The dark web doesn't have a great reputation. Dodgy online marketplaces, criminal gangs, terrorist groups—it sounds like the type of place that only the most troubled members of society would want to hang out.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, that type of content exists. But there are also plenty of dark web websites that you might actually like. Curious? Keep reading; we're going to look at some of the best dark web websites to visit.

1. The Hidden Wiki

the-hidden-wiki-1

Dark Web Link: http://paavlaytlfsqyvkg3yqj7hflfg5jw2jdg2fgkza5ruf6lplwseeqtvyd.onion/

The Hidden Wiki is one of the most famous dark web sites and is often the first place that new users gravitate to.

It's a directory of other dark web sites and acts as a jumping-off point for people who want to explore what the dark web has to offer.

The links are divided into 14 categories. They are Editor's Picks, Volunteer, Introduction Points, Financial Services, Commercial Services, Drugs, Chans, Privacy Services, Email, Blogs, Hacking, News, Open Source, and Others.

2. Illinois Institute of Technology Tunnels

Illinois Institute of Technology Tunnels

Dark Web Link: http://62gs2n5ydnyffzfy.onion/

Old buildings are jammed with hidden tunnels, old air vents, and disused entrances. One such group of buildings is the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

An unnamed individual has explored all the tunnels and posted the findings to his site. He's even managed to get onto sealed rooftops and photographed the results.

The site is packed with maps, photos, diary entries, guides, explanations, and more. It's one of the best dark web sites to visit if you want to waste a couple of hours.

3. ProPublica

propublica

Dark Web Link: https://p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion/

In 2016, the online news site ProPublica launched a dark web version of its website. In doing so, it became the first mainstream news organization to have a presence on the Tor network.

According to Mike Tigas, the ProPublica developer who built the dark web site, it was China's online censorship that initially inspired the decision. The company wanted to protect itself in case it ever found itself banned in restrictive territories.

ProPublica also wanted to give its readers more control over ad tracking and other forms of surveillance:

"It's a very conscious decision that we have to make as an organization to decide that we want to do this. I think we all agree that letting our users choose what types of metadata they leave behind is a positive for us."

4. Mixabit

mixabit

Dark Web Link: http://hqfld5smkr4b4xrjcco7zotvoqhuuoehjdvoin755iytmpk4sm7cbwad.onion/

It is a common misconception that Bitcoin is entirely anonymous. While there are cryptocurrencies out there that are anonymous, Bitcoin is not one of them. Using on-chain analytics and known wallet addresses, it is not overly complicated for a knowledgeable user to be able to track the history of coins back to a specific person.

The solution is to use mixer services. They send coins through myriad wallets and addresses, using different amounts, to make it much harder for someone (or a government) to trace.

Mixabit has no fees for amounts smaller than 0.01 BTC, does not collect personal data, and can even be used as a hot wallet.

5. CTemplar

armoured email

Dark Web Link: http://ctemplarpizuduxk3fkwrieizstx33kg5chlvrh37nz73pv5smsvl6ad.onion/

CTemplar is a dark web email service. Some of its key features include entirely anonymous usage (no personal data is needed for an account, and no data is saved by the provider), encrypted emails, a built-in kill switch, open-source code, and dedicated servers in Iceland.

We especially like the anonymous bit; staying anonymous on the dark web is essential for your safety. The Iceland aspect is also important, as the country has some of the strongest data protection laws in the world.

Google Play and Apple App Store apps are available.

6. Facebook

facebook dark web

Dark Web Link: https://www.facebookwkhpilnemxj7asaniu7vnjjbiltxjqhye3mhbshg7kx5tfyd.onion/

If you're a Facebook user, it makes sense to access the service using the official portal on the dark web. The Tor version of the site has been live since 2016 and is mainly aimed at people from countries where Facebook access if blocked.

However, privacy-conscious users in Europe and the US will also find value. Because the site is on the dark web, it does not keep logs, use tracking cookies, or monitor your usage through the usual channels. It's a much safer way of using a service that's known to have a laissez-faire attitude with users' data.

7. Beneath VT

beneath vt

Dark Web Link: http://74ypjqjwf6oejmax.onion/

Beneath VT is similar to the Illinois Institute of Technology Tunnels site. It is dedicated to the exploration of the steam tunnels that run below the campus.

You'll find log entries, maps, videos, and an extensive list of the dangers that the various tunnels can pose to people who enter them.

