7l.onion/
Caution in the darknet will not hurt
Curiosity is a wonderful thing but be careful! It can be interesting to investigate the dark web, but it is also quite dangerous. Your computer may get infected with malware as a result of your activity. For this reason, we advise that you do not to go there if you do not have good a legitimate reason for doing so.
However, If you want to look around in the darknet, make sure you have some security measures in place to protect against online attacks.
Security measures in the darknet
Visiting the dark web is not without risks, which is why we recommend that you take the following steps to protect you and your device.
Initially, you need a good antivirus software to warn and protect your device against any (identified) malware. This type of software is important even when you are just browsing the Internet.
Secondly, you need to find a good VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a software application that encrypts all your Internet traffic and obfuscates (hides) your real IP address.
Just for security, it’s best to use a VPN so that no one sees that you’re visiting a dark network. Moreover, hackers in the dark network will not be able to track your actions.
Some good VPN providers are Surfshark, ExpressVPN, NordVPN and IPVanish.
Finally, you need to use your common sense. Do not click on any links that you do not trust, and do not fill in any personal information in the dark network.
Concerned About Your Private Information?
By adding Dark Web monitoring to your security strategy, you will gain a more complete picture of your company’s security posture.
Additionally, you will also have an early warning mechanism before a breach can occur, with invaluable data analytics to evaluate where employees may need security awareness training or where identification of where multi-factor authentication and single sign-would provide a more favourable option.
>>Contact us to have a FREE scan conducted<< against your corporate domain, to understand the risk to your business or employees. We go into the Dark Web, so that you don't have to!
Final Thoughts on Darknet Sites
The dark web sounds mysterious and maybe even scary, but some .onion sites are very common. For regular Internet users, there is no good reason for anybody to go there.
But if you do, you may want to visit one of the darknet sites listed above. Remember that there are a lot of dirty things going on in the dark web, so don’t click on everything you don’t trust.
Use common sense and enjoy learning!
