What Is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a section of the internet that you cannot access using standard browsers like Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox. You need to use special software, in particular Tor, to access it.
Aside from not being accessible through regular browsers and search engines, the traffic to the deep web is obfuscated by Tor so that no one can track IP addresses or view browsing activity.
A Closer Look at This Term
Due to its anonymous nature, dark web e-commerce sites became popular with those dealing in contraband goods. Bitcoin also provided an added layer of anonymity, allowing persons to browse as well as make payments anonymously.
The combination of Tor and Bitcoin that gave rise to Silk Road, one of the largest dark websites ever. The site was founded in February 2011 by an individual with the pseudonym, Dread Pirate Roberts.
The FBI seized the site in June 2013, and its founder, Ross Ulbricht, was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Since Silk Road, many other dark websites have been launched, with many of them facing the same fate.
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