What is Darknet?
A network overlay that requires specific software or configurations to access, providing anonymity for users and operators of hidden services.
Darknets are private networks layered on top of the regular internet, accessible only through specialized software.
Major Darknets
- Tor (.onion): The most widely used darknet. Accessed via Tor Browser.
- I2P (.i2p): Optimized for internal services (eepsites). Strong against traffic analysis.
- Freenet: Decentralized, censorship-resistant data storage.
- Lokinet: Based on the Oxen blockchain, uses onion routing.
Legitimate Uses
- Whistleblowing (SecureDrop used by major newspapers)
- Circumventing censorship in authoritarian countries
- Private communication for activists and journalists
- Accessing services that prioritize privacy
Common Misconception
Media portrays darknets as purely criminal. In reality, most Tor traffic is regular browsing. Hidden services serve important privacy and free speech functions.
Related Terms
I2P
The Invisible Internet Project is an anonymous network layer designed for internal services (eepsites) rather than accessing the regular internet. I2P uses garlic routing to provide strong anonymity for both users and services.
Onion Routing
A technique for anonymous communication over a computer network where messages are encapsulated in layers of encryption, analogous to layers of an onion. Each relay decrypts one layer to reveal the next destination, but no single relay knows both the origin and final destination.
Tor Network
A free, open-source software and network that enables anonymous communication by directing Internet traffic through a worldwide volunteer overlay network of thousands of relays. Tor conceals users' locations and usage from surveillance and traffic analysis.
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