The dark web is a part of the internet that's purposely hidden and can only be accessed using special software that keeps users anonymous, with Tor being the most well-known. It's part of a bigger section called the deep web, which includes content not found by regular search engines. The dark web stands out because it uses encryption and helps protect users' identities.
Here’s how it works:
Tor sends users' internet traffic through various volunteer-operated relays and layers of encryption, making it tough for anyone to track who’s accessing which sites. Websites on Tor have .onion addresses and can only be reached using specific software like the Tor Browser, although there are other tools like I2P and Freenet that serve similar purposes.