In dictatorial countries that censor (large) parts of the internet, the dark web can offer a solution to access the news. Some great news websites that you can access on the dark web are the following:
- BBC mirror: Worldwide news from the BBC on the dark web
- New York Times mirror: Dark web version of the NYT website
- ProPublica mirror: Investigative journalism in the United States
- Archive Today mirror: Online storage of (old) web pages
- Secure Drop: Platform used for anonymously sharing news with journalists
- Flashlight: Worldwide news site that is exclusive to the dark web
- RosPravosudie (РосПравосудие): Russian website containing written court decisions
Keep in mind that these links will only work if you’re using a browser that can access the dark web, like the Tor browser.
Remember to always take safety precautions when visiting the dark web, whether you want to access the news or otherwise. We recommend getting a secure VPN, such as NordVPN, good antivirus software, and properly configuring the settings on your Tor browser.
For more information, you can read the complete article down below.
In a lot of countries, we take free access to news and information for granted. However, if you live in a place with a lot of censorship or an oppressive regime, you might not be able to read or listen to impartial (foreign) news at all. Maybe you worry about what will happen if your government finds out what will happy if you access information that’s critical of the regime.
Luckily, there is still a beacon of anonymity and online freedom: the dark web. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t just find illegal dark web markets, such as Silk Road, in this corner of the net.
There are many news sites available on the dark web where you can get real, impartial information about the current state of the world. A lot of legit news organizations even have a dark web version of their website. In this article, we’ll list some useful dark web news sites and tell you how to visit them safely.
How to Safely Access Dark Web News Sites
First things first: visiting the dark web comes with some security risks. Many dark web pages are not nearly as well-regulated as the surface web and are a preying ground for black-hat hackers and other criminals. Moreover, various kinds of scams and malware are all too common on many dark web pages.
This means you should take some extra precautions before visiting dark web pages. Here are a few of the most important measures to take when visiting the dark net. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however, so make sure to check out our full article on safely accessing the dark web if you’re unfamiliar with this section of the internet!
As for the bare minimum tips we want to give you here, they are the following:
- Configure the security settings of your Tor browser so they’re on the highest level of security. Aside from turning your advanced security settings to “Safest,” this also means turning off scripts in Tor. Our guide to enter the dark web includes step-by-step instructions on how to do this.
- Get a good antivirus solution, like Bitdefender. Antivirus programs are a near-essential tool for everyone using the internet, but dark web users have a higher risk of running into malware, so a good virusscanner is essential.
- Get a subscription with a secure and anonymous VPN, such as NordVPN. A VPN will also help you stay anonymous and safe on the surface web, but is an absolute necessity when visiting the dark web.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
If you’d like more information about the safety measures listed above and why they are necessary, you can scroll down to the bottom of this article.
The Best Dark Web News Sites
Now that you know how to get on the dark web to access the news safely and soundly, it’s a good idea to start thinking about news sites to visit. Here are some of the best news sites on the dark web.
Our list includes both dark web mirror sites of “normal” surface web pages and a few sites that can only be found on the dark web. To clarify, the latter comprises websites that only have an onion link version.
1. BBC mirror
Onion link: https://www.bbcnewsd73hkzno2ini43t4gblxvycyac5aw4gnv7t2rccijh7745uqd.onion/
The BBC is one of the best news outlets to follow if you want free access to UK and worldwide news. This can be an excellent (additional) source in a search for impartial and uncensored news, which is exactly why many oppressive regimes aren’t a fan of this news outlet and (intermittently) ban it. If you live in such a country, or if you are worried about visiting the organization’s surface website for other reasons, there is an easy way to access the BBC anyway: its dark web mirror. You can access the BBC’s dark web version using the onion link above.
Remember you need to use Tor or a similar browser to be able to open the link above. When you get to the website, you’ll see it’s very similar to the “normal” BBC version. You might get some different news stories and a slightly different layout, but it’s essentially the same website as the normal international BBC version. If you want to get news from your world region, just go to “News,” then click “World” and go to your region.
2. The New York Times mirror
Onion link: https://www.nytimesn7cgmftshazwhfgzm37qxb44r64ytbb2dj3x62d2lljsciiyd.onion/
The New York Times is, of course, one of the biggest news sites in the world. Since 2017, this news outlet has had a mirror on the dark web as well. This is definitely not a bad idea, considering the lack of inhibition with which they choose their news stories and cover these topics.
