What Is the Dark Web and How to Access It?

What is the dark web?

The dark web is content on the internet that is intentionally hidden and requires special software like Tor Browser to access. The dark web is a subset of the deep web, which includes all web content that isn't indexed by search engines.

Because of its hidden nature, the dark web is sometimes called the “black web” or “underground internet.” These labels, however, tend to exaggerate its reputation and oversimplify how it’s used.

The dark web is designed to support anonymity by encrypting communications and routing traffic through multiple servers. While it’s often associated with criminal activity, that portrayal is incomplete. At its core, the darknet is simply a privacy-focused layer of the internet that can be used for both legitimate and illicit purposes.

Unlike standard web browsers , Tor uses onion routing — a private browsing method that encrypts and relays traffic through several nodes around the world to hide your IP address . Websites hosted on the Tor network use the “.onion” domain instead of conventional domains like “.com,” reflecting the multiple layers of encryption that define the network.

Surface web vs. deep web vs. dark web

The surface web is the relatively small, publicly accessible portion of the internet indexed by search engines. Anyone can find and access it using standard browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. It includes news sites, social media feeds, online stores, and other publicly available pages.

The deep web consists of content that isn’t indexed by search engines and requires some form of access control, such as logins, paywalls, or authentication. Much of the internet you use falls into this category, including your email inbox, online banking, private accounts, and subscription services.

The dark web is a small part of the deep web, but it differs in how it’s accessed. It runs on darknets — overlay networks that require specialized tools like Tor (The Onion Router). These networks are designed to obscure user identity and site location, enabling anonymous communication and hosting.

How big is the dark web?

Despite its reputation, the dark web is a very small part of the internet — estimated to make up about 0.01%, according to DeepStrike . It’s also highly dynamic: sites frequently appear and disappear, making the ecosystem feel even smaller and more transient.

Usage is relatively limited. The Tor Project reported an average of over 1.6 million Tor relay users in November 2025 — roughly comparable to the population of a large city like Phoenix, Arizona. This figure doesn’t include users connecting via bridges, which are commonly used in regions with restricted access. For example, more than 79,000 bridge users in Russia connected to Tor during the same period.

English dominates the dark web. According to one estimate by SOSintel, as much as 99% of its content is in English , reflecting its primary user base and reach.

What does the dark web look like?

The dark web doesn’t have a single visual style, but it does have a distinct feel. Many sites are bare-bones versions of what you’d expect on the surface web — functional, but unpolished and inconsistent. They often appear outdated or stripped back, as speed, simplicity, and anonymous browsing take priority over design.

That said, Tor mirrors (dark web versions of surface websites) can look nearly identical to their standard counterparts. Major outlets like the BBC and The New York Times, for example, offer the same content through the Tor network as they do on the regular web.

Overall, the dark web is defined less by how it looks and more by how it behaves. It’s intentionally hidden and often difficult to navigate. Many unofficial or user-generated sites are text-heavy and minimal, with slow load times, broken links, and unreliable navigation.

What’s on the dark web?

Dark web marketplaces and sites host a mix of legal and illicit goods, services, and content. Its emphasis on anonymity attracts both privacy-focused users and those engaged in criminal activity. Here’s a snapshot of what you might encounter:

• Darknet markets and illegal commerce: It’s possible to buy and sell illegal drugs, malware, and prohibited content in darknet marketplaces. Some dark web commerce sites have dangerous chemicals and weapons or even murder-for-hire services for sale.

• Hacking and cybercrime services: Some hackers offer ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), where cybercriminals can “rent” a strain of ransomware from its creator. Others sell software exploits that other cybercriminals can use to infect victims with malware, steal personal data, or launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) .

• Stolen data and credentials: Whether it's a doxxing attack or sites involved in financing and fraud, your information (stolen credentials and passwords, financial data, and other personal information) might be on the dark web if it was exposed in a data breach, sold by data brokers , or stolen by hackers.

• Terrorism-related content: According to a study published in the Jambura Law Review in 2025, the dark web serves as an “almost perfect” forum for some terrorist propaganda, guiding information, and funding (often through Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency).

• Hoaxes and unverified content: This includes content that is widely believed to be scams or fictional. Fake news and conspiracies also proliferate on the dark web.

• Whistleblowing platforms and journalism: It serves as a secure platform for whistleblowers, journalists, and activists to share information confidentially and securely share leaked documents.

