Unlike many dark web search engines, Ahmia is accessible on both the surface web and Tor, allowing broader access to its indexed content. Google has a hidden web search engine that is not available to the general public. This search engine is used by Google employees and contractors to search for information that is not publicly available. The deep web search engine can find information that is not indexed by other search engines, including Google. Hidden Web Search Engines are web search engines that you can’t see or find using regular internet searches.
Google Scholar
Future engines may integrate blockchain-based reputation systems, allowing users to rate .onion sites anonymously. This would enhance safety for beginners, though maintaining anonymity in rating systems remains a technical hurdle. Haystak (2018) introduced a freemium model, catering to power users with a premium tier offering deep indexing (~2 billion pages), regex searches, and historical archives.
Tor Browser
With these criteria in mind, let’s dive into the top Tor search engines available today. The Candle search engine is effective but minimalistic—it gives you only the top ten most relevant results for your search queries. And the search box can’t read certain characters like parentheses or quotation marks, which can be limiting. One notable feature is its “I’m feeling lucky” button, reminiscent of Google’s counterpart, which displays searches for a random keyword chosen from popular searches on OnionLand.
How To Use Dark Web Search Engines Safely
At the moment they are making minor improvements to the search engine and working on the Beta version of their new link directory. This isolates any potential malware and prevents cross-contamination with your personal data. Using Tails OS can further security, as all your data is reset every time you close the device. Set Tor Browser’s security level to “Safest” for critical dark web activity. This disables potentially dangerous features like JavaScript that could reveal your identity.
Unlike most dark web search engines, the Toorgle search engine allows access to onion sites without requiring the Tor browser. Acting as a proxy, Toorgle searches onion links and presents text-based content and torrent files directly through its interface. The Deep Web consists of content that all standard search engines cannot index; hence it comprises many legal and important sources. However, the latter is a smaller segment of the former, intentionally obscured from detection and mostly related to illegal purposes.
It delivered a relevant .onion site with active threads, but the results included spam links to fake wallets, requiring cross-checking with Torlinks. In 2019, I used Torch to locate a Tor-based library of public-domain eBooks for a privacy piece. Searching “eBook library onion” returned dozens of results, including a functional .onion site with thousands of titles.
- Following the NYT, the BBC launched a dark web “mirror” of their international edition in 2019.
- In some countries, evading government restrictions to seek new political ideologies is punishable.
- Even if you have good intentions, it’s easy to stray off the beaten path in the dark web and stumble onto illegal sites and materials.
- This hidden realm attracts legitimate users, such as journalists and whistleblowers.
How To Access The Dark Web Safely
Sites like WorldCat help bring the Deep Web that revolves around indexing databases to the forefront. Going from library to library to find an item is massively time-consuming, so trust that WorldCat can do the work for you. Books, DVDs, CDs, articles, and more are all available as search engine topics. DuckDuckGo focuses heavily on privacy and not tracking users, all while allowing you to search the Surface Web.
It also offers works of art, course material, and audiobooks for download. Wasabi Wallet is a Bitcoin wallet that not only hides all your data in the Tor network but also allows you to “join” your transactions with others to increase your anonymity. Where the basic version lets you comfortably surf through the dark web, the premium version gives you additional information like Datapoints, historical versions, etc. Ahmia, like DuckDuckGo, boasts about complete privacy and no log policy. DuckDuckGo is said to have the content from a million web pages on the dark web which I guess is pretty sufficient for anyone searching on Dark Web. Because they do not keep log of the users’ data, the exact number of DuckDuckGo users is unknown.
Torch, short for “Tor Search,” is one of the oldest dark web search engines, operational since at least 2010. It boasts one of the largest .onion indexes, claiming over a billion pages, covering forums, blogs, marketplaces, and dubious services. The dark web operates on the Tor network, a decentralized system that prioritizes anonymity over discoverability. Its .onion sites—ranging from whistleblower platforms to underground forums—are invisible to conventional search engines. Unlike traditional search engines, it organizes dark web links into specific sections, making it easier to navigate and explore different parts of the dark web. Torch is one of the oldest and most well-known dark web search engines, providing access to a vast index of .onion websites.
Can You Access The Dark Web With A VPN?
Additionally, if you are on a clear net, a VPN will give you access to blocked websites and content. This particular search engine was built by Hugbunt3r, a prominent member of the popular Dread service on the dark web. However, speaking based on personal experience, its search results are not impressive. For instance, I wanted to know Twitter’s onion URL, a very simple piece of information. Yet, it reported everything but that showing how far these search engines have to go in order to improve.
However, engaging in illicit activities on the dark web is illegal—just as it would be anywhere else—and punishable by law. Not Evil has more than 32 million websites and addresses indexed from Tor servers, as well as more than 14 million onion links. The Not Evil search engine is a not-for-profit operation, and it relies on a community of volunteers who report false results and log “abusive” sites. A VPN encrypts your online activity and shields private information such as your IP address, providing an additional layer of security and anonymity online. Although many dark web search engines do not track your activity, if you don’t use a VPN with Tor your ISP may be able to see your activity and hackers may be able to follow you online. You might have arrived here through Google, but you’ll be hard pressed to use Google to get to the dark web.
The 12 Best Deep Search Engines
In some cases, they even require JavaScript activation or specific browser settings that are only supported through Tor or other compatible dark web browsers. Freenet is a peer-to-peer platform designed for censorship-resistant and anonymous communication. This dark web browser utilizes a decentralized distributed data store to deliver information. Freenet has a “darknet” mode that allows connections only to registered “trusted” nodes, differentiating it from other anonymous networks.
It’s very easy to click on something and go down a rabbit hole of the Internet you probably don’t want to visit. We do not recommend venturing into prohibited, unethical sites on the Dark Web. When you find nasty content, just close all the windows, and Tor will erase your records. If you’re worried about the searches you’ve done on Google, learn how to delete your Google search history. At the end of the day, searching on the Deep Web should be done cautiously.
Quick Comparison Table: The Dark Web Search Engine Features
This added layer of security keeps your identity hidden and shields you from online threats. The World Wide Web Virtual Library is one of the oldest and most reliable online resources. This library provides an array of topics with many information sites that are part of the deep web. For example, this is the place to start if you want to study scientific research, historical documents, or specialized databases. Accessible as a well-maintained library, it leads you to the internet’s best-kept secrets.
Avira Internet Security
However, when I searched for a specific blockchain-related forum, Ahmia returned only two results, and I had to use Torch for broader coverage. Use robust antivirus software (e.g., Bitdefender, Malwarebytes) to scan downloads. Run Tor in a sandboxed environment (e.g., Tails OS on a USB drive) to isolate activity from your main system. As we enter 2025, these tools are adapting with improved security and functionality to meet user needs. It is designed to ensure user anonymity while offering access to a diverse array of information available on the dark web.
