Is your Data on Sale on the Dark Web?

By now, most people have heard something about the dark web, but it’s largely still a mystery to the general public. This part of the web is ‘dark’ in two ways – because it’s hidden underneath our ‘surface’ internet, and because it’s a perilous place.

The data-collection mavens at Traversals point out the differences between the three components of the Worldwide Web:
1: The Surface web that we all use every day, is made up of indexed sites. We think of it as our little playground that is only about 5% of the web.

2: The Deep Web is the vast storehouse where non-indexed but legitimate data comprises 95% of the web. This is where your passwords and other sensitive information is stored.

3: The Dark Web, a small section of the Deep Web, operates as a kind of cyber ‘Black Market.’ This comprises only about .01% of the web, but it’s the most dangerous part.

Without special software, you can’t access the Dark Web from here. Google search is no help. Criminals use the dark web for many bad things, including at least one documented and prosecuted ‘murder for hire.’ The aspect we’re concerned with is the sale of stolen data. If your data ends up there, you should be the first to know.

Dark web monitoring services will keep you informed.

How does dark web monitoring work?

It does what it sounds like: dark web monitoring checks to see if your information has been stolen and put up for sale on the dark web. It can find stolen passwords, login credentials, banking information and credit card numbers – among many other things. This helps you know if someone stole your data
Protect Your Identity by Monitoring 

Regular monitoring enables you to find out early if thieves are selling your stolen information on the dark web. If so, you need to react quickly by changing passwords to protect yourself.

Monitoring is Crucial for Businesses

Consumers have much at stake here, but it’s even more important for businesses. A consumer might suffer identity theft and stolen money, but a serious breach can put a company out of business. It shows them if someone hacked their data. They can act quickly to stop more damage – such as a full-on data breach.

Here’s how you do it:

Special tools are required to monitor the dark web -they search the dark web in real time, looking for specific information, like Social Security Numbers (SSNs), email addresses or credit card numbers.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is key 

Seek out monitoring tools that incorporate artificial intelligence because it speeds up the search and performs better by spotting patterns that people might miss.

Enable Alerts

Set up your monitoring tools to send an alert when they find your information. This tells you right away if someone stole your data.

Do NOT try wandering around the dark web on your own. Enlist the help of an IT services professional.

What information can be found on the dark web? 

The top three things with dark web monitoring:

Passwords

Credit Card Numbers

Social Security Numbers (SSNs)

Bear in mind that for the best protection, dark web monitoring is not enough. You need a full palette of cybersecurity tools. Dark web monitoring is important, but it has limits. You still need to be careful online. Here are other things you can do:

Create strong passwords: Year after year, the world’s most common password is ‘123456’ – and it’s the first thing hackers try and it’s the easiest to crack (takes less than a second) . Make long, hard-to-guess passwords. Use different ones for each account.

Exercise caution with what you share: Don’t put too much personal info online. Be careful on social media. If most of your photos feature your dog ‘Fluffymuffin,’ guess what hackers will try (if ‘123456’ doesn’t work).

Always keep your software updated and patched: Always update your computer and phone. This helps keep hackers out.

Getting Started

Dark web monitoring is simple to set up:

Paid Options: There are a number of companies you can hire that focus just on dark web monitoring. They often have more features than free options.

Free Options: Some banks do offer it for free. Check with your bank or credit card company but always remember that you get what you pay for.

After you set up dark web monitoring, check it often – at least once a week is good. If you get an alert, check right away.

What happens if your data is on the dark web?

It’s not good, but don’t panic. If your info shows up on the dark web, immediately do these things:
1: Change Passwords: Change the password for any account that was found. Use a new, strong password.

2: Audit Your Accounts: Look at your bank and credit card statements. Make sure nothing looks wrong.

3: Freeze Your Credit: This may be inconvenient in the short term but makes it harder for someone to open or access accounts in your name.

Is it worth having dark web monitoring?

Since a severe breach can put you out of business, the answer is a resounding YES. Dark web monitoring is well worth the cost. It helps you detect and respond to threats before they escalate into major breaches. Taking a proactive approach allows you to identify risks early, protect sensitive data and prevent financial losses. Dark web monitoring is very useful. It tells you when someone steals your information. You can then act fast to protect yourself.