Most "hidden wiki" pages are the same list copied a thousand times: half the addresses are dead and a good share of the rest are phishing clones that look identical to the real thing. The list above is short because we only keep addresses we can tie back to the people who run them. News outlets, search engines, email providers, libraries, Linux mirrors and whistleblowing drop boxes. No markets.
Everything else on this site is reference material. The wiki covers how Tor actually works, how onion services are built and hosted, the history of the dark web from Silk Road onwards, and the scams that catch people out. If you've never used Tor, read What Is Tor? first and the mistakes that give people away second.
Sections running from first steps with Tor Browser to the Tor protocol itself.
Getting Tor Browser running and using it without tripping over the usual mistakes.
Read articles → 02Circuits, relays, directory authorities and the attacks researchers keep finding.
Read articles → 03How .onion sites work, and how to run one without leaking your server.
Read articles → 04What the dark web is, what it isn't, and how people find their way around it.
Read articles → 05Threat models, fingerprinting, leaks, PGP and keeping identities separate.
Read articles → 06Tails, Whonix, Qubes, OnionShare, Briar, VeraCrypt and friends.
Read articles → 07From the Naval Research Lab to Silk Road, AlphaBay and Hydra.
Read articles → 08Phishing mirrors, exit scams, fake downloads and what to do when your data leaks.
Read articles → 09Why Bitcoin isn't anonymous, how chain analysis works, Monero and wallets.
Read articles → 10Bridges, Snowflake, obfs4, WebTunnel and Tor in China, Russia and Iran.
Read articles → A-ZEvery term from .onion to zero-knowledge proof, each with its own short explainer.
Browse terms → .onionThe directory above, split by topic, with notes on what to watch for in each kind of service.
Browse categories →The pages that cover what most people need to know before opening an onion link.
A rotating pick from across the wiki: the technical side, the history, and the things that go wrong.
Short definitions, linked to the longer articles. See the full glossary.
A name used by lots of different link directories for .onion sites. There was never one official version, which is why there are so many copies, and why so many of them are full of dead and fake links. The full story is in What the Hidden Wiki Is and its history.
You need Tor Browser. Chrome, Safari and Firefox can't resolve .onion addresses on their own. Download it only from torproject.org, because fake versions exist.
In most countries, no. Using Tor and visiting onion sites is legal; what you do there is covered by the same laws as anything else online. A handful of governments restrict or block Tor. See Is Browsing the Dark Web Illegal? and Where Is Tor Legal?
Compare the whole address, not just the start and end, against something the operator publishes: their clearnet website, an Onion-Location header, or a PGP-signed message. Then bookmark it. Here's the full method.
Usually not. A VPN can hide the fact you're using Tor from your ISP, but bridges do the same job without adding another company you have to trust. The trade-offs are in Tor vs VPN.
Because we only list services whose addresses we can check, and we don't list markets. Long lists look impressive and are mostly dead links and phishing mirrors. If you'd like more, browse the categories or use an onion search engine.
This website is provided for informational and educational purposes only. We do not endorse, promote, or encourage any illegal activities. The links listed on this directory are compiled from publicly available sources and are provided "as is" without any warranties of any kind.
thehidden2wiki.org and its administrators are not responsible for:
• Any loss, damage, or harm resulting from the use of this website or any linked services
• The content, accuracy, legality, or availability of any external websites linked herein
• Any transactions, communications, or interactions conducted through listed services
• Any financial losses, data breaches, or security incidents arising from third-party sites
• Any legal consequences resulting from accessing or using any linked resources
By using this website, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and agree to hold harmless the website and its administrators from any claims, damages, or liabilities. Users are solely responsible for ensuring their activities comply with applicable laws in their jurisdiction.