The dark web, a hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines, presents unique challenges and risks for organizations. With illegal activities such as cybercrime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking taking place on the dark web, it is essential for businesses to monitor this space to protect their information and reputation.
Individuals can use dark web monitoring services to see if personal data such as social security numbers, login credentials or credit card numbers appear in illicit dark web marketplaces. Often, hackers gather personal or other sensitive information and sell it in bulk on the dark web, where it could be used for identity theft, phishing campaigns, ransomware or other exploits. These techniques are also used to retrieve personal data and post it on the dark web. By continuously monitoring the dark web, these services can pick up early warnings of data breaches, identity theft, and compromised credentials.
Backdoored And Breached Systems In The Dark Web
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and cannot be accessed through standard browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. It requires special software, such as Tor, to access, and is often used for illegal activities due to its anonymity and encryption features.
The Key Benefits Of Dark Web Monitoring
Why Monitor the Dark Web?
Monitoring the dark web allows organizations to:
- Identify Security Threats: By monitoring the dark web, businesses can stay ahead of potential security threats, such as data breaches or hacking attempts.
- Protect Sensitive Information: Monitoring the dark web helps organizations identify if their sensitive information, such as customer data or intellectual property, is being bought or sold illegally.
- Mitigate Reputational Risks: By proactively monitoring the dark web, businesses can prevent damage to their reputation caused by associations with illegal activities or data breaches.
Dark web monitoring tools offer improved detection against threats on the dark web versus identity theft monitoring tools or antimalware and antivirus programs. Identity theft monitoring tools are designed to protect individuals rather than businesses. Antimalware and antivirus programs aim to prevent malicious code from running from the start, but they do not help after the fact.
Cyber Threat Intelligence
- Trusting a dark web monitoring tool, service, or platform would serve your team well.
- Legitimate but walled-off parts of the internet that are not indexed by search engines, such as email accounts and online banking pages.
- Ensure you have legal protection in place, including provisions for inappropriate actions.
- Unfortunately, by the time stolen credentials appear on the deep and dark web, the data has often been available for months or years within criminal private communities.
FAQs about Monitoring the Dark Web
By offering a service that monitors the dark web, MSSPs and MDR providers are doing clients a great service. It allows them to proactively identify threats to their security and take action to mitigate them before they cause damage. Simply put, dark web monitoring is crucial to assessing all channels where your company data could be leaked and misused, mitigating any exposure, and preventing future leaks.
How Can Organizations Monitor the Dark Web?
You can also integrate the data collected by a dark web monitoring platform into other security systems. This allows you to create more accurate insights from the entire security stack. If your personal identity is compromised by a widespread hack (or even individual online hackers), IDStrong provides immediately accessible support. IDStrong’s Data Breach and Exposure Reports give you a comprehensive picture of your online security. If your financial or personal online identity has been compromised, you’ll know immediately. For businesses, Dashlane offers features like customizable security settings (2FA, single sign-on, and more) and employee groups for secure password sharing and increased productivity.
What is the most valuable data on the dark web?
It's no secret that healthcare is the industry most plagued by data breaches. Patient data is the most valuable, making it targeted by bad actors. Reports show the value of a health record can be worth as much as $1,000, whereas on the dark web, a credit card number is worth $5 and Social Security numbers are worth $1.
There are several ways organizations can monitor the dark web, including:
- Using Dark Web Monitoring Services: Many cybersecurity firms offer dark web monitoring services that scan the dark web for mentions of a company’s name, domains, or other relevant keywords.
- Setting up Alerts: Organizations can set up alerts for specific keywords or phrases related to their business to receive notifications if they appear on the dark web.
- Employing Threat Intelligence Teams: Some organizations have dedicated threat intelligence teams that actively monitor the dark web for potential threats and risks.
Is Monitoring the Dark Web Legal?
Can the police look through my phone?
Even if police seize your mobile phone when they arrest you, they cannot search the data on your phone until they get a warrant first. However, police can lawfully search your cell phone without a warrant if you consent to the search or if you are on probation or parole.
Monitoring the dark web for security purposes is generally legal. However, organizations must ensure they are complying with all relevant laws and regulations when monitoring the dark web, especially regarding privacy and data protection.
In conclusion, monitoring the dark web is crucial for organizations looking to protect their information, mitigate risks, and safeguard their reputation in an increasingly digital world.
What happens if you get tracked on the dark web?
You cannot be tracked when using these technologies. There's no way for hackers to find you. You can't identify them, either, but you can find out what information they put on the web and track that down.
