It is not unlikely that something of yours may well be for sale on the Dark Web: your data, or at least specific information items like passwords and other login credentials, which presents a distinct (and very real) danger to your network cybersecurity. Among other things, the Dark Web is an anonymous clearinghouse for stolen data, the internet ‘Black Market.’ You may be surprised at what you find of yours with a ‘For Sale’ sign on it.
What best describes the dark web?
In simple terms, the dark web is a network of unindexed web content consisting of sites that are only accessible via specialized web browsers. Google won’t find any of this for you, but it’s all a part of the World Wide Web:
The three parts of the internet are:
The Surface Web everyone commonly uses. Anyone can go anywhere, every site is indexed.
The Deep Web, which contains sites that are legitimate and present no danger, but not open to the casual viewer as they contain Personally Identifying Information (PII). Any site that requires login or account data will store that here, away from prying eyes.
The Dark Web lies within a small corner of the Deep Web, and you can’t just accidentally stumble in there, as it requires special software to access. Once inside, web sites and other services can be accessed. This is a sub-layer of the Internet that is hidden from conventional search engines like Google, BING, and Yahoo - who only search .04% of the indexed or ‘surface’ Internet. The other 99.96% of the Web consists of databases, private academic and government networks, and the Dark Web.
The Dark Web is estimated to be about 550 times larger than the surface Web and growing. Ask any reputable member of the Charlotte IT Support Community and they will not only know a lot about the Dark Web, but they also know how dangerous it is for a casual user to surf around in there. Even very experienced IT services experts know better than to go in there as tourists.
What is the dark web used for?
While there is much benign content, because of the anonymity afforded by the Dark Web, it is also host to a vast array of illegal activities – ranging from the buying and selling of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as email addresses, passwords and Social Security Numbers, to engaging the services of assassins.
ITFIRM.COM Can Help
When we scan the Dark Web for our clients and find Their employee’s PII for sale, we will first identify it. If your email address is there, criminals can potentially gain access to accounts associated with it. Scanning your email is a great first step to better protect your identity because it gives you the knowledge you need to act. It can be as simple as changing email addresses or login credentials.
To ferret out stolen data, we use a special ID Agent that delivers the same advanced credential monitoring capabilities used by Fortune 500 companies. It connects to multiple Dark Web servers including Tor, 12P and Freenet, to search for compromised credentials, without requiring you to connect any of your software or hardware to these high-risk services directly. Proactive solution provides real-time awareness of compromised credentials before identity theft or data breaches occur.
Here's what Our ID Agent does:
- Identifies compromises throughout your organization, as well as:
- Monitors 24/7 365
- Reports: There are more than 80,000 compromised emails daily
- Preparation through information collection
- Offers Predictions to stay a step ahead – more than just being ready
- Prevents through proactive monitoring
About Our ID Agent
Our ID Agent provides a comprehensive set of threat intelligence and identity monitoring solutions to private and public sector organizations and to millions of individuals impacted by cyber incidents. Our flagship product combines human and sophisticated Dark Web intelligence with capabilities to identify, analyze and monitor for compromised or stolen employee and customer data, mitigating exposure to clients’ most valuable assets – their digital identity. From monitoring your organization’s domain for compromised credentials to deploying identity and credit management programs in order to protect the employees and customers you serve, we have the solution.
Many ‘IT Guys’ bandy about the word ‘proactive’ without knowing what it really means, but effective cybersecurity does not mean playing ‘catch-up ball.’ We proactively focus on cyber threats that are specific to our clients’ environments, monitoring the Dark Web and the criminal hacker underground for exposure of our clients’ credentials to malicious individuals.
We accomplish this by looking specifically for our clients’ top-level email domains. When a credential is identified, we harvest it. Although we harvest data from typical hacker sites like Pastebin, a lot of our data originates from sites that require special credentials or a membership within the hacker community to enter.
To that end, we monitor over 500 distinct Internet relay chatroom (IRC) channels, 600,000 private Websites, 600 twitter feeds, and execute 10,000 refined queries daily. No generic IT services ‘Guy’ will do all that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you remove personal information from the dark web?
It is almost impossible to remove your personal information from the internet once it's circulating on the Dark Web. However, you can use a Dark Web monitoring service to check if your data has been exposed.
If you have found your email address, SSN or other PII on the Dark Web, there are definitive steps to take immediately to ensure the best protection:
Notify the three main credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion, and place a credit freeze with each in order to prevent anyone from opening new accounts in your name. The FBI offers a comprehensive checklist and available resources for any type of identity theft on their ‘Scams and Safety’ website page.
What is dark web monitoring?
In simple terms, dark web monitoring is a process of searching for and monitoring information found on the dark web. Be careful – it’s a dangerous place for novices (and not the friendliest environment for experts).
Our Managed IT services are designed to help both public and private sector organizations detect and mitigate cyber threats that leverage stolen email addresses and passwords, which often show up for sale on the dark web. We have the technology to leverage a combination of human and artificial intelligence that scours botnets, criminal chat rooms, blogs, Websites and bulletin boards, Peer to Peer networks, forums, private networks, and other black-market sites 24/7, 365 days a year to identify stolen credentials and other personally identifiable information (PII).
What is inside the deep web?
The deep web mostly contains legitimate, non-criminal data that needs to be protected from casual observers. Among other things: Electronic bank statements, health records, emails, chat messages and private content on various platforms such as social media. It’s filled with information that consumers and businesses do not want the public to gain knowledge of – and rightly so.
If you join a website where you adopt a username and profile, the site protects that information by keeping it on the Deep Web, even though the site itself exists on the Surface Web.
As a sub-section, the Dark Web also exists within the confines of the Deep Web.
Can people track you on the dark web?
No, at least in theory. Websites there have hidden IP addresses, BUT: depending on the expertise (or lack thereof) of the web developer, it has been possible to unmask sites. Remember this rule: if you have a weakness, it will be found and exploited.
How secure is your network?
As a longstanding, reputable member of the Charlotte IT Support community, ITFIRM.COM offers a FREE, no-risk network and cybersecurity assessment. We perform a non-intrusive scan that allows us to deliver a comprehensive report of the state of your system and its vulnerabilities that is yours to keep. There are no strings attached, and you are under no obligation to ever to use our Managed IT services.
The two best defenses are next-generation network cybersecurity to protect your data from theft, and a top-notch Managed Services Provider (MSP) to ensure continued reliability and defenses against newly emerging threats.
We put our 100% Money Back Guarantee in writing, so there is no risk in trying us out. Because we do not require a ‘hard’ contract, our clients can fire us at any time with 30 days’ notice. We have to be good.
Among the Managed IT services we provide:
IT HelpDesk Service
Onsite IT Support
Cybersecurity
Cloud migration and management
Email migration services
Backup and disaster recovery
VoIP phone systems
IT disposition and recycling
Office moves
White label services (IT to IT)
Planning an Office Move?
Contact ITFIRM.COM today! We have the experience to ensure a seamless transition. After the move, your employees will arrive at the new location to find their IT infrastructure ready and open for business!
For more information on moving, or to receive your FREE no-risk network and cybersecurity assessment, just fill out the form on this page or call us at:
704-565-9705
