A Beginner’s Guide to Accessing the Darknet and Visiting a .onion Website
The “darknet” refers to parts of the internet that are not indexed by regular search engines and can only be accessed using special tools. One of the most well‑known darknet networks is Tor (The Onion Router). Tor allows you to browse websites with the .onion extension, which are hidden from the regular web for privacy and security reasons. While the darknet has a reputation for illegal activities, it also hosts many legitimate resources such as privacy‑focused forums, whistleblowing platforms, and independent journalism sites.
1. Install the Tor Browser
To access a .onion site, you first need the Tor Browser, which is based on Firefox but configured to connect through the Tor network. Download it only from the official Tor Project website
(https://www.torproject.org). Choose the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android) and follow the installation instructions.
2. Start the Tor Browser and Connect to the Network
Once installed, open the Tor Browser. On first launch, you will see a “Connect” button. Click it to let the browser connect to the Tor network. In most countries, the default connection settings will work fine. After a short loading process, the browser will open and you’ll be connected to the darknet.
3. Navigating to a .onion Address
.onion addresses are not like normal web URLs — they often look like random strings of letters and numbers, such as http://exampleonion123.onion. You need to know the exact address to visit it, as .onion sites are not listed in regular search engines. To find legal .onion sites, you can use trusted directories like the
Tor Project’s official resources
or reputable onion link lists such as
TorPilot
or
The Hidden Wiki
(be cautious, as some directories may link to unsafe sites).
4. Staying Safe on the Darknet
Only visit .onion addresses from reliable sources, and avoid clicking suspicious links. Do not download unknown files or share personal information. Tor hides your IP address, but you should still be careful — malicious websites may try to exploit browser vulnerabilities. Keep your Tor Browser up to date and consider using additional privacy tools, such as disabling JavaScript in the browser settings for extra protection.
5. Example Visit
If you have a .onion link from a trusted source, simply paste it into the Tor Browser’s address bar and press Enter. The page may load slower than normal websites because Tor routes your traffic through multiple relays to protect your anonymity. Once loaded, you can browse it just like a normal website — but remember that your privacy depends on cautious behavior as much as on the Tor network itself.