Here’s a look at several of the illegal items you can buy — with prices — courtesy of DeepStrike’s Dark Web Data Pricing 2025:

How to access the dark web

The quickest way to access the dark web is to download and install Tor Browser , which lets you access the dark web by routing your traffic through the Tor network. Simply open Tor, type in any .onion link you want to visit, and begin exploring.

Let’s break down alternative ways you can access the dark web via browsers, search engines, and websites.

1. Get a dark web browser

Tor is the most well-known and most recommended standard dark web browser, but it’s not the only option available. Here are some of the best-known dark web browsers:

• Tor Browser: This browser directs and encrypts your traffic through the Tor network so you can reach the darknet. As your traffic passes through Tor, it’s bounced between at least three relay points, known as nodes.

• Invisible Internet Project (I2P): Used to access the I2P network (a Tor alternative), which hosts its own hidden services rather than .onion sites.

• Brave (with Tor Private Window): Allows limited access to Tor sites without launching the full Tor Browser, though with fewer anonymity protections.

• Hyphanet (formerly Freenet): A decentralized, censorship-resistant platform for anonymous publishing and communication, operating as a peer-to-peer network rather than a traditional browser.

• Firefox: Can be manually configured to access Tor or other dark-web networks via proxy settings, but lacks Tor Browser’s built-in anonymity and anti-fingerprinting protections.

• Waterfox: A Firefox-based browser with enhanced privacy and tracking protection, though it still requires manual configuration and does not offer Tor-level safety by default.

Some operating systems even use Tor Browser as the default internet browser, including:

• Subgraph OS: A privacy-centric Linux OS designed to minimize attack surfaces while using Tor by default.

• Whonix: A security-focused operating system that routes all traffic through Tor, typically run in a virtual machine.

• Tails OS: A live operating system that forces all internet connections through Tor and leaves no trace on the host machine.

Consider Tor-over-VPN

Tor shares some privacy features with VPNs and proxy servers , but it doesn’t make your dark web activity completely invisible. Your internet service provider (ISP) can still see that you’re connecting to the Tor network. And, while Tor masks your IP address from the sites you visit, your identity can still be exposed if the browser is misconfigured or exploited .

For a more secure dark web browsing experience, some users combine Tor with a VPN — an approach known as Tor-over-VPN. This adds an extra layer of protection by encrypting your traffic before it reaches the Tor network. It can also prevent your ISP or local network from seeing that you’re using Tor, which may matter in regions where Tor usage is monitored or restricted.

For added security before accessing the dark web, install strong security software to help keep your device protected in case you mis-click on something that could put your device and data at risk.

Here’s how to get on the dark web using the Tor Browser with a VPN:

1. Connect to a reliable and safe VPN. Download and install a trustworthy VPN like Avast SecureLine VPN . Set up the VPN by signing in or activating your subscription. Select a server location, then click Connect to encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP.

2. Download and install Tor Browser.
   Download Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website (or get Onion Browser on iOS). Follow the on-screen prompts for your operating system.

   Note that on Windows, macOS, or Linux, you may need to manually allow the app through your firewall. Do not trust unofficial sites promoting Tor, as these may be spoofed versions containing malware

3. Connect and browse the dark web with Tor Browser.

   Open the Tor Browser (or Onion Browser on iPhone) and click Connect.

Once connected to both VPN and the Tor browser you can access the dark web using a secure connection. However, as the darknet is largely unregulated, never visit dark websites without first confirming their authenticity.

2. Choose a dark web search engine

Once connected to a dark web browser, you can use dark web search engines to find websites — similar to how you’d normally use Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. Traditional, surface web engines can’t access the darknet.

Here are some of the best dark web search engines in 2026 that can help you find what you’re looking for:

• DuckDuckGo: An .onion version of DuckDuckGo — already known as a privacy-focused surface web search engine — is available on the dark web.

• Not Evil: A simple, minimalistic dark web search engine that prioritizes anonymity and avoids tracking . It lists a range of .onion sites, making it one of the more reliable Tor-specific search tools.

• Torch: One of the oldest dark web search engines, known for its extensive index of .onion sites. It’s fast and straightforward but lacks advanced filtering features. Torch is widely known to be completely uncensored and not suitable for beginner dark web users, according to dark web users on r/onions, a Tor-focused subreddit. Use Torch very cautiously.

• Haystack: Focuses on privacy and security, listing dark web sites while attempting to filter out scams and malicious pages. It’s designed for safer browsing of Tor content.

