All About the Dark Web—And How to Use It

Welcome to onionland. This is your guide to understanding the dark web: what's on the hidden Internet, how to access it, and how it works under the hood.

The internet you know—the one you're surfing to read this article—is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies the dark web: a hidden layer of the internet that's invisible to most users, and often misunderstood. While it's infamous for illegal marketplaces and shady dealings, the dark web also powers anonymous communication, protects whistleblowers, and enables free speech in repressive regimes. So how does it actually work, and what's really going on down there?

What Is the Dark Web?

The dark web is the part of the internet that is least accessible to casual browsers. It's hidden, encrypted, and intentionally separate from the surface web.

Sites like ExtremeTech are part of the ...