The dark web is much bigger than the part of the internet most people use every day, roughly 500 to 1,000 times larger, with millions of hidden websites. The most popular way to access it is through Tor, a network that had over 2 million users each day in 2023. To get onto the dark web, you need specific software, like the Tor Browser, which makes it unlikely that someone would accidentally find their way there.

So, what’s the dark web used for? A large portion of it—about 60 to 70 percent—is tied to illegal activities such as buying drugs, weapons, stolen data, and counterfeit products. An example is Silk Road, a notorious marketplace that made over $1.2 billion before it was shut down in 2013. There were other significant marketplaces too, like AlphaBay and Hansa Market, that law enforcement took down.

Beyond illegal trades, the dark web plays a role in cybercrime and hacking, with a report from 2022 noting that 60 percent of listings are related to these activities. It's also a tool for people who need privacy, like journalists and whistleblowers, to escape censorship. Some major news outlets, including ProPublica and The New York Times, even have versions of their sites on the dark web to safeguard their sources.