As the internet continues to grow, so do its complexities. A relatively recent addition to this complexity is something known as onion links. If you’re unfamiliar with what they are or why they matter, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

First things first – what even are onion links? Put simply, an onion link refers to a site that can only be accessed via the Tor network (short for The Onion Router). This means that it’s not indexed by regular search engines like Google; rather than using typical URLs ending in “.com” or other common domain extensions, these sites have a unique “.onion” extension.

There are currently two versions of onion routing in use: V1 and V2. Version 1 was created back when Tor was just starting out and uses SHA-1 encryption. However, due to vulnerabilities discovered within SHA-1 over time, version 2, which can be seen on the list of onion links on our homepage, uses more secure algorithms such as Ed25519 signatures.

So now that we know what .onion links actually refer to on a technical level…why should anyone care about them?

The answer lies largely in privacy concerns.

Because Tor routes your traffic through various nodes across the network, it can be much harder to trace your online activity back to you. This is especially valuable for individuals living in countries with strict internet censorship laws or those who wish to communicate or access information anonymously.

In addition, onion links can offer a higher level of security than traditional websites. Because they’re only accessible via the Tor network and use end-to-end encryption, it’s much more difficult for third parties (like hackers) to intercept sensitive data like credit card numbers or personal information.

Onion routing has also been used by journalists and whistleblowers as a way to share sensitive information without fear of being tracked down by authorities. As long as both parties are using anonymity tools like Tor correctly, they can communicate without leaving behind any evidence that could incriminate them.

Finally, some simply enjoy exploring the dark corners of the internet that aren’t easily indexed by regular search engines – though we should note that not all .onion sites have legal content. If you’re looking for more general info about how onion routing works, this is a good article to refer to.

Conclusion
While onion routing may seem mysterious and complex at first glance, understanding its basics is crucial for anyone looking to maintain privacy online. The unique “.onion” extension denotes sites that are accessible exclusively via Tor – meaning users must jump through additional hoops (and therefore care more about their privacy) to access them. Onion routing has value for a variety of reasons, including its ability to provide anonymity, security, and the freedom to explore parts of the internet that are otherwise hidden from view.

If you’re interested in exploring .onion links yourself, we recommend starting by downloading Tor and doing some research on best practices for using it safely. As with any tool designed for enhanced privacy or security online, caution is key – but used correctly, onion routing can be an incredibly valuable addition to your digital toolbox.