.onion sites - what they are, and how to access them

[Ghost Prototype]

What is a .onion site?
.onion, for all intents an purposes, acts like a top level domain (like your .com's, .org's, etc), but is not accessible like a normal webpage. For this reason, it's called a pseudo top level domain. .onions are run through the Tor network (there are at least two text files on that subject, here, by Mr_Scotty and in the second section of the text here, by myself). Not only does this encrypt server-side data, but increases anonymity as well. On your normal web, a website hosting illegal content would be shut down by the country's government that governs the host. But on your Tor Network, not only is it impossible to tell where the site is hosted - it's impossible to take it down, as well.

Okay, that's cool and all, but how do I visit them?
Pro way:
First, download and install the Vidalia bundle from the torproject.org website.

Secondly, download and install Privoxy (latest stable release found here).

Following this, you should edit your Firefox proxy settings to verify the following is set. Go to Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Settings. Once there, you should be using Manual Proxy Configuration: http proxy: localhost port: 8118
If not, set them to this.
Reboot the computer.

After your restart, not only is your connection automatically filtered through the Tor network, but you should be able to access Tor-only sites.

Here are some links to get you started:
http://kpvz7ki2v5agwt35.onion - The Hidden Wiki - contains all SORTS of info on tor sites
http://xmh57jrzrnw6insl.onion/ - TORCH, a tor search engine
http://eqt5g4fuenphqinx.onion/ - Core .onion, a tor site directory
http://4jbxjjrbakmdcmvb.onion/ - TorMarks, another tor site directory
http://silkroadvb5piz3r.onion/ - The famous Silk Road - a bitcoins-only marketplace for buying drugs and other items.
http://p2uekn2yfvlvpzbu.onion/ - LiberaTor - Weapons and military training information
http://jhiwjjlqpyawmpjx.onion - Tormail for a free and anon email account
http://4eiruntyxxbgfv7o.onion - TorPM for secure Messaging
http://3c3bdbvhb7j6yab2.onion - Totse2.com Forums (this site via Tor Hidden Service!)
http://zw3crggtadila2sg.onion/downornot/ - Down or Not? for Tor Hidden Services
http://3suaolltfj2xjksb.onion/ - TriPh0rce's page. Has a library, a 'cleaned' hidden wiki, as well as other links.


That should get you started. Although it technically is possible to browse .onion sites by using a service called tor2web, I highly discourage it. It does not give protection to client side users (i.e. YOU). And another note - .onion sites will take slightly longer to open than others, but this should not significantly impact your regular browsing speed. If you decide to temporarily turn off Tor, simply disconnect from the Tor network via the Vidalia Control Panel. You can then browse the internet proxy-free.

Noob way:
you can skip all of this and use the Tor Browser. It works to connect to .onion sites without needing to set up privoxy, or any special network configurations. If you are only browsing the internet, and not routing other services through Tor, you can use the Tor Browser, without having to modify your Firefox settings. Cheers!

[Ghost Prototype]

Bumping a thread.

[easy-e]

Do you have any info on hosting a tor site? How much security does the host have?

[Ghost Prototype]

That's not something I know much about. I'd gladly look into that for you.

[Mayor_of_monkeytown]

I hear that the FBI is all over the onion now though; as well as other people just looking to sniff your data and check your nodes n shit.

I think that theres some other compromises out there as well. But hey; the internet aint a safe place.

[lildyke]

my question is... why onion? why not something that isnt random?

[Caligula]

my question is... why onion? why not something that isnt random?

I assume if you draw a diagram of what the tech behind the protocols look like or something it resembles an onion or is built in layers or something. I would be that whatever the reason .onion is not just a random choice.

[Iceman]

Are there any other recomended programs to go with this.

[Hazza32]

Ccleaner and malwarebytes.

[lildyke]

I assume if you draw a diagram of what the tech behind the protocols look like or something it resembles an onion or is built in layers or something. I would be that whatever the reason .onion is not just a random choice.

thanks chris that actually makes somr sense

[Ghost Prototype]

Bleachbit, Truecrypt, and malwarebytes.

Fix'd.

[Iceman]

Got it working basedon the op. Just how secure is this?

[duuude]

Interesting thread. Eventually I'll give this a try and read into it more.

[Ghost Prototype]

Got it working basedon the op. Just how secure is this?

Mostly secure. If the first computer you connect to through the Tor network is compromised, and your exit node is also compromised, your data can be decrypted and tracked back to you. Bitflip knows more about that subject than I - if you can catch him in the IRC, ask about how to tell if you have a known secure exit node.