At the time of writing, the top story that pops up in the New York Times has to do with the war between Russia and Ukraine. Not all authorities might approve of the way they report on this news. This might be a reason why some people (for example, those living in Russia) choose to use the Tor browser to go to the dark web version of the NYT website.
3. ProPublica mirror
Onion link: http://p53lf57qovyuvwsc6xnrppyply3vtqm7l6pcobkmyqsiofyeznfu5uqd.onion/
ProPublica is an investigative journalism outlet that mainly covers the United States. Even so, their articles can be interesting for any reader worldwide. If you find yourself in a country that doesn’t want you to get information from other parts of the world, for instance, ProPublica’s dark web version is a great option. The website discusses interesting topics such as social and racial justice, inequality, and (local) government scandals.
4. Archive Today mirror
Onion link: http://archiveiya74codqgiixo33q62qlrqtkgmcitqx5u2oeqnmn5bpcbiyd.onion/
Archive Today is a great place to find not just current information and news, but also news articles, blogs, and other online content from long ago. The website stores screenshots of web pages over time, so users can essentially go back and see what the internet and specific pages looked like and what information they contained at a specific point in time.
This is a great tool for discovering information that has been swept under the rug by one or more regimes, for instance. Generally, Archive Today is also a good way to find information and news about our world’s (recent) history.
5. Secure Drop
Onion links:
- BBC: kt2bqe753wj6dgarak2ryj4d6a5tccrivbvod5ab3uxhug5fi624vsqd.onion/
- New York Times: ej3kv4ebuugcmuwxctx5ic7zxh73rnxt42soi3tdneu2c2em55thufqd.onion/
- Financial Times: nqu6crmtnzs2hs5abo2uqni53yqsnnwqnerdxuzyz5yxairxlzjzt6yd.onion/
- Reuters: dvvbik7vtmvwwgj2cziqa36noa26l2pweghd26e5l5qwdnqtwmfhz5id.onion/
Secure Drop might be a bit of a curve ball, but can still be considered a valuable addition. Secure Drop is not necessarily a platform where you can access news, but rather share any news with journalists.
The idea is simple: in many oppressive countries, people who provide information for news stories, especially if it incriminates officials, do so at great risk. Using Secure Drop pages on the dark web, sources can anonymously provide this information. This can help them keep themselves and their families safe.
As you can see by the links above, multiple large news organizations have a Secure Drop.
6. Flashlight
Onion link: http://ovgl57qc3a5abwqgdhdtssvmydr6f6mjz6ey23thwy63pmbxqmi45iid.onion/
Flashlight is a dark web-only news site that features articles about every corner of the world. Whether you’re looking for news on the Russia-Ukraine war, the Nepal-China railway, or gun control in the United States, it’s all there.
Flashlight is a great page to check out if you live in a country with limited and censored news access and you want to know the current state of affairs around the world, without having to browse different local news pages.
Note: Like many dark web pages, Flashlight features advertisements that are not appropriate for all crowds and places. For instance, some advertisements might show pornographic content or promote drugs.
7. RosPravosudie (РосПравосудие)
Onion link: http://rospraa4xvtuscgl357uxizzvhgpjetxnri4gi5qzggvmaoeu6witiid.onion/
RosPravosudie fills a very particular niche: court decisions in Russia. The website is a huge collection of millions of judicial decisions from across the Russian federation, which website visitors can consult.
The website is only available in Russian and, needless to say, most interesting to Russian citizens. However, RosPravosudie has been blocked in Russia since 2018 by Roskomnadzor, the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media.
We couldn’t find RosPravosudie on the surface web, either, even though we’re not located in Russia. Some sources say the website is no longer operational. This seems to be true according to our research. Fortunately, you can still find it on the dark web.
Bonus: Deep Web Radio
Onion link: http://anonyradixhkgh5myfrkarggfnmdzzhhcgoy2v66uf7sml27to5n2tid.onion/
If you like to read your news with some background music, you can check out Deep Web Radio. This website is only available on the dark web and boasts a lot of different music stations. These stations all broadcast different genres of music, such as jazz, ambient, classical music in the baroque style, techno, and heavy metal. To check out deep web radio, simply go to the onion link above (while using the Tor browser).