Who knew that exploring old university tunnels could be so much fun?! It's just another example of all the cool stuff on the deep web that you'll find with a bit of digging.

8. The Hub

the hub

Dark Web Link: http://thehubwav7canwaq7trm6zl3tqvkf2kwbkgwvwonfssvgvtyrdy4u3yd.onion/

The Hub is another of the best dark web websites to visit. Indeed, it is one of the dark web's most popular social forums.

You'll need to register before you gain access to the boards. Once you're in, however, you will have access to discussions on a wide variety of topics, including general news, dark web marketplaces, crypto, and more.

9. Common Sense by Thomas Paine

thomas paine dark web

Dark Web Link: http://duskgytldkxiuqc6.onion/comsense.html

First published in January 1776 during the early days of the American Revolution, Common Sense by Thomas Paine became one of the most important documents in the country's history. Written for people who wanted the 13 colonies to break free from British rule, it made a compelling moral and political case for independence.

Relative to the size of the population (2.5 million) at the time, it is still the book with the most sales and widest circulation in American history.

Although the book is still in print today, you don't need to buy it. Thanks to this dark web website, you can read the entire text for free.

10. 8chan

Dark Web Link: http://4usoivrpy52lmc4mgn2h34cmfiltslesthr56yttv2pxudd3dapqciyd.onion/

8chan is a successor to 4chan. The site is no longer available on the regular web, but you can still access it via the dark web. The site allows anyone to create an imageboard on the site, even if you do not have any coding skills.

Some of the most popular boards on the site include Video Games, Cake, Comics and Cartoons, and Politically Incorrect.

Warning: 8chan is not for the faint-hearted. Some of the content will be offensive to certain communities.

11. CryptoStorm

cryptostorm

Dark Web Link: http://stormwayszuh4juycoy4kwoww5gvcu2c4tdtpkup667pdwe4qenzwayd.onion/

CryptoStorm is one of the best VPN providers on the dark web.

Some of the service's features that will appeal to privacy-conscious users include a no-logs policy, support for multi-hop chains, public server-side configurations, hashed tokens, and a decentralized approach to the business (with no central office or obvious headquarters).

The service supports OpenVPN ECC, OpenVPN RSA, and WireGuard.

12. Spyware Watchdog

spyware-watchdog-1

Dark Web Link: http://spywaredrcdg5krvjnukp3vbdwiqcv3zwbrcg6qh27kiwecm4qyfphid.onion/

These days, far too many apps have spyware hidden within them. Spyware Watchdog lists and categorizes those apps so that you, the user, can avoid them.

Click on the Articles tab at the top of the page, and you will see the apps divided into browsers, content platforms, messaging apps, search engines, games, media players, and random software.

If you click on an app's name, you will see a detailed breakdown of the app's spyware issues.

13. Darknetlive

darknetlive

Dark Web Link: http://darkzzx4avcsuofgfez5zq75cqc4mprjvfqywo45dfcaxrwqg6qrlfid.onion/

Darkweblive is a site dedicated to bringing you all the latest news for the world of the dark web.

News categories are divided into Arrests, Markets, Forums, Onions, and Shops. Click on each tab to see the appropriate news for the section.

14. Comic Book Library

comic book library

Dark Web Link: http://nv3x2jozywh63fkohn5mwp2d73vasusjixn3im3ueof52fmbjsigw6ad.onion/

If you are a fan of old comics, this is definitely a dark web site worth checking out. It has more than 2,400 editions of old and classic comics for you to dig into and read.

The tabs at the top of the page make it easy to find titles and series you are looking for you. You can search by publisher, year, creator, tags, and more.

15. Welcome to the Game

welcome to the game

We end with something a bit different—a game about the dark web that you can buy on Steam. The dark web game is a horror-meets-puzzle game. The goal is to find the “Red Room” in which a murder is taking place.

To find the room, the player has to solve a series of mysteries and brainteasers while avoiding hackers and kidnappers. It sounds a bit gruesome, but it's surprisingly good fun and has a stream of positive reviews on the Steam platform.

No one really knows for sure whether red rooms exist on the dark web. We explored the idea more closely when we looked at some of the security reasons to avoid the dark web.

Enjoy the Dark Web, But Stay Vigilant

The sites in our list all show the good side of the dark web. They are fun sites that you can spend some time exploring and learning from. However, as we said in the introduction, the dark web is still full of dangers.

When you're browsing the dark web, make sure you stay alert to scams, viruses, and extreme content. You need to be even more vigilant than you would be on the regular web.