.onion
.onion is a special top-level domain name denoting an anonymous onion service formerly known as the "hidden service", accessible through the Tor network. These addresses are not real DNS names, and the .onion TLD is not in the Internet DNS root directory. However, if the appropriate proxy software is installed, Internet programs such as web browsers can access websites with .onion addresses by sending the request over the Tor network.
The purpose of using such a system is to make it difficult to trace both the information provider and the person accessing the information, whether by the other, an intermediary network host, or an outsider. Web sites that offer special .onion addresses can provide an additional layer of identity assurance via EV HTTPS certificates. Providing an onion site also helps mitigate SSL stripping attacks by malicious exit nodes on the Tor network on users who would otherwise access traditional HTTPS clearnet pages through Tor.
The purpose of using such a system is to make it difficult to trace both the information provider and the person accessing the information, whether by the other, an intermediary network host, or an outsider. Web sites that offer special .onion addresses can provide an additional layer of identity assurance via EV HTTPS certificates. Providing an onion site also helps mitigate SSL stripping attacks by malicious exit nodes on the Tor network on users who would otherwise access traditional HTTPS clearnet pages through Tor.
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