What is the darknet and why is our data being sold there

News about leaks and data leaks that pop up on the darknet are appearing more and more often. How does the darknet work, what can be found in it and is it possible to remain anonymous if there is something to hide?

What is a darknet?

Darknet (English DarkNet — “hidden network”, “dark network” or “shadow network”) is a segment of the Internet that is hidden from public access. The connection in it is established between trusted peers (participants) in encrypted form, using non-standard ports and protocols. The darknet uses its own DNS, that is, domains, and address space.

You can get into the darknet using special software — for example, Tor Browser or I2P.

Tor is a browser that encrypts traffic when you are inside, but it can still be tracked at the entrance and exit.