The Techshielded guide to TOR and Onion sites:
Welcome to the Other Internet
You think you know the internet. You open Chrome, type something into Google, click a few links, maybe scroll TikTok until your thumb goes numb. That's the surface web — the shiny, polished layer of the internet built for convenience, commerce, and cat videos.
But just like an iceberg, most of the internet hides below the surface. Beneath Google's grip lies the deep web — the locked-down databases, private company portals, and anything password-protected. And then, lurking even deeper, is something more secretive: the dark web.
Sounds scary, right? Cue the dramatic music. But here's the thing: the dark web isn't just hackers selling stolen credit cards or sketchy marketplaces full of knockoff Viagra. It's also a critical privacy tool used by journalists, activists, and everyday people who simply don't want their internet history sold to advertisers or peeked at by their internet provider.
The doorway to this hidden world is called Tor — short for "The Onion Router." Think of it as a browser wrapped in multiple layers of encryption, bouncing your connection around the world until it's harder to track than a teenager sneaking out after curfew.
What You'll Learn in This Guide
In this guide, we'll peel back the layers (pun fully intended) and show you:
1
What Tor is and how it works
Understanding the technology behind The Onion Router and why it matters for privacy
2
What onion sites are (and why you can't Google them)
Exploring the hidden websites that exist only in the Tor network
3
Why normal people — yes, you — might want to use Tor
Real-world reasons beyond the myths and misconceptions
4
How to combine Tor with tools like Proton VPN to explore safely
Creating a privacy powerhouse for maximum protection
By the end, you'll understand not just the myths and hype, but the real-world reasons Tor matters — and how to step into the shadows without tripping over your own shoelaces.
What is Tor?
Let's start with the basics: Tor stands for The Onion Router. And no, it doesn't come with tears or make your kitchen smell weird. The "onion" part comes from the way Tor encrypts your traffic in layers — peel one back, there's another underneath. Good luck to anyone trying to trace it.
Here's how it works in human language:
Normal Browsing
Normally, when you visit a website, your device → your internet provider (ISP) → the site. Easy to track, easy to log, easy to sell to advertisers.
Tor Browsing
With Tor, your connection bounces like a drunk tourist on a bar crawl: through three random volunteer-run servers (called "relays") scattered across the globe. Each relay only knows about the one before it and the one after it. Nobody — not even your ISP — gets the full picture.
Think of it as a witness protection program for your data. Your ISP can see you entered the program, but after that, you're just a blurry shadow hopping borders.
The Good, The Bad, and The Bottom Line
The Good Stuff
- Anonymity: Tor hides your IP address, making it much harder for websites, ISPs, or creepy advertisers to profile you.
- Free & Open Source: No corporate overlords here — the Tor Project is nonprofit and transparent.
- Global Access: Used by journalists, activists, and citizens in censored countries to communicate without fear.
The Not-So-Good Stuff
- Slow Speeds: Privacy comes at the cost of Netflix-binge performance. Expect pages to load slower.
- Blocked by Some Sites: Some services hate Tor traffic and may block it.
- Doesn't Solve Everything: Tor hides where you're coming from, but it doesn't stop malware, phishing, or dumb mistakes (logging into Facebook with your real account kinda defeats the purpose).
The Bottom Line
Tor is basically a privacy-first browser that makes surveillance and tracking harder. It's not a magic invisibility cloak — but it's one of the strongest tools you can add to your digital survival kit.
What Are Onion Sites?
Okay, so Tor is the how. But what about the where? That's where onion sites come in.
Onion sites are websites that end in .onion instead of .com or .net. You can't just punch them into Chrome and expect magic. They only open inside the Tor Browser, because they're built for that onion-layered encryption system. Think of them as secret doors that don't even exist until you're inside the right building.
What Makes Them Different
Hidden Addresses
.onion sites don't use the regular Domain Name System (DNS). They're not indexed by Google, Bing, or your nosy neighbor's browser history.
Direct Privacy
Visitors connect through Tor relays, so both you and the site owner stay anonymous.
Harder to Take Down
Since their servers are masked, onion sites are resilient against censorship and takedown attempts.
Real Examples (Yes, Legal Ones)
Not everything on the dark web is shady marketplaces. Here are onion sites you can actually use today:
ProtonMail Onion
Access your secure email without ISP snooping.
BBC Tor Mirror
Read world news even if your country censors the BBC.
DuckDuckGo Onion
Search the web anonymously, without trackers.
ProPublica Onion
Investigative journalism that values reader privacy.
Why They Matter
Onion sites are like the back doors of the internet — not glamorous, but essential when the front doors are locked, monitored, or booby-trapped with trackers.
