You may have heard of it before: the mysterious dark web. It can spark curiosity and apprehension simultaneously. So, what is the dark web? And what kind of websites can be found on it? Here's a list of some of the most interesting dark web sites to visit.

It's true that the Dark Web and the Deep Web are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. The Deep Web refers to all parts of the internet that are not indexed by search engines, such as databases, private networks, and password-protected sites. This includes a wide range of content, such as medical records, government documents, and online banking sites. The Dark Web, also known as the "darknet," is a small subset of the larger Deep Web that is deliberately hidden and can only be accessed using specialized software, such as the Tor browser. The Dark Web is often associated with illegal activities such as drug trafficking, hacking, and the sale of stolen personal information, but it is important to note that the vast majority of the Deep Web is not associated with illegal activities and is used for legitimate purposes such as online privacy and secure communication.

It's important to note that accessing the Dark Web carries significant risks and should be done with caution. It is not recommended to access the Dark Web without proper knowledge and always use Tor browser with VPN to protect your identity.

Here are the best dark net sites you can visit today.

Onion URL: http://zqktlwiuavvvqqt4ybvgvi7tyo4hjl5xgfuvpdf6otjiycgwqbym2qad.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

To visit a .onion site, you'll have to both know it exists and have its URL ready. There are a few ways to find active .onion sites. One of them is by using a directory of sites, like The Hidden Wiki.

Some sites are perfectly legit—such as domain services and email providers. Some—like whistleblowing—may face government censorship in your country. Others cross the divide into illegality. Make sure you're smart about which dark web links you click on.

You can access Facebook via the dark web by using the official Facebook .onion mirror. Doing so has two primary benefits.

Firstly, you can create and use an account anonymously. You can use Facebook's services without exposing yourself to the company's privacy-eroding tentacles. Secondly, if Facebook is blocked in your location, you can use the dark web Facebook mirror to circumvent the censorship.

Onion URL: http://digdeep4orxw6psc33yxa2dgmuycj74zi6334xhxjlgppw6odvkzkiad.onion/

The name of the website says it all. It mainly discusses security topics like the safest browsers and email providers you should use.

You will find a number of articles on different topics (mostly tech-related) with quite a lot of supporting evidence. If you have a curious mind, you are likely to find Dig Deeper interesting.

Onion URL: https://p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion

ProPublica was one of the first major news outlets to launch a dark web version of its site back in 2016.

ProPublica is a non-profit news organization that aims to "expose abuses of power and betrayals of the public trust by government, business, and other institutions, using the moral force of investigative journalism."

One of its journalists, Hannah Dreier, won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for her coverage of gangs in Los Angeles. It was ProPublica's fifth Pulitzer Prize.

Onion URL: https://duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion/

DuckDuckGo is one of the leading private internet search engines on the open web. It doesn't track your browsing history, location, or any other data. It's so secure and privacy-oriented that the Tor browser uses it as the default search engine.

However, there's also a dark web version of the search engine. It's a great dark web search engine that affords users an extra layer of protection and anonymity.

Onion URL: http://keybase5wmilwokqirssclfnsqrjdsi7jdir5wy7y7iu3tanwmtp6oid.onion/

If you don't want to trust the dark web version of Facebook, you could try an entirely dark web-based social network.

One that's worth checking out is Keybase. You can create groups with friends and family, and all the documents, photos, or videos you share are stored with end-to-end encryption. The application uses public-key cryptography to ensure the chats stay private.

Onion URL: dreadytofatroptsdj6io7l3xptbet6onoyno2yv7jicoxknyazubrad.onion

Reddit has dominated the "forum-meets-news" space for more than a decade, but a string of controversies, an influx of new users, and ongoing censorship accusations have seen the site lose of charm in recent years.

Consider Dread as the Reddit of the dark web. We used to have Hidden Answers as well, but that site no longer works, and this one's the perfect replacement for any queries you may have. It's one of the few darknet sites you can use to gather reliable resources.

Whether you're looking for personal advice while shopping on the dark web or you want to discuss a wide range of topics, Dread has you covered. And unlike Reddit, this darknet site offers its users complete anonymity.

Onion URL: http://http://mail2torjgmxgexntbrmhvgluavhj7ouul5yar6ylbvjkxwqf6ixkwyd.onion/

Email is one of the least secure communication systems; the email providers have access to the contents of your inbox. For evidence, look no further than the way Google automatically adds travel information, meetings, and other diary entries onto your calendar.

Mail2Tor is an alternative email provider. It lets anyone send and receive email anonymously via webmail or with an email client.

All messages are encrypted, and the company does not log your IP address.

Onion URL: https://onionname.com/

Just like how you need a domain name to host a site on the open web, you need a domain name if you want to host your own .onion website. You can get a nonsensical domain for free, but you will need to pay if you want a vanity URL.

Because of how the network operates, you cannot purchase an onion domain from a regular registrar like GoDaddy. Instead, you will have to use a specialist service. OnionName is one such service.

Onion URL: http://s4k4ceiapwwgcm3mkb6e4diqecpo7kvdnfr5gg7sph7jjppqkvwwqtyd.onion/

OnionLinks is an alternative site to The Hidden Wiki. It provides a list of dark net sites across endless categories. You can rely on this .onion site if The Hidden Wiki goes down temporarily or permanently.

Although there is some crossover, the list of sites on OnionLinks is broadly different from those on The Hidden Wiki. Given the regularity with which .onions sites go offline and disappear, the more directory sites you know about, the better.