You are perhaps wondering what the dark web is about if it is a new term to you. Well, the dark web is nothing but a haven of anonymity. It is a part of the deep web and is found inside the layers of proxy networks called darknets. Normal browsers cannot penetrate the dark web safely. You can use tools like the Tor browser with a VPN, otherwise called the .onion browser, to get to the dark web. You can then browse the sites you want anonymously!
Now, there are plenty of dark websites available through the .onion browser. However, you need to be extra vigilant. Keep in mind that several dubious activities transpire within the dark webs. That aside, let us jump straight to the top 9.onion websites of the dark webs that you ought to know.
1. ProPublica
ProPublica stunned the headlines when it became the first-ever online publication to win a Pulitzer. It is now the first top publication to acquire a .onion domain address. It is a publication that is known for its uniqueness in a vast majority of things, particularly free speech. Navigating to ProPublica’s work via its .onion website is seamless, and it works well.
Again, you will be assured of free speech and information privacy. It’s worth knowing that ProPublica is funded by Sandler and other similar organizations
2. Facebook
Facebook also has a .onion site. It is hard to imagine how such a huge organization could subscribe to this route. It is even more perplexing in light of its aggressive measures on privacy and clear-name policy. Nevertheless, Facebook intends to bring everyone across the world on board.
It is not uncommon for authoritative governments across the world to deny citizens access to top social platforms like Facebook. Most do this to suffocate the flow of information in public. With Facebook’s .onion site, strangers across the world can exchange information freely. Even if their governments restrict Facebook. Facebook is notorious with the collection of data and subsequent privacy concerns. That said, Facebook’s .onion website does one major thing of allowing access by bypassing restrictions.
3. DuckDuckGo
Unlike Google, DuckDuckGo search engine is available on both the dark web and the surface web. If you want to be completely anonymous in your web surfing, then DuckDuckGo is the real deal. It neither collects nor shares your personal information, yet it offers top-class search functions. This even puts the necessity of Google’s extensive surveillance to question. Generally, DuckDuckGo offers excellent speed, reliable performance, and privacy.
4. Wasabi Wallet
Wasabi Wallet is an open-source privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet. It is known to immensely boost the anonymity of transactions with Bitcoin All your data is hidden in the Tor Network and that you can easily link your transactions anonymously. In fact, it is even much difficult to know the person you are paying the coins to. Although this process requires that you chuck out some fee, it offers an amazing immunity from coin scams. It is worth giving it a try if you are in love with crypto.
5. RiseUp
RiseUp is an anonymous and volunteer-run email and chat service for activists. It is easy to see why the site is suited for activists around the world as it was founded by a group of activists in Seattle in 1999. The .onion website usage has been on a rapid rise and is now visited by more than six million users across the globe. It is known to publish its newsletters in a variety of languages. Besides offering the onion services on its website, RiseUp also provides onion services on its mails and chats as well.
6. Sci-Hub
Although this dark site is not even a decade old, the Sci-Hub platform is a hub of scientific knowledge. This site was founded in 2011 by Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Elbakyan, with a view of liberating science knowledge to the world. Currently, there are more than 50 million free research papers on Sci-Hub. This makes it resourceful for science institutions and scientists with little resources.
7. SecureDrop
Investigation journalists and whistleblowers understand how crucial SecureDrop can be. It is great in sourcing and relaying information to the news platforms. Whistleblowers can drop leaked information whether from governments or top institutions directly into the electronic dead mailbox. Many major news organizations have appreciated the need for SecureDrop. It is even adopted by news giants like the Guardian, The Washington Post, and the New York Times, among others.
8. The Actual CIA
The U.S navy developed Tor to primarily help spies from foreign lands to communicate back safely. With the same intention, the CIA launched its own .onion website to safely access a pool of information across the world.
9. Keybase
The Keybase is a great identity service meant to ease the linking of all your online identities like Twitter, Bitcoin address, and Github accounts. To link these identities, you are required to either upload your PGP key or allow the site to create a key for you. If linking doesn’t make sense to you, then think about being impersonated. Keybase raises the curtain for any attackers targeting to impersonate you.
10. The Hidden Wiki
This is a community based dark web Wikipedia with lots of links to several websites. Unlike plenty of other dark webs, the Hidden Wiki simplifies your tasks. It does plenty of searching for you instead of parading lots of nonsensical links. You need to be cautious, though. Some of the links lead you to scammers or illicit activities. This platform uses the longer and more secure Version 3 onion URL.
Wrap up
These are just but a fraction of the rich dark web basket. They are great if you are looking for anonymity on the web. Again, you ought to use the dark web with caution. Surfing through these websites requires that you keep an eye on malware, scams and many other illegal activities and a reliable VPN is excellent tool for your privacy and annonimity. Stay safe as you surf anonymously!
Tomas Statkus is an IT specialist, the team leader, and the founder of Reviewedbypro.com. He has worked in the IT area for over 10 years.