Interesting thread. Eventually I'll give this a try and read into it more.

Glad to have helped. Let us know if you need assistance, or post back saying you got on onionland.

[luke0311]

Hey ghost I am having some trouble and I hope you can help. I downloaded the Tor bundle along with privoxy and changed my proxy to localhost 8118. I open the tor browser (aurora?) and try to access onion sites but it gives the failed to connect screen. I can't get anything... I would appreciate some help.

[Ghost Prototype]

Thanks for the question, luke. I did some quick searching, and it looks like if you're using the Tor Browser, you don't need to modify any of your proxy settings. Using the Tor Browser eliminates the need for privoxy. I've updated my OP with this information as well. After you reset the proxy settings in Aurora, you'll be good to go! Let us know if you have any more issues.

And while you're registered, why don't you take some time to browse our forum? You might like it. Cheers

[luke0311]

Hey thanks for the quick reply Ghost, and I will definitely check out the forum. I am still getting an unable to connect page... I have no idea what I could be doing wrong.

[Riv3r]

Firewall settings?

[Ghost Prototype]

Hey thanks for the quick reply Ghost, and I will definitely check out the forum. I am still getting an unable to connect page... I have no idea what I could be doing wrong.

Since it's not working, do this. Uninstall Privoxy and Tor. Redownload just the Tor Browser, and try a fresh copy. There might be some setting in there that got messed up, and since you're not use to the program, you're not sure what's not default. Try that and report back.

[luke0311]

Still the same problem... I have no idea what I may be doing wrong.

[luke0311]

get this b.s. It was because my system clock was wrong... It was a day off. I tried fixing this problem all day and ended up finding the answer in a 4chan archive... lol

[Ghost Prototype]

Haha! Go figure - something simple! Glad you A) Found the answer and B) Got it working. Thanks for posting your result, too.

[faceless127]

When ever I try going to any of the .onion sites my browser says its not responding but if I go to like google or something it will work. Only with the .onion sites, I have a fresh instal of the Tor Browser. I've tried turning on and off my firewall and Anti Virus, and restarting my computer. I've tried hundreds of .onion links over the past few weeks and tried everything to try and get the .onion pages to load.

If someone could help me out it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

[Krane]

When ever I try going to any of the .onion sites my browser says its not responding but if I go to like google or something it will work. Only with the .onion sites, I have a fresh instal of the Tor Browser. I've tried turning on and off my firewall and Anti Virus, and restarting my computer. I've tried hundreds of .onion links over the past few weeks and tried everything to try and get the .onion pages to load.

If someone could help me out it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Some .onion sites have always been unreliable and intermittant, what is it your trying to access? Can you connect to Tormail or Circle Servicies, any of the 'stable' .onion sites?

Post the contents of you /var/log/htpdate.log if yoiur using Linux, i it's Wndows I don't know were the log file will be.

[faceless127]

Yes, I've tried using the Tor Browser bundle and I also tried the videla bundle or how ever you spell. And I've tried connecting to the hidden wiki, silkroad market, ect.ect. I've tried hundreds of .onion sites, none of them load. All my files and configs are fresh instals so it shouldn't be any of my configs and when I go to tor check it says I'm using tor correctly cus I'm using the browser bundle, there is no need to change any settings for that. I'm on Windows 7 64bit

Could it be my ISP blocks the sites or maybe like the waitout time for sites to load? I have AT&T

[Dysgraphia]

torrenting through tor ALL DAYYYY

[auschwitz nazi disneyland]

torrenting through tor ALL DAYYYY

that's A) slow and B) for cunts

[Krane]

Yes, I've tried using the Tor Browser bundle and I also tried the videla bundle or how ever you spell. And I've tried connecting to the hidden wiki, silkroad market, ect.ect. I've tried hundreds of .onion sites, none of them load. All my files and configs are fresh instals so it shouldn't be any of my configs and when I go to tor check it says I'm using tor correctly cus I'm using the browser bundle, there is no need to change any settings for that. I'm on Windows 7 64bit

Could it be my ISP blocks the sites or maybe like the waitout time for sites to load? I have AT&T

Even if your ISP blocks the sites (which I doubt unless you live in China/Middle East, your using Tor so it should not matter.

If you followed the guide on the Tor site step by step and it still doesn't work then Tor might just not be for you.

torrenting through tor ALL DAYYYY

That's almost as bad as the guides on 4chan to DDoS through Tor, it's bringing attention it doesn't need.

