The dark web, also referred to as the darknet, is an encrypted portion of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and requires specific configuration or authorization to access.
Although the dark web is sometimes portrayed as a domain frequented by criminal elements, it is also used by people who require privacy for entirely legal reasons, such as the exchange of proprietary business information, whistle blower protection, investigative journalism or communication by political activists.
Information may be exchanged through an encrypted peer-to-peer (P2P) network connection or by using an overlay network, such as the Tor browser.
The anonymity that these networks provide has contributed to the dark web's reputation for housing illegal activity.
What is the difference between the dark web vs. the deep web?
The terms "dark web" and "deep web" are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Rather, the dark web is a small, less accessible part of the deep web.
Both the dark and deep web share one thing in common: Neither can be found in search engine results.
The difference between them primarily lies in how their content is accessed. Deep web pages can be accessed by anyone with a standard web browser who knows the URL.
Dark web pages, in contrast, require special software with the correct decryption key, as well as access rights and knowledge of where to find the content.
Learn more here:
https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/An-insiders-look-into-the-dark-web
