Definition: Dark Web

(1) A file sharing network used to illegally distribute copyrighted music and videos, as well as nefarious documents. Before the Internet, people used floppy disks, tape cartridges and bulletin boards (see BBS). See peer-to-peer network.

(2) A part of the "deep Web" that is only accessible via browsers such as Tor, which stands for "The Onion Router." The Dark Web hosts websites that sell illegal merchandise including drugs, weapons, stolen financial data, malware and cybercrime services. There are consultants on the Dark Web who literally advertise "I will wreck someone's life for x amount of $$$."

Although merchandise is advertised in dollars or Euros, the equivalent amount is paid in Bitcoin, Monero or some other cryptocurrency, which hides the buyer's identity. Nevertheless, whenever physical merchandise is shipped, the seller has a record of the recipient's street address, and that data can also be hacked or confiscated by authorities. Thus, purchases on the Dark Web may never truly be anonymous. See Tor, Bitcoin and Monero.

For Legitimate Privacy
Government agencies and nonpublic societies that for whatever reasons wish to remain anonymous may choose to conduct business on the Dark Web. Also called the "darknet" and "darknet market" (DNM). See exploit industry, Silk Road, Joker's Stash, Freenet, anonymous Web surfing and deep Web.