Dark web tools
The tools people use to navigate and stay private on the dark web — search engines, browsers, and the privacy toolkit — explained honestly.
Dark web search engines
How they work, why DuckDuckGo's onion isn't one, and why to verify results.
ToolsPrivacy tools
Tails, the amnesic incognito live system that routes all traffic through Tor; encrypted email via OpenPGP or S/MIME; PGP for signing, encrypting, and key management; Monero for private, untraceable payments — and how to combine them safely without leaking metadata.
ToolsDark web on phone
Tor Browser on Android, Onion Browser on iPhone, and the higher stakes.
Tools — common questions
What tools do you need for the dark web?
At minimum, the Tor Browser (or Onion Browser on iPhone). Beyond that, a search tool like Ahmia to find sites, and for higher-stakes privacy, Tails, PGP and Monero. For ordinary reading, Tor Browser alone is enough.
Is there a Google for the dark web?
Not really. Dark web search engines exist but index only a fraction of sites and are full of scams and dead links. DuckDuckGo's onion searches the ordinary web privately — it's not a dark web index.
What is the best dark web browser?
The official Tor Browser on desktop and Android, and Onion Browser on iPhone. These are the only browsers the Tor Project makes or endorses; most other ‘dark web browser’ apps are low-quality or malicious.