The 暗網 is a part of the internet that you can only access with a special browser called Tor 瀏覽器. Here's what makes it different:
- Regular websites have addresses like google.com - you can find them on Google and visit them in any browser
- 暗網 sites have addresses ending in .onion (like duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarfbgcmvfimaftt6twagswzczad.onion) - they only work in Tor 瀏覽器 and can't be found on Google
The 暗網 exists because some people need true 隱私 and anonymity online. Journalists use it to protect sources. Activists in countries like 中國 and 伊朗 use it to communicate freely. 隱私 advocates use it because they believe surveillance is wrong. Major organizations like the New York Times, BBC, Facebook, and ProtonMail all maintain official 暗網 sites.
Is it scary? Not really. It's just a more private version of the internet. Like any tool, it can be used for good or bad - but the technology itself is neutral.