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) 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 and malware. See Tor.

Government agencies and secret societies that wish to remain anonymous are also on the Dark Web. Also called the "darknet" and "darknet market" (DNM). See Silk Road, Joker's Stash, Freenet, anonymous Web surfing and deep Web.