To delve into the hidden realms of the web, specialized search engines are your key. Below, we present a list of our top 12 services for conducting comprehensive searches on the internet’s concealed content.

Understanding the Invisible Web

Before we embark on this journey, let’s clarify what the term “invisible web” encompasses. It’s a catch-all phrase for online content that remains concealed from standard search results and web directories.

While official data isn’t readily available, experts generally concur that the invisible web dwarfs the visible web in size. When you consider that Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook alone collectively store over 1,200 petabytes of data, the numbers become staggering.

The Deep Web

The deep web comprises content that typically requires specific credentials for access. This includes library databases, email inboxes, personal records (financial, academic, health, and legal), cloud storage repositories, company intranets, and more. You can access this content via a web browser if you possess the necessary credentials.

The Dark Web

The dark web is a subset of the deep web. Accessing dark web content necessitates using a dedicated browser, such as Tor. It offers greater anonymity compared to the regular web and, consequently, often hosts illegal activities like drug and weapon trade.

However, not everything on the dark web is illicit. Some of the finest dark web websites are merely concealed versions of regular sites, designed to provide users in authoritarian regimes with access.

1. Pipl

Pipl, the self-proclaimed world’s largest people search engine, sets itself apart from Google by interacting with searchable databases, member directories, court records, and other deep web content, offering comprehensive insights into individuals. You can also employ Pipl to perform in-depth searches about yourself.

2. The Wayback Machine

Unlike typical search engines, which retrieve results from the most recent version of a website, The Wayback Machine distinguishes itself. It maintains copies of over 361 billion web pages, enabling you to explore content no longer accessible on the visible web. It’s also a valuable resource for viewing historical versions of websites.

3. The WWW Virtual Library

Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, in 1991, The WWW Virtual Library is the Internet’s oldest catalog. Meticulously curated by volunteers, it serves as a high-quality index of deep web content spanning numerous categories.

4. DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo, renowned for its privacy-focused approach to the visible web, also offers an onion site for exploring the dark web. Even its regular search engine unearths more deep web content than Google by aggregating results from over 500 standalone search tools. When combined with its Onion version, you gain access to a comprehensive web search.

Find the Onion site at https://duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion.

5. USA.gov

USA.gov houses an impressive wealth of content. It acts as a gateway to all public information related to federal agencies, as well as state, local, and tribal governments. Information regarding government jobs, loans, grants, taxes, and more can be found here, much of which doesn’t appear on Google.

6. Directory of Open Access Journals

The Directory of Open Access Journals serves as a deep internet search engine for academic papers, making them freely available to all. With over 19,000 journals and 8.9 million articles across various subjects, it stands as a superior research tool compared to Google Scholar in terms of accessing scholarly content.

7. SearX

For a dark web search engine that also taps into the visible web, consider SearX. Accessible through the Tor network, it aggregates data from multiple search engines, offering a wide array of possibilities. To use SearX, open the Tor browser and enter http://searx3aolosaf3urwnhpynlhuokqsgz47si4pzz5hvb7uuzyjncl2tid.onion in the address bar.

8. Elephind

Elephind aims to provide a unified portal to the world’s historical newspapers, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, family historians, genealogists, and students. Many of the newspapers it hosts can only be found on the deep web, eluding Google’s search results. Currently, over 3.6 million newspapers are available.

9. Torch

One of the oldest deep web search engines, Torch is known for its commitment to uncensored search results. It scours the deep web daily for new publicly available Onion websites on the Tor network, indexing over a million documents. To access Torch, paste the following link into Tor: http://xmh57jrknzkhv6y3ls3ubitzfqnkrwxhopf5aygthi7d6rplyvk3noyd.onion.

10. Ahmia

Ahmia is a dark web search engine with a unique twist—it’s accessible on the regular web. However, the links and results won’t open without the Tor browser. It offers a glimpse into the dark web’s offerings without exposing users to its inherent risks.

11. WorldCat

WorldCat simplifies the task of identifying books available in various local libraries by aggregating data from libraries worldwide. It boasts over two billion indexed items, including many resources typically only accessible through specialized database searches.

12. Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg provides access to over 60,000 copyright-free ebooks, making it an excellent resource for free ebook downloads. It offers various formats and recommends similar books for download, establishing itself as a prime destination for ebook enthusiasts.

Expand Your Knowledge of the Invisible Web

These 12 search engines offer a solid foundation for your journey into the hidden facets of the web. While some famous deep search engines, like Deeppeep, have ceased to exist, the services mentioned in this article can help you recover some of their lost functionalities.

For those eager to explore the dark web further, several dedicated search engines cater to your needs.