The .onion domain name is a special type of domain name that is used to access websites on the Tor network. It is a unique type of domain name that is not accessible through the regular internet, and instead requires the use of the Tor browser to access.
The .onion domain name is used to access websites that are hosted on the Tor network, which is a network of computers that are designed to provide anonymity and privacy to its users. The Tor network is used by many people to access websites that are not available on the regular internet, such as websites that are hosted in countries with restrictive internet policies.
The .onion domain name is also used to access websites that are hosted on the dark web, which is a part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is not accessible through the regular internet. The dark web is used by many people to access websites that are not available on the regular internet, such as websites that are used for illegal activities.
The .onion domain name is a unique type of domain name that provides a layer of anonymity and privacy to its users. It is an important tool for those who need to access websites that are not available on the regular internet, and it is an important tool for those who need to access websites that are hosted on the dark web.
No.
Those “random letters” are part of a process that ensures you connect to the web site you really want and not an impostor.
Tor also doesn’t have anything like DNS.
When an .onion site connects to Tor it “announces” itself with a key that cryptographically matches the string in the URL. Only the real site has the key to generate an announcement that matches what users use to connect to the site.
This prevents anyone from making a fake web site that matches the one you really want.
In the “clear” web this verification that a site is who it says it is involves third party certificates. Having a third party involved in proving onion sites are who they say they are would be a bad idea, to put it mildly.