You don’t need Tor. You don’t need an .onion address. Today, some of the most dangerous corners of the internet are hiding inside an app already on your phone. Telegram has become the go-to platform for a growing dark web-adjacent ecosystem, where stolen data, cybercrime recruitment, dark content, and underground networks operate not in hidden...Read More

Table of Contents Close Table of Contents Key Takeaways: How to access the dark web safely Download and install the Tor browser. Configure the browser’s security and privacy features. Connect to a VPN. Explore the dark web securely. Facts & Expert Analysis What Is the Dark Web: The dark web is the smallest part of...Read More

Introduction January 9, 2026 — will certainly be remembered by many bad actors (and their direct and indirect associates), not just “hackers” or “hacktivists,” but also those involved in truly malicious activities. Today, shinyhunte[.]rs, a website named after the ShinyHunters extortion gang, was updated with a lengthy message and a leaked database containing all records...Read More

When you think of the deep web, what comes to mind? Illegal activity? Phishing and scams? Bitcoins? Well, you’d be kind of right…and kind of wrong. These are examples of things found in the dark web, a collection of websites that have hidden IP addresses and may require a specific software to access. The dark...Read More

Google has officially discontinued its Dark Web Report, the tool that alerted users when their personal information appeared in dark web breach databases. New scans stop on January 15, 2026, and on February 16, 2026, Google will permanently delete all data associated with the feature.  This does not mean Google.com or Google Accounts are going away. It means Google is...Read More

As of 2026, a small but active set of darknet markets continues to operate despite a wave of law enforcement seizures, exit scams, and voluntary shutdowns over the past 18 months. This guide covers the current status of the most significant dark web marketplaces,  including which are active, which have been taken down, and what...Read More

Finding the best dark web VPN means looking beyond basic encryption features. While the dark web conjures images of shady hackers and illicit deals, the reality is that Tor serves as an essential tool for journalists and whistleblowers who need secure communication channels. What’s true about the dark web is that there are fewer safety...Read More

If your data is on the dark web, it’s probably only a matter of time before it’s abused for fraud or account hijacking. Here’s what to do. 13 Jan 2026  •  , 6 min. read Contrary to popular belief, much of the dark web isn’t the den of digital iniquity that some commentators claim. In...Read More

The dark web has a bad reputation—one it has earned, at that. It’s a complex subsection of the web, and it’s not all bad by any means, but its nature does allow illicit and illegal activity to prosper anonymously. That’s why hackers choose the dark web as their point of sale for stolen user data:...Read More

A woman who volunteered to delve into the dark web over a two-day period shared her opinion on whether it lived up to its ‘sinister reputation’. It’s widely regarded as the internet’s version of the underworld and most people wouldn’t go near it with a ten foot pole – but you’ve got to admit, we’ve...Read More