Understanding the Dark Web
The dark web is often confused with the deep web, which refers to the unindexed part of the internet that cannot be accessed through search engines. However, the dark web is a smaller subset of the deep web that requires specialized software for hosting and browsing web pages.
To access the dark web, specific networks like Tor (The Onion Routing) and I2P (The Invisible Internet Project) are needed. Tor allows anonymous access, while I2P enables anonymous hosting of websites.
What makes the dark web unique is its layered encryption, which directs communications through multiple volunteer nodes. Each node adds another layer of encryption, ensuring that users’ identities and locations remain undisclosed. This high level of privacy allows visitors and hosts of dark web pages to communicate confidentially without revealing any personal information about themselves.
This increased level of privacy, not commonly found on the regular internet (also known as “Clearnet” among dark web users), creates an environment for unrestricted exchange of ideas and information. However, researchers have observed that it also facilitates highly illegal and immoral activities on dark web marketplaces, such as the sale of illegal drugs, firearms, and child pornography.
Due to their anonymous, digital, and permissionless nature, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) are often the preferred medium of exchange for transactions on the dark web.
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