If you have never visited the dark web, you might still be mystified by its secret nature. However, once you realize that it is visited by 2.5 million people daily, you understand it’s not that secret anymore. Over the past few years, the number of people who use the dark net daily has increased. By 2028, the global dark web intelligence market size is expected to reach $1.3 billion.
This clearly shows that the dark net is slowly becoming part of mainstream internet usage. Most of this is because people have started to focus more on internet privacy, and because users have realized that not everything on the dark net is illegal. Around 40% of the websites on the dark net are involved in selling legal goods. So you might be able to find some rare items that you would have trouble finding on the surface web.
If you are curious about the dark net and you want to check out why 2.5 million people from around the globe visit the dark net daily, then this article would help you by providing the right way to visit the top dark web sites in 2025. However, keep in mind that even though more and more people visit the dark net every year, the risks and dangers are still there, so be cautious while visiting the dark net.
Visiting the Top Dark Web Sites In 2025
No one can be sure about the total number of sites on the dark net however, experts believe that there are somewhere around 30000 websites on the dark net. Out of these 30000, there are a few that are visited by people every day. These top dark net sites include DuckDuckGo, Facebook, The Hidden Wiki, Proton Mail, ProPublica, Wasabi Wallet, BBC Tor Mirror, and several others.
All of these websites serve unique and different purposes, but not all visitors on the dark net go there to do something. Some are just curious. Whether you are someone who needs to check out some of the top sites mentioned above or if you are just another curious dark net visitor, then here’s how you can safely visit these sites in 2025.
Download a Privacy-Focused Browser Like Tor
The dark net cannot be accessed on mainstream browsers like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. You need a very special browser to access dark net links. This is where Tor is useful. Tor was developed by the American Navy for secure communication; however, it is also available commercially. The purpose of making it commercially available was for people to bypass government censorship, especially in countries where human rights violations are committed by dictators.
These days, it is used for the above-mentioned purposes, but in addition, it has also become a favorite of people who want to visit the dark net. There are some other alternatives available, but none of those are as potent as Tor.
Once you have downloaded Tor, you shouldn’t just start visiting onion sites. You need to be fully secure before you can do that. Go to the settings options and see what configurations would make you feel more secure when you are on the dark net. This would add just one layer of security, and you need several more.
Get a Premium Quality VPN
You don’t need a VPN to access the dark net, but still, you can say that it is equally as important as the Tor browser. Accessing the dark net links without a VPN can cause a lot of problems for you, which you might regret. If you don’t use a VPN, your location can be exposed to hackers and other criminals on the dark net.
If you are serious about checking out the dark net, then those free VPNs wouldn’t be of much help. While it is true that they can mask your location, they don’t come with enough security features to provide complete safety. For that, you need to spend a few bucks and get a premium quality VPN that provides high levels of security, smoother connectivity, and accuracy in whatever location you want to set. Some VPN programs come with a security suite, so you might get other beneficial security software at the same price.
Get Tails Operating System
Downloading the Tor browser and using it with a VPN can offer a basic level of security that is needed to access the dark web. However, if you can get your hands on the Tails OS, then that can be ideal for you. Tails completely revolutionizes the way people access the dark net. It adds a very strong layer of security to your device.
Tails is a portable operating system that can be booted from a USB drive on any computer and at any time. This is why people usually try to use it on devices that are available to the public, like in Internet Cafes. However, most cafes usually don’t allow it.
All you have to do is plug the USB into a computer and boot the device from there. It would open a completely different operating system from your usual Windows operating system. It usually comes with Tor installed on it. So you can access the dark net from there, and once you are done, unplug the USB and reboot the system normally. You would see no trace of you visiting the dark net on your normal operating system. However, this does not mean you can be careless with the things you download from the dark net while using Tails.
Tails does not download anything on your device unless you ask it to. So if you download anything from the dark net and then copy it to a USB drive, then use that same USB on another Windows device like your home computer, there is a chance that a virus might get transferred to your other device. This brings us to the next point of using a dedicated device for accessing the dark net.
