Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > dark web
dark web
The dark web refers to the obscure corners of the web, where users interact with websites on the Internet hidden away from the watchful eye of authorities. Usually, these sites are guarded by encryption mechanisms such as Tor that allow users to visit them anonymously. Some dark websites also use password-protected forums where hackers trade secrets and stolen credit card numbers. Visitors use the dark web for a variety of purposes: buying and selling drugs, discussing hacking techniques and selling hacking services, trading child pornography, and so forth.
To allow the creation of hidden services, dark websites use special encryption mechanisms to hide their physical location. The sophisticated technology has allowed the creation of websites devoted to illegal activities that are difficult for the authorities to trace and shut down.
Surprisingly, some of the encryption mechanisms were created with financial support from the US government, which wanted to promote the free flow of information to help people in repressive regimes gain access to information censored by their governments.
Other Languages:
Member comments
Terms in the News
Featured Terms
Chess Olympiad
The opening ceremony of the 40th World Chess Olympiad will take place on August 27th, in Istanbul. Venue of the official start of the competition will ...
Contributor
Featured blossaries
karel24
0
Terms
23
Blossaries
1
Followers
The Asian Banker Awards Program
Browers Terms By Category
- Rice science(2869)
- Genetic engineering(2618)
- General agriculture(2596)
- Agricultural programs & laws(1482)
- Animal feed(538)
- Dairy science(179)
Agriculture(10727) Terms
- General law(5868)
- Courts(823)
- Patent & trademark(449)
- DNA forensics(434)
- Family law(220)
- Legal aid (criminal)(82)
Legal services(8095) Terms
- General furniture(461)
- Oriental rugs(322)
- Bedding(69)
- Curtains(52)
- Carpets(40)
- Chinese antique furniture(36)
Home furnishings(1084) Terms
- Radiology equipment(1356)
- OBGYN equipment(397)
- Cardiac supplies(297)
- Clinical trials(199)
- Ultrasonic & optical equipment(61)
- Physical therapy equipment(42)
Medical devices(2427) Terms
- Dictionaries(81869)
- Encyclopedias(14625)
- Slang(5701)
- Idioms(2187)
- General language(831)
- Linguistics(739)