Not all content available on the internet will be displayed in search results on popular search engines like Google or Bing. There are various areas that web crawlers cannot reach.
To uncover the hidden web, specialized search engines are required. Below are our top 12 recommendations for conducting an in-depth search on the internet.
What Constitutes the Invisible Web?
Firstly, let's define what the term "invisible web" means. Essentially, it encompasses online content that is not visible in search engine results or web directories.
While there is no official data on its size, most experts believe that the invisible web is significantly larger than the visible web. The exact scale of the internet remains unknown, and the same applies to the invisible web. However, the invisible web can be broadly categorized into the deep web and the dark web.
The Deep Web
The deep web consists of content that typically requires some form of authentication to access. This includes library databases, email accounts, personal records (financial, academic, health, legal), cloud storage services, and corporate intranets. With the appropriate credentials, this content can be accessed through a standard web browser.
The Dark Web
The dark web is a subset of the deep web. To access dark web content, a specialized browser (such as Tor) is necessary. It offers greater anonymity compared to the surface web and is often associated with illicit activities. However, not all content on the dark web is illegal. Some of the most notable dark web sites are simply hidden versions of regular websites, designed to allow users in oppressive regimes to access them.
1. Pipl
Pipl is renowned as the largest search engine dedicated to finding people across the globe. In contrast to Google, Pipl possesses the ability to access various searchable databases, member directories, court records, and other extensive content from the deep web. This unique capability enables Pipl to provide users with a comprehensive overview of an individual. Additionally, Pipl allows individuals to conduct in-depth searches about themselves.
2. The Wayback Machine
Conventional search engines typically display results from the latest version of a website. In contrast, the Wayback Machine offers access to over 850 billion archived web pages, enabling users to retrieve content that may have been removed from the current web. Additionally, it serves as a useful tool for exploring past iterations of various websites.
3. The WWW Virtual Library
The WWW Virtual Library, established in 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee, the visionary behind the World Wide Web, stands as the most ancient online catalog. Meticulously curated by dedicated volunteers, this index encompasses a wide array of categories, ensuring a comprehensive compilation of valuable deep web content.
4. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is renowned for being one of the top private search engines for the surface web and provides a top-notch privacy-centric mobile browser. Were you aware that the company also provides an onion site for delving into the dark web?
Even the regular search engine offers more deep web content than Google. It pools results from more than 500 standalone search tools to find its results. If you pair the regular DuckDuckGo engine with the Onion version, you can perform an entire web search.
The Onion site can be found at https://duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion/.
5. USA.gov
The quantity of information available on USA.gov is truly remarkable. It serves as a gateway to access all public resources related to federal agencies, as well as state, local, and tribal governments. Additionally, you can find details about government employment opportunities, financial assistance programs, tax information, and much more. A significant portion of the content on the website is not indexed by Google.
6. Directory of Open Access Journals
The DOAJ, also known as the Directory of Open Access Journals, is a comprehensive search engine on the deep internet that grants unrestricted access to scholarly papers. These papers are accessible to everyone without any cost.
With a vast collection of more than 20,000 journals and over 10 million articles spanning various disciplines, the DOAJ surpasses Google Scholar in terms of providing free articles. While Google Scholar does offer some information, we firmly believe that the DOAJ serves as a superior research tool.
7. SearXNG
If you are in search of a search engine for the dark web that also retrieves information from the visible web, consider exploring SearXNG. This website operates under an Onion domain name, making it inaccessible through regular web browsers. To access it, simply launch a dark web browser like Tor and paste the URL. http://searx3aolosaf3urwnhpynlhuokqsgz47si4pzz5hvb7uuzyjncl2tid.onion/ into the address bar.
8. Veridian
Veridian's primary objective is to offer a centralized platform encompassing all the historical newspapers from around the globe. This remarkable resource caters to the needs of various researchers, particularly those engaged in family history, genealogy, and academia.
A significant portion of the newspapers featured on the platform can only be found within the depths of the deep web, making them inaccessible through conventional search engines like Google. As of the present moment, Veridian boasts an impressive collection of over 3.6 million newspapers, ensuring a vast array of historical content.
Veridian Software, the company responsible for the now-defunct Elephind portal dedicated to historical newspapers, continues to provide access to its entire library through their website. If you were a fan of Elephind and are seeking an alternative, you'll be delighted to discover that Veridian offers seamless accessibility to all the content previously available on Elephind.
9. Torch
Torch, being one of the most ancient deep web search engines, stands out as an exceptional choice. Torch takes pride in its commitment to not censoring any search results and diligently explores the depths of the deep web on a daily basis to discover fresh Onion websites accessible on the Tor network.
At present, the search engine has indexed an impressive number of over three million documents. To reach Torch, simply copy and paste the provided link into Tor. http://xmh57jrknzkhv6y3ls3ubitzfqnkrwxhopf5aygthi7d6rplyvk3noyd.onion/
10. Ahmia
Ahmia functions as a search engine for the dark web. What sets it apart is that it can be accessed through the regular web. Nevertheless, the links and results it provides cannot be accessed unless the Tor browser is installed on your device.
Despite this limitation, Ahmia offers a safe way to explore the dark web and discover its content without being exposed to its risks. It is important to learn how to steer clear of harmful content before delving into the depths of the dark web.
12. Project Gutenberg
