dark web
Encrypted online underworld
The dark web is the portion of the internet accessible only through specialized software like Tor, which anonymizes users and hides website locations.
It hosts legitimate privacy-focused services alongside illegal marketplaces for drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
Distinguished from the surface web (indexed by search engines) and the deep web (unindexed but accessible through normal browsers): The journalist used the dark web to communicate with sources in authoritarian countries.
Historic transcontinental trade network
- drug traffickingIllegal distribution of controlled substances
- counterfeit documentsFalsified official paperwork
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
- human traffickingCriminal trade in people
Anonymous routing network
- pseudonymityState of using aliases
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- masked identityConcealed true self
burner accounts · anonymous browsing · dead drops · encrypted chat · plausible deniability · unindexed · privacy tools
Hostage-taking code
- botnetsCompromised computers controlled remotely
- stolen credentialsIllegally acquired authentication information
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- data breachesUnauthorized access to protected information
keyloggers · cryptojacking · skimmers · crimeware · money mules · Hydra
Unreadable data between sender and recipient
- AESSymmetric encryption standard
- encrypted messagingCoded digital communication
- steganographyHiding data within media
- SSL/TLSInternet encryption standard
Exposing hidden wrongdoing internally
- oppressive regimesGovernments ruling through fear
- freedom of informationPublic access to state records
- anonymous tipsSourceless information for authorities
- political activismEfforts to influence policy
Silk Road
Historic transcontinental trade network
- drug traffickingIllegal distribution of controlled substances
- counterfeit documentsFalsified official paperwork
- contrabandProhibited trade goods
human trafficking · black market · money laundering · fake IDs
Tor
Anonymous routing network
- pseudonymityState of using aliases
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
- incognitoWith identity concealed
masked identity · burner accounts · anonymous browsing · dead drops · encrypted chat · plausible deniability · unindexed · privacy tools
ransomware
Hostage-taking code
- botnetsCompromised computers controlled remotely
- stolen credentialsIllegally acquired authentication information
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
data breaches · keyloggers · cryptojacking · skimmers · crimeware · money mules · Hydra
end-to-end encryption
Unreadable data between sender and recipient
- AESSymmetric encryption standard
- encrypted messagingCoded digital communication
- steganographyHiding data within media
SSL/TLS · hashing · crypto wallets · secure channels · obfuscation
whistleblowing
Exposing hidden wrongdoing internally
- oppressive regimesGovernments ruling through fear
- freedom of informationPublic access to state records
- anonymous tipsSourceless information for authorities
political activism · human rights · press freedom · government surveillance
- networksnetwork traffic, network security, MAN, PAN, cloud computing
- online spaceswebsite, websites, webpage, cyberspace, virtual worlds
- privacyprivacy, private, seclusion, confidentiality, solitude
- Web thingscobweb, website, webmaster
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
- tech fearstechnophobia, cyberphobia, nomophobia, AI takeover, robot uprising