Use a Dedicated Device
Another great step you can take to securely visit dark web sites in 2025 is to have a dedicated device for accessing the dark net. Ideally, you should get a new device with all the latest security features. Using your older devices that you don’t use anymore can be risky, as they might still have some of your data in the system files. In addition, the older devices might not be as secure as the newer ones.
If you use a laptop or mobile phone to access your social media, personal email, work email, or any other important platform, then it is of the utmost importance that you never access the dark net on the same device. Let’s say you access the dark internet on the same device, and a hacker (unknowing to you) installs malware in your system to steal your passwords. Once the malware is active, all your passwords from your social media, personal email, work emails, and other information would be exposed to the hacker, who can then either sell the info on the dark net or extort money from you by keeping your passwords and files ransom.
Starting with a clean slate can be the best thing in this scenario. A new device might be relatively expensive, but all the modern security features in it would make it worth your while. You don’t have to buy anything fancy; just make sure it has advanced security features and is compatible with other security programs you are planning on using. Speaking of another security program, let’s talk about a couple of other programs that will help you safely visit the dark web in 2025.
Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware Programs
Visiting the dark web without having powerful anti-virus and anti-malware tools on your device is equivalent to inviting hackers to steal your data and destroy your device with malicious viruses and malware. Many tech companies offer free versions or free trials of their anti-virus and anti-malware programs. While they might offer some security, they aren’t good long-term options. Security concerns are big on the dark net, so it is best to go with the full version that gives you all the amazing features you need. Visiting the dark internet is free, but the consequences can be costly for you. So the sensible thing to do is to spend a reasonable amount on upfront cost in protecting your device and your data. In short, if you want to visit the dark net most securely, you will have to spend money.
A good portion of that money should go into buying powerful anti-virus and anti-malware programs. Criminals can purchase 1000 high-quality malware attacks for around $5000 on the dark net. You cannot fight premium-quality malware with free programs.
Make sure to get the latest versions of these programs, and the older versions might be almost the same as having no protection. Criminals on the dark internet are becoming very innovative in developing viruses and malware. These days, they can customize the malware according to the victim. So when the criminals are becoming so innovative, an older version of the anti-virus might not be able to detect a new and customized virus. You must have the most up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware programs. If the company rolls out a new update, you should update it right away.
What to Do When You Are Ready?
Once you have all the protection in place, you can run Tor and access the dark web. If you have the link, you want to check out the place that link in the search bar and press Enter. You will be taken to your desired dark net link. If you don’t have the link, then you can make your way to the Hidden Wiki. The Hidden Wiki is a directory of dark net links where you can find several different links for different products and services. For example, if you were looking to buy a rare book, you might see a link for a few bookstores on the Hidden Wiki. It makes navigating the dark net easy, but just because a link is on the hidden wiki does not mean that it is authentic.
If you are looking for research material, you can check out ProPublica, or you can just search for it on DuckDuckGo, which is the most popular search engine on the dark net.
A Few Great Tips While Visiting the Dark Web In 2025
Make a plan of action before you access the dark net. Think about what you are looking for and don’t stray from your objective. So, for example, if you were looking to buy any electronic device from the dark net. Then you should access the dark web, and check out electronic stores; once you have made the order, you should get out.
Keep your sessions short and only visit the sites you had already planned to. The more you stay on the dark net, the more vulnerable your device gets, as it gives more chances for hackers to bypass security and get into your system. Try your best not to click on any links that you are not supposed to. If you accessed the dark net to buy a computer program, then only download that; don’t download anything else that isn’t important. After you are off the dark net, make sure to run extensive scans on the downloaded file before you access it.
The Year 2025 Will Make the Dark Web More Mainstream
If you follow all the above-mentioned tips and take all the necessary precautions mentioned here, you will be able to visit the dark web more safely and securely. Even after all this, you have to be consciously aware of all the risks of the dark net.
Visiting the top dark net sites in 2025 has become easier than ever before, and people who have never visited the dark net before can easily do it by downloading a few programs. People have started to understand that there are a lot of advantages to using these dark web sites in 2025.