What Is the Dark Web?

What Is the Dark Web and Why Does It Want Your Data?

If you’ve never heard of the dark web, you’re not alone. If you’ve heard of the dark web but aren’t really sure what it is, you’re still not alone. Chances are that you’ve never found yourself on a dark web site or forum, and likely never will. The dark web is a place most Internet users don’t find because Internet searches don’t include results from the dark web.

The dark web isn’t accessible for most Internet users, hidden behind numerous layers of protection to prevent accidental discovery. These protections serve to prevent just anyone from finding dark web sites and forums and keep the data available accessible only to those who know what they are looking for and how to use it.

The dark web is an online network of sites and forums, many of which sell information to those who know what they are trying to find. Similar to an enormous database or marketplace, the dark web gives users access to personal information available for sale, including:

• Personal information like names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers
• Financial account information like credit card numbers, bank account information, and PIN codes
• Sensitive account information like email addresses and passwords

Like any online marketplace, the dark web sells information for profit to those looking to find personal information of individuals to use or resell for profit – the very definition of identity theft. Unfortunately, this information isn’t limited to individuals and is likely to include financial records – and more – for businesses, too. Cloaked behind layers of added security, the dark web is that much harder for average Internet users to find and shut down.

How Do You Know If Your Data Is Exposed on the Dark Web?

It is. With the modern technology available, cybercriminals have a sophisticated tool kit at their disposal to gain unauthorized access to networks and information to sell on the dark web. The dark web is also a marketplace that sells software to cybercriminals designed to hack into networks undetected to access information.

Your best approach is two combined steps:

• A Dark Web Scan. A Dark Web Scan combs through the dark web, with its countless illegal marketplaces, forums and websites, to determine where your data is being “shopped”.
• Cybersecurity Improvements. From software upgrades to equipment purchases, enhancing your technology security is the best first step to protecting your network from unauthorized users.

You Can Also Proactively Protect Your Business and Your Data from the Dark Web

Your greatest asset for your business is also your weakest link: your staff. Anyone who has access to your network or your data is a risk to your data security. You can minimize this risk with a few key steps:

• Cybersecurity Training – Train your staff on the most current cybersecurity best practices for passwords, including how to set secure passwords, how often to change passwords, and how to access data securely.
• Vulnerability Testing – Test your network often for security weaknesses that can grant cybercriminals access to your data and fix them immediately.
• Network Security – Monitor your network activity, and consider 24/7 network monitoring services to detect and resolve situations like unauthorized users.

Protect your future by protecting your data against the dark web with a dark web scan today.