A dark web marketplace is a website that operates on the dark web, which is a subset of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. Dark web marketplaces are used to trade goods and services that are either illegal or not easily accessible through traditional means. These goods and services can range from illicit drugs to stolen data and stolen credit card information. The majority of dark web marketplaces are run by anonymous individuals or groups and use a variety of cryptographic techniques to protect the privacy of sellers and buyers.

Dark web marketplaces are typically accessed through the Tor browser, which is a special version of the Firefox browser that has been modified to enable anonymous web browsing. The Tor browser allows users to access webpages without revealing their true IP address, making it difficult for law enforcement to track users’ activities. In addition, dark web marketplaces use various encryption techniques to ensure that transactions are secure.

Dark web marketplaces are also known for their use of digital currencies, such as Bitcoin, to facilitate transactions. In addition to providing anonymity, digital currencies offer the additional benefit of being difficult to track and trace. While dark web marketplaces can be used for legitimate purposes, they are more commonly used for illegal activities and should be avoided by those who do not want to be associated with criminal activities.