Using Onion Links and the Tor Browser in 2023
Although we will not focus on the specifics of how the dark web came to be or delve into its mechanics, it is important to know that onion routing and the TOR network are integral parts of the deep web. You cannot access websites on the dark web in 2023 without both the Tor browser and onion links.
By now, you are likely aware that the dark web is an encrypted and anonymous version of the World Wide Web. While there are a number of illegal websites and marketplaces present on the dark web, there are also legitimate ones – such as BBC News and The New York Times. Given its anonymity feature, people who value privacy tend to like the darkness surrounding this hidden place in cyberspace; however because it can only be accessed through special browsers (such as TOR), many don’t know where to start when they want explore what’s out there..
WHAT ARE ONION LINKS?
Onion links are simply differently formatted addresses that lead to websites and marketplaces on the dark web. These sites can be difficult to access without the proper software or know-how, but they offer a wealth of information and resources for those who are willing to look for them. For instance, you can see examples of the best onion links for 2023 on our homepage, which, after you download and install the Tor browser, you can simply paste the working onion links into your nav bar and check out all the best sites on the dark web.
If you are still clueless about how to actually open onion links, simply follow our guide.
- Download and install Tor
- Navigate to our homepage
- Find an onion link that looks interesting
- Copy/paste it into the Tor browser
- That’s it!
ONION ROUTING
Onion routing is a technique for maintaining anonymous browsing. It relies upon a complicated network of routing/mixing data through what amounts to a network of proxy servers. The website you find when following what is known as an onion link is basically a patchwork of data assembled through various routes and stations. The downside of onion routing is that it takes a while to generate web searches because the information is first ‘cut up’ before being re-pasted together.
Onion routing is a technique for anonymous communication over a computer network. Messages are first encrypted and then chopped into small pieces, which are individually sent through a series of servers called onion routers. The final router decrypts the message and reassembles it. Because each server knows only the location of the server immediately before it and the location of the server immediately after it, as well as the message’s original destination, onion routing is considered very secure.
TOR NETWORK
The second element of the dark web is known as TOR, which stands for The Onion Router. It’s a method that allows for anonymous connections between different users. One downloads and installs an onion proxy, which connects to the TOR network. After that, it’s encrypted randomly and routed through the network via multiple nodes before being transmitted to the searcher.
For your safety, you should use a VPN service in combination with the Tor browser to further protect your identity when opening onion links.