Dark Web Safety Measures
We strongly recommend taking some safety precautions before browsing the dark web, also if you just mean to access the news. We’d like to elaborate a bit on these safety measures, so you’re fully aware of why and how you can implement these precautions.
Get a safe VPN subscription
The first thing you want to do before you go on the dark web, is to get a VPN. You might think you don’t need it, since browsers that give you access to the dark web (like the Tor browser) often anonymize and encrypt your data already. Even so, it’s vital to have a secure VPN provider. There are two main reasons:
- Censorship: Many countries that censor the internet, also block the Tor project website and other addresses where you can download the Tor browser. In this case, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in a country that doesn’t block Tor, so you can download the dark web browser without any hiccups.
- Security: A VPN will make sure your ISP can’t see that you’re using the Tor network. This greatly increases your anonymity and is a huge plus if you live in a place where ISPs have an important role in regulating online traffic, which often is the case in dictatorial countries. Moreover, the extra security and privacy a VPN provides won’t hurt, especially when you’re visiting the dark web.
A great VPN we recommend for all your dark web and other online activities is NordVPN. This provider offers very secure and stable connections and excellent safety measures at a very affordable price. It’s the perfect aid for accessing the news freely on the dark web.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Install a good antivirus scanner
Even if you’re just visiting news websites on the dark web, you have to realize this part of the web is not nearly as safe and regulated as the surface web. There is a serious chance you’ll come across dangerous malware and users with bad intentions. Good antivirus software, such as that offered by Bitdefender, will detect most malware before it gets a chance to infect your system.
Most good antivirus solutions these days also offer a powerful firewall, which will protect your network from dangerous connections. Moreover, modern antivirus software often even comes with protective measures against dangerous social engineering attacks, phishing, ransomware, and other dangers you might encounter online.
Configure your Tor browser settings
If you’re familiar with the dark web, you’ll know that getting a special browser like the Tor browser is necessary to access onion links. Tor, especially, will help you browse the dark web while you enjoy the strong anonymity and “triple encryption” that the browser offers. However, just the standard settings of Tor aren’t the safest.
When you have downloaded the Tor browser, it’s important to configure it to guarantee the highest level of security. Find out how to do this by checking out our article on safely accessing the dark web.
Note: A new project called Tor2web can give you access to the dark web without you needing to download a separate browser. It works as a proxy between users with a regular browser, such as Chrome, and Onion links. However, we strongly discourage users from using this method. The developers of the project admitted that it sacrifices security and privacy for convenience.
It’s important to tweak your security settings and improve encryption to improve safety when accessing dark web marketplaces.
Inform Yourself, But Stay Safe
We understand the desire to stay informed about what’s happening in the world. The dark web can be a great way to do so if you live in a country that censors many (international) news sites. However, you should make sure to be a responsible dark web user and take some precautions before going down this road.
If you take the safety measures suggested in this article and check out some of the dark web news sites we mentioned, you’ll likely have a great experience informing yourself of the real current state of the world.
Learn more about the dark web through our recommended documentaries. If you’re looking to use the dark with to send and receive messages anonymously, check out our article on how to use the dark web to communciate safely.
Do you have a question about safely accessing news sites on the dark web? Check out our FAQ below to see if it addresses your question. If it doesn’t, leave us a comment down below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
Yes, you can. The trick is to ensure you take some essential safety measures that will help keep you safe on the dark web, such as getting a good VPN, reliable antivirus software, and properly configuring your Tor browser’s safety features.
Contrary to popular belief, the dark web is not just a large marketplace for drugs and guns. It’s simply a collection of websites that use the “.onion” domain. Just like the surface web, these websites can contain virtually anything you can think of, like news, blogs, (crypto) marketplaces, forums, and even email services.
There are several useful news and informative websites on the dark web, such as Flashlight and RosPravosudie (РосПравосудие). There are also many dark web mirrors of popular “normal” news sites, such as the BBC and the New York Times. Check out our complete article on dark web news sites for all these news sites and their onion links.
In most jurisdictions, visiting the dark web is completely legal. In some jurisdictions, like China, Russia, and Iran, visiting the dark web might be considered illegal. Do keep in mind that, even in countries where visiting the dark web is legal, partaking in illegal activities while on the dark web might still get you in serious trouble. That’s why we recommend checking out your local laws and sticking by them.
