Such data includes medical records, financial information, research papers, private forums and networks, and other content. Other dark web search engines worth investigating are Ahmia, Torch, NotEvil, and the Onion URL Directory—just type out some keywords for what you’re looking for. Some of these sites can be found through regular web browsers, but you’ll then need to switch over to Tor once you’ve got the onion links you want to follow. The dark web, which is what I’m discussing here, is a small subset of the deep web, and refers to websites that are specifically trying to stay out of sight. It’s a part of the internet that’s less regulated and more shadowy, for better and for worse. Most dark web marketplaces use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for transactions to help maintain anonymity.
Sci-hub has more than 80 million research documents, and more than 80% of the database contains journal research articles. Since these pages would otherwise be behind paywalls, it stands to reason that this would go against copyright laws. The Imperial Library currently holds around 1.5 million books, some of which may be hosted illegally, and thus, their consumption might violate copyright laws. To protect yourself against any legal repercussions, you should consider using NordVPN. Therefore, you will always find updated search results while using this service.
What Are Onion Sites And How Do I Access Them?
Exodus Marketplace started to become popular after the shutdown of Genesis Market, and it replaced it successfully. It claims to control more than 7,000 bots from 190+ countries, with data prices ranging from $3 to $10, based on the quality it offers. The marketplace has a simple interface, lets users filter logs easily, and accepts Bitcoin, Monero, and Litecoin for payments. Want to get illegal drugs, fake passports, Trojan, or other cyber attack software? He incorrectly believed he would never be caught for his activities with Silk Road.
Popular Dark Web Marketplaces Of Today – Detailed List

So, if a “business opportunity” sounds too perfect, it probably is. Surprisingly, most guns on the darknet actually start as legal products. The UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) maintains that almost all firearms are originally manufactured through legal means. So, what even is this dark web, and why are these marketplaces present there?
Another dark net marketplace that has grabbed a lot of attention is the Hydra market. The entire website is in Russian, but the vendors are present worldwide. It accepts payments through Bitcoin and the Escrow system and ensures that your identity remains anonymous during your purchases. Below are the best marketplaces on the dark net that we hand-picked after going through multiple shops and doing extensive research. Since the dark web can be accessed through the Tor browser, use a VPN with the Tor browser to ensure increased protection. A VPN hides the fact that you’re using Tor, which is blocked in some countries and always raises doubts because of its criminal reputation.
Is The Dark Web Illegal?
All this activity, this vision of a bustling marketplace, might make you think that navigating the dark web is easy. The place is as messy and chaotic as you would expect when everyone is anonymous, and a substantial minority are out to scam others. Medical records, fee-based content, membership websites, and confidential corporate web pages are just a few examples of what makes up the deep web.
Tor Links
Law enforcement agencies and cyber threat intelligence specialists also use the dark web. Wherever you go online, but especially if you’re on dark web websites, using a VPN helps you secure your communication data and protect personal information you send or receive. Avast SecureLine VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic to help block hackers and keep snoops out. Install Avast SecureLine VPN today to browse safely and securely, wherever your online travels take you. Most dark web links are hosted on “.onion” domains due to the sensitive nature of the businesses or services they host. Tor websites may provide secure access to cryptocurrency wallets and anonymous email clients, and they’re also used to access black market sites.
How Brandefense Helps Mitigate These Threats

Buyers paid in bitcoins, held by a Silk Road escrow service until confirmation of delivery. Authorities seized 174,000 bitcoins when the site was shut down in October 2013. The value of a bitcoin is subjected to extreme fluctuation and fell from $145 to $109 that month. In December 2014, the advocacy group Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA) reported Silk Road 2.0 had slipped from number one in darknet commerce by the time of its shutdown.

Awazon Marketplace is the leading dark-web marketplace that claims to provide a secure destination for anonymous trading. The site also uses strong encryption to protect against cyberattackers, such as anti-DDoS protection. It doesn’t use JavaScript, which goes a long way toward keeping you anonymous.
- Instead, they are designed using a cryptographic key and can be accessed only through software like the Tor browser.
- It’s also a marketplace for digital mercenaries; you’ll find everything from solo hackers offering their skills to well-organized groups that take on more complex or high-stakes projects.
- Privacy advocates speculated that the FBI leveraged an experimental attack on Tor by Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) researchers in early 2014.
- Onion sites are websites on the dark web that use the ‘.onion’ top-level domain.
- Even platforms like Netflix, which require paid access, are technically part of the Deep Web.
BBC Tor Mirror
Just Another Library is home to more than a million books that have been broken into over 40 categories for easy searching. You can find everything from fantasy novels to self-help books—as well as literature about traveling, biographies, and anything else that takes your fancy. You can head over to Archive Today to look at snapshots taken by other users. Alternatively, you can take a snapshot of a web page that you consider important and want to ensure is archived for freedom of information purposes. The great thing about sharing via the Dark Web on SecureDrop is that users can do so without fear of persecution and without the possibility of being tracked down and punished. First, check out our beginner’s guide on how to use Tor, then come back when you’re ready to get started.
Making Cybercrime Easy For Anyone
It’s huge, making up about 90% of the internet, but it’s mostly mundane, hidden behind login screens for privacy and security. Although profiting from pirated copyrighted material is unethical and illegal, there are some exceptions to using copyrighted material, such as a “private study” provision under UK law. The CIA is contactable on the dark web, providing a completely anonymous way to get in touch with them.

Criminal Hacking Services
They use unique addresses that end with .onion, which are not available on search engines. The dark net is famous for being a hub of black market websites for buying and selling products and services. Mega Market is a new yet popular shop on the dark web that reached a skyrocketing reputation after the closure of the Hydra market.
Dark Web News And Media
The Tor browser allowed Internet users to remain anonymous by routing message traffic through a maze-like network of computers. The darknet protected political dissent around the world but also facilitates criminal e-commerce. The United States government set up the Tor system to enable secure Internet use in intelligence operations. Operating like a black-market version of eBay, Silk Road processed $1.2 billion in sales to more than one million customers before being shut down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2013.
The legality depends on your activities and your country’s specific laws regarding darknet use. Yes, the darknet still exists and continues to operate through networks like Tor, I2P, and Freenet. While law enforcement regularly shuts down illegal marketplaces, the underlying infrastructure remains functional. New darknet sites and markets continuously emerge to replace those that get shut down.