Where is the dark web, and what's on it?

[Ari]

I keep seeing reference to 'The Dark Web' on news programs, the latest in connection with the paedophile that was jailed today.

But what is it? And where is it? Do you just Google it? And (apart from paedophile stuff obviously), what the hell is on it?

[Ari]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

As I understand it, it contains stuff that any human being with the faintest shred of decency wouldn't want to access.

I kind of get that. But is this just a part of the normal Internet that has been christened 'The Dark Web', or is it something totally seperate? Or am I just failing to comprehend what the Internet actually is?

I'm curious about how people find this kind of stuff in the first place (the Dark Web, not the stuff on it).

I'm also a bit astonished at some of the stuff people were doing for this particular person, and why others would get pleasure from it. One woman apparently sent him naked photos of her daughter. In what possible context could that ever be considered a remotely acceptable request - let alone actually going along with it.

[Ari]

RobDickinson said:

Basics it's an encrypted part of the internet that's not visible to normal users, won't show in searches etc.

It's relatively easy to create your own if you have a little technical skill. So it's not one cohesive thing but a whole bunch of network that's just under the radar of normal.

Okay, makes sense. But then how does anyone find it to use it?

[Ari]

pip t said:

The 'Dark Web' is...

That's fascinating, thank you.