[faceless127]

Yep, my ISP blocks the sites because my phone can broadcast a wifi signal to up to 7 devices and I tried connecting my computer to my phone signal and the .onion sites worked.

[Ghost Prototype]

Yep, my ISP blocks the sites because my phone can broadcast a wifi signal to up to 7 devices and I tried connecting my computer to my phone signal and the .onion sites worked.

This is a few months late, but hopefully will help someone else down the line - if you ISP blocks connections to the Tor network, you can configure Tor to connect through a 'Bridge', essentially, proxying to the Tor network through a connection unblocked by your ISP! More information on how to do this can be found here --> https://www.torproject.org/docs/bridges. Cheers!

[Battster222]

Yes, PC or MAC????

[Cheese]

I had the same troubles as faceless. I tried accessing .onion sites a month or so ago, so I downloaded the Tor Browser Bundle and it kept telling me it couldn't access the server. I'll check out the link you posted Ghost after the weekend when I get back. Hopefully that'll fix the problem.

[asdfg]

for some reason the hidden wiki is down and has been for a while, anyone know why?

[Ghost Prototype]

UPDATE. changed a few minor details in the OP, as well as added a link to this little thing called THE SILK ROAD. If you don't know why that's important enough to add, read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sil...marketplace%29

[Slartibartfast]

If you're unable to set up Tor under windows, you might like to take that as a omen.

If you insist, you should check out tails, a live-cd designed specifically to be secure and easy. https://tails.boum.org/

[Ghost Prototype]

^ To expand on Slartibartfast's post, Tails was made to run from a live CD - you DO NOT want to install Tails to your computer. It routes all traffic through the Tor network automagically, so inside the Tails live OS you don't have to set it up. I personally have not tried Tails, as it gave me errors while trying to boot. I may have had a poor .iso or bad cd.

Two notes on the software: Tails was made by torproject.org, the same group that released the Tor browser and Vidalia bundle to access the Tor network. Also, it's the only OS that I know of that has cold-boot prevention built in to the operating system. Shutting down normally, the OS will wipe the RAM to ensure that if you're V&, there is no trace of what you've been doing sitting in your RAM.

[Ghost Prototype]

Bumping a thread. Tails works fantastically on the Tor netwok. Also, I added another site to the list in the OP. Does anyone have any non-cp .onion sites they would recommend others check out?

[Iceman]

Bumping a thread. Tails works fantastically on the Tor netwok. Also, I added another site to the list in the OP. Does anyone have any non-cp .onion sites they would recommend others check out?

Tails is awesome.

[daGazaman]

Bumping a thread. Tails works fantastically on the Tor netwok. Also, I added another site to the list in the OP. Does anyone have any non-cp .onion sites they would recommend others check out?

Try Tormail for a free and anon email account: http://jhiwjjlqpyawmpjx.onion
And TorPM for secure Messaging: http://4eiruntyxxbgfv7o.onion

I think you have silk road and hidden wiki already...

[Ghost Prototype]

^ Added! Thanks for the input!

[SniperAssassin]

This is an informative thread.

[peskybear]

So...how does one go about getting a .onion site on the internet?

[Ghost Prototype]

^ I know the basics, but I haven't done it before to confirm I have it right. I'll try it out, and once I figure it out I'll post!

[Riv3r]

A HUGE Bump for almost 100,000 views. Jesus Christ...

#4 on google when ".onion sites" is typed in.
#2 on google when ".onion" is typed.

UNYUN

[Sirfearoth]

Added bump

[Zaffron]

A HUGE Bump for almost 100,000 views. Jesus Christ...

#4 on google when ".onion sites" is typed in.
#2 on google when ".onion" is typed.

UNYUN

COOOOL BEANS

[nexmellowday]

and where just do you get the tor browser from, i didnt see it noted in the original post. do you just google it or find it at like download.com or something? i needs the help. thanx.

EDIT: sorry. i should attempt at finding it out myself. i will. others might need to know though.

[Hazza32]

https://www.torproject.org/ if you google tor it is literally the first result

[nexmellowday]

i think i should umm, thank you haz..i think. hehe. just kidding, thanx. this silkroad stuff is gonna be epic for me once i start working.

[hip f. oxy80]

looks good..(silkroad) has anyone ever orderded anything from there?
i,m guessing it would be better to try an order from your own country?

i need some bitcoins, set up an account there.