They're not here to replace your favorite cat meme site; they exist for privacy, freedom, and resilience. And when paired with a VPN, they're even harder to trace. (Spoiler: that's where Proton VPN slides into the story later.)
Why Would Normal People Use Tor?
Let's address the elephant in the dark room: Tor has a reputation. Say "dark web" at a dinner party and suddenly everyone imagines hackers in hoodies trading credit cards and government secrets.
But here's the reality: normal people use Tor every day. And not because they're trying to buy a flamethrower from "Bob's Discount Weapons."
Everyday, Totally Legal Reasons to Use Tor
Journalists
Protect sources from surveillance and keep leaks anonymous.
Activists
Speak out in countries where the wrong tweet can land you in jail.
Whistleblowers
Share info without leaving a trail back to the office cubicle.
Privacy Nerds (like us)
Because who actually wants their ISP logging every site they visit?
You (yes, you)
Maybe you don't like being tracked by advertisers. Maybe you don't want your search history auctioned off. Or maybe you just enjoy a little digital peace and quiet.
What You Can Get on Tor That You Can't Elsewhere
So, what's the point of firing up Tor if you can just use Chrome for cat videos and Amazon shopping? The answer: Tor unlocks doors the surface web doesn't even show you exist.
The Exclusive Menu of the Darker Side of the Net
- Onion-Only Services: Some organizations run .onion versions of their sites so you can access them without revealing your IP.
- ProtonMail, DuckDuckGo, BBC, and ProPublica all have onion portals.
- Uncensored Information: In countries where news outlets are blocked, Tor is the detour around digital roadblocks.
- Whistleblower Platforms: Secure drop boxes for journalists and NGOs, designed to keep identities protected.
- Research Without a Digital Trail: Looking into sensitive topics? On Tor, you can learn without advertisers or snoops building a creepy profile about you.
The Elephant in the Basement: Yes, there are shady corners — illegal marketplaces, stolen data dumps, and other "things that make Netflix documentaries." But here's the truth: you don't need to touch any of that to make Tor useful. Stick to the legitimate side, and you're simply using the internet with extra privacy seasoning.
In short: you're not on Tor for Netflix binges (it'll be slow). You're there for the freedom to read, research, and communicate without feeling like you're being followed by a nosy neighbor with binoculars.
Using Tor Safely
Tor is powerful, but like any tool, it only works if you know how to use it properly. Think of it like a motorcycle: fun, fast, and liberating — but you don't want to ride it without a helmet.
Here's your helmet checklist for Tor:
1
Download the Tor Browser (from the official site only)
- Don't trust shady "Tor download" links. Go to torproject.org.
- Install it like you would Chrome or Firefox — it's just a browser, not black magic.
2
Always Pair with a VPN
- Tor hides where you're going.
- A VPN hides that you're even using Tor.
- Together? Your ISP can't see squat.
- Proton VPN even has Tor over VPN built in — click, connect, done.
3
Don't Log Into Personal Accounts
- If you open Facebook or Gmail on Tor, congrats: you just told them it's you.
- Rule of thumb: Tor is for privacy tasks, not personal browsing.
4
Watch Your Downloads
- Malware is still malware, no matter how many onion layers you wrap it in.
- If you wouldn't trust it on Chrome, don't download it on Tor.
5
Disable Scripts, Stay Updated
- Tor Browser ships with settings to block scripts and trackers.
- Keep it updated — vulnerabilities are patched fast, but only if you're on the latest version.
6
Use Common Sense
- Don't believe everything you see on onion sites.
- Treat it like walking through an unfamiliar city at night: be curious, but don't wander into sketchy alleys.
Step Into the Shadows (Safely)
The internet isn't just Facebook feeds, Amazon carts, and cat memes. Beneath the surface is a hidden layer designed for privacy, resilience, and freedom. Tor and onion sites aren't about being shady — they're about taking back control of your digital life.
With Tor, your traffic bounces around the world like a spy movie montage. With onion sites, you can access information and services that simply don't exist on the surface web. And when you stack Tor with Proton VPN, you go from "kind of private" to fully shielded.
This isn't just for journalists or whistleblowers. It's for anyone who's tired of being watched, tracked, and monetized. It's for you.
Your Action Plan
- Download the Tor Browser from the official site.
- Get Proton VPN for an easy Tor-over-VPN setup.
- Explore responsibly — and remember, privacy isn't about hiding, it's about protecting.
Your ISP doesn't need to know everything you do. Big Tech doesn't need another piece of your digital soul. And you don't need to stay locked in the shallow end of the internet.
Step into the shadows — safely, securely, and with the right tools.
Still have questions? Email us at info@techshielded.com and we'll help guide you through your first steps into the onion layers.