• Ahmia: Provides an index of .onion sites and removes illegal content from its search results. Ahmia also allows users to search the dark web via a clean, surface web interface while highlighting safe and legal sites.

Additionally, you can use forums like Reddit to help you find reliable dark websites. The subreddit r/deepweb is a good starting point if you want to ask more experienced users about searching the dark web safely.

3. Navigate to dark web websites

If you know the website you want to visit, you can navigate there directly. However, the URLs of most dark web websites are strings of seemingly random letters and numbers — nothing like the easy-to-remember web addresses on the surface web.

You can use the Hidden Wiki on the surface web to explore a large collection of dark website links. Simply copy and paste the links you want to visit into your dark web browser once connected to your VPN and the Tor network.

Here are some of the kinds of websites you can encounter on the dark web:

• Paywalled research archives: To access scientific papers and journals without subscriptions.

• News sites: Secure .onion versions of outlets like BBC News or The New York Times let users read anonymously, avoiding censorship or tracking.

• Social media platforms: Sites like Facebook’s .onion version allow private browsing and communication.

• File-sharing platforms: Peer-to-peer networks for sharing files anonymously.

• Whistleblowing portals: Services like SecureDrop let whistleblowers safely share sensitive information with journalists.

• Torrenting sites: For anonymously downloading media files like movies, music, and TV shows, legal or otherwise.

• Dark web directories and wikis: Tools that help users find active .onion sites by organizing links into categories such as marketplaces, forums, and services. Directories like the Hidden Wiki, DeepWebLinks, OnionDir, and Fresh Onions are often updated to remove dead links and flag potential scams .

• Crypto wallets and payment services: Enable secure, anonymous cryptocurrency transactions.

• Illegal content hosting: Sites hosting illicit or disturbing material, often tied to criminal activity. This content can carry serious legal and security risks. Avoid clicking on unknown links on the dark web to reduce the chance of encountering these sites.

• Darknet marketplaces: Platforms for buying or selling illegal goods like drugs, counterfeit IDs, or hacking tools. Some, like the now‑defunct Silk Road , gained notoriety for facilitating large-scale anonymous transactions before being shut down by law enforcement.

Is the dark web illegal?

The dark web itself is not illegal in most countries, including the US and UK. However, some governments actively restrict or block access to the Tor network. According to a 2025 post on the Tor Project Forum , countries where Tor use is heavily restricted or effectively banned include Russia, North Korea, China, Belarus, and Iran.

But dark web legality also depends on how it’s used. Engaging in criminal activity on the dark web is still illegal, regardless of the platform.

Here are some of the illegal cybercrimes carried out on the dark web:

• Dark web murder-for-hire

• Malware development and distribution

• Botnet management

• Computer or network hacking

• Keylogger installation

• Refund scams

• Sensitive information exfiltration

• Phishing campaigns

• Ransomware attacks

• Email or social media account password cracking

• Cyber espionage

• Tutorials for different types of hacks

If you use Tor to legally access the dark web or unblock websites , connect with a VPN for extra security . Because of the dark web’s association with illicit activity, your use of Tor may be tracked by your ISP, drawing unwanted scrutiny to your browsing behavior.

What is the dark web used for?

The dark web is used primarily for anonymous browsing and communication. Its privacy-focused design allows users to access and share information without easily revealing their identity.

While this enhanced anonymity is often associated with illegal activity, it also serves legitimate purposes. Journalists, activists, and whistleblowers, for example, use the dark web to communicate securely, protect sources, and bypass censorship.

Here are some uses of the dark web:

• Illegal shopping: Buying and selling drugs, malware, weapons, dangerous chemicals, and prohibited content.

• Exploit and Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) sales: Selling software vulnerabilities and malware kits used to infect devices and steal data.

• Stolen data trading: Selling hacked email accounts, social media profiles, and identity information .

• Whistleblowing and avoiding government censorship: Engaging in legal and anonymous whistleblowing and activism — for example, Wired reported Tor was used to access uncensored news amid the Ukraine war buildup, helping users avoid government censorship.

If your information is found in a data breach or you think it’s been leaked somewhere on the dark web, change your passwords and watch out for suspicious activity on your credit reports to help prevent and fix identity theft. Once your info is found there, it’s nearly impossible to remove it — but you can help yourself by mitigating the fallout.

Download Avast BreachGuard to run regular dark web scans. By monitoring known dark web marketplaces, Avast BreachGuard will alert you if and when your data is found. That way, you can change your passwords and lock down your accounts asap to help block scammers from using your data against you. Try it today.