Definition: dark Web

(1) A file sharing network used to illegally distribute copyrighted digital 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) (Dark Web) Clandestine websites that sell illegal merchandise. The Dark Web is accessed by special browsers that hide the identity of their users (see Tor). Also called the "darknet" and "darknet market" (DNM). See Silk Road, Freenet, anonymous Web surfing and deep Web.