What is the dark web and how do I access it?
The Dark Web is a very hidden part of the World Wide Web, made up of websites that are not indexed by traditional search engines.
These sites, which Represent around 48% of the Internet, operate on a random network infrastructure and are additionally hidden by various security measures, such as encryption and firewalls.
Dark Web vs. Deep Web
The Dark Web is a subset of the Deep Web that is found on special networks.
Unlike most of the Deep Web, it's not regulated by a company, organization, or government, and can only be accessed through special tools, like the Tor browser.
The Deep Web, which makes up about 90% of the World Wide Web, is much larger and is essentially the “invisible” part of the web.
Classified government data, sensitive medical records, email accounts, and personal banking portals are all parts of the Deep Web.
RECOMMENDED READING: How do you access the Deep Web and what will you find there?
How do I access the Dark Web?
The quickest way to access the dark web is through the Tor browser.
This browser routes your traffic through the Tor network, which consists of different routers called nodes, that encrypt your data and mask your IP address, as well as any other identifiable information.
In short, this browser makes it impossible - or at least very difficult - to identify Tor users.
If you want to access the Dark Web and are not afraid of browsing a bit slower (due to data routing), you can download the Tor browser from the Tor Project website. It's available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and there are also Tor browser apps for Android and iOS available on Google Play and the App Store.
For added security, it's best to first activate your VPN (virtual private network), a practice known as Tor-over-VPN, and if you want to download files, you'll also need a good one antivirus software.
Most Popular Dark Web Search Engines
Browsing the dark web isn't as easy as regular browsing, but there are specialized browsers that can help you find your way around.
Assuming privacy and speed are your priorities, here are the best dark web search engines out there:
1. DuckDuckGo
The DuckDuckGo Dark Web search engine has a user-friendly interface, a search box in the middle of the page, and lists searches in a Google-like format.
Not only is it the ultimate Tor browser search engine, but it's widely regarded as one of the best private search engines out there.
The search engine has a no-registration policy, Block tracers, does not contain ads and can be used for surface websites.
2. Ahmia.fi
Like DuckDuckGo, Ahmia.fi is a surface web search engine that is compatible with Tor.
It is one of the few dark web search engines that filters search results in the Tor browser to eliminate dangerous websites and fake sites that may contain malware.
While primarily used to search the dark web, Ahmia also allows users to search the deep web in regular web browsers, like Google Chrome.
3. Haystak
Haystak is one of the best Tor search engines that boasts the largest number of indexed sites than any other Deep Web search engine.
With over 1.5 billion pages and over 260,000 websites, Haystak reaches parts of the network in blight that other searches can't reach.
More importantly, the search engine is fast and helps protect your privacy and identity. It does not track the data and if you opt for the premium plan, you will not be shown any ads and you will get additional information about the data.
4. Torch
Torch, whose name is a portantle of Tor+ Search, is one of the oldest and most popular search engines on the darknet, which was introduced to the market in 1996.
This search engine can boast of having the largest number of onion search links and a massive indexing database. It has a familiar and simple interface and the browsing speeds are relatively fast.
Torch doesn't filter any websites, which means you're likely to come across malicious sites, but it does give users additional information about search results, like the size of the pages you want to access, making it a great tool for investigating the dark web.
5. Candle
Candle is a darknet search engine and web crawler for Tor.
It has over 100,000 web pages, most of which include forums and marketplaces.
The search engine is minimalistic and similar to Google's - which has more than 80% of the search engine market - with a big search box in the middle that can't read characters like quotation marks and brackets.
Compared to Google, it offers fewer features and is smaller but efficient and relatively fast.
6. Hidden Wiki
The Hidden Wiki is not exactly an obscure search engine, but rather a useful directory for those who want to explore the dark web.
To put it simply, it's the onion version of Wikipedia.
It contains Deep Web search engine links to a variety of websites in various categories, which allow you to access social networks, anonymous chat rooms, blogs, and more.
The Hidden Wiki isn't completely uncensored and works to filter out sites that aren't safe, but it sometimes indexes sites that search engines like Google block.
7. Recon
Recon is the best dark web search engine for shopping.
The search engine covers around 40 active marketplaces and 21,000 sellers and allows you to combine seller details, listings, statistics, and marketplace addresses.
It also offers promotional tools for sellers, marketplaces, and other services through banner ads and promotional lists in product searches.
Once sellers create a profile on the site and post their first message, they can receive notifications from their subscribers. Users, on the other hand, can keep up to date with the activities of their favorite sellers.
8.Onion Search
Onion Search is one of the best dark web search engines, specially designed for the Tor browser, which can be used on the surface web.
It has a simple interface and offers descriptions of each site on the results page. Pages are largely unfiltered, but users can report unethical content.
If you prefer it for regular searches, you can also add it as an extension to your Chrome browser.
9. Not Evil
Not Evil is the best Tor search engine for beginners and people who have never touched the dark side of the Internet.
The name refers to Google's questionable motto, “Don't be evil,” and the search engine lives up to its name by filtering out misleading and unethical content and encouraging users to report spam sites.
The interface is user-friendly and a simple search field allows you to access a list of results from over 32 million websites and addresses in Tor.
Not Evil has no ads and never tracks your web traffic.
10. Deep Search
Deep Search is the result of the work of a group of students who wanted to create an effective and unique search engine.
This open-source web crawler has a unique ranking system, filters illegal content, and offers a long list of marketplaces and exchanges. It's easy to use, has no ads, and is constantly working to add smaller Dark Web forums to its search results.
Users can also create an account that allows them to give feedback and recommend new sites to index.
Things to consider when browsing the dark web
The Dark Web is a largely unregulated part of the Internet, making it a risky place for the casual browser.
If you're looking to protect yourself when accessing the dark web and avoid problems (ISPs are often on the lookout for using Tor), here are a few things you can do to improve your online privacy and security:
- Always use a VPN before opening Tor. A good dark web VPN will protect your data and hide your dark web activities from your ISP.
- Avoid downloading files from the dark web. There is a good chance that the file you download is loaded with malware.
- Don't click on links that are unfamiliar or suspicious to you. Scamming pages are commonplace on the dark web.
- Don't use your personal email address on the dark web. If you need to use one, create a different email address from a privacy-focused service like ProtonMail.
- Always use two-factor authentication to protect yourself from attacks.
- If you are buying products, make sure that you are getting them from a reputable source.
Summary.
Although it is a major part of the Internet, accessing the Dark Web can be difficult, especially without a good search engine.
The most popular dark web search engines can not only help you navigate the vast world of the dark web, but also protect your privacy, keep you away from dangerous sites, and give you access to a large number of sites that you can't find with traditional search engines.
