dark web
noun
variants
or less commonly Dark Web
: the set of web pages on the World Wide Web that cannot be indexed by search engines, are not viewable in a standard Web browser, require specific means (such as specialized software or network configuration) in order to access, and use encryption to provide anonymity and privacy for users
The dark web is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous. Once used by political dissidents, the dark web has become the Internet's black market, where visitors can buy anything from guns to drugs and fake IDs or trade child pornography.—
Guillermo Contreras
compare deep web
Guillermo ContrerasExamples of dark web in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though the wild days of dark web sites like Silk Road are long gone, there remain many profitable illicit stores across the internet.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Even after significant efforts by social media companies to dismantle extremist content, the Islamic State group, al-Qaida and their affiliates have adapted by migrating to encrypted messaging services, dark web forums and niche platforms.
—Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 2 Jan. 2025
On Wednesday, a Second Circuit appellate court rejected the appeal of Ross Ulbricht, who two years ago was sentenced to life in prison without parole for creating and running the Silk Road, a massive dark web drug market.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 May 2017
More companies are becoming more active in tracking cyber threats, including monitoring the web and dark web.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2024
Entirely synthetic videos still look unrealistic, Sexton said, and are not yet popular on abusers’ dark web forums, though that technology is still rapidly improving.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 21 July 2024
The group is known for deploying ransomware that encrypts data and uses double extortion tactics, threatening to release sensitive information on its dark web leak site if ransom demands are not met.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
This security suite adds a full-powered cross-platform VPN, a dark web monitoring system, parental controls, and more.
—PCMAG, 27 Nov. 2024
In fact, as Judge Katherine Forrest explained at the time, Ulbricht's life sentence was intended also to send a message to other would-be dark web drug kingpins.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 May 2017
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Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Even after significant efforts by social media companies to dismantle extremist content, the Islamic State group, al-Qaida and their affiliates have adapted by migrating to encrypted messaging services, dark web forums and niche platforms.
—Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 2 Jan. 2025
On Wednesday, a Second Circuit appellate court rejected the appeal of Ross Ulbricht, who two years ago was sentenced to life in prison without parole for creating and running the Silk Road, a massive dark web drug market.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 May 2017
More companies are becoming more active in tracking cyber threats, including monitoring the web and dark web.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2024
Entirely synthetic videos still look unrealistic, Sexton said, and are not yet popular on abusers’ dark web forums, though that technology is still rapidly improving.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 21 July 2024
The group is known for deploying ransomware that encrypts data and uses double extortion tactics, threatening to release sensitive information on its dark web leak site if ransom demands are not met.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
This security suite adds a full-powered cross-platform VPN, a dark web monitoring system, parental controls, and more.
—PCMAG, 27 Nov. 2024
In fact, as Judge Katherine Forrest explained at the time, Ulbricht's life sentence was intended also to send a message to other would-be dark web drug kingpins.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 31 May 2017
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Cite this Entry
“Dark web.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20web. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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