Dark web monitoring services can help you protect sensitive personal data from being abused.
Data breaches are becoming alarmingly common, with over 2,800 incidents reported in 2023. The stolen data is often sold on the dark web, where dark web monitoring comes in.
The dark web is a part of the Internet accessible through special browsers and search engines. It’s notorious for accommodating illegal activities, and information malicious actors can use.
If your data ends up on the dark web, it can cause havoc, not to mention reputational damage.
This article provides all the details about dark web monitoring and how it should form a key component of your cybersecurity strategy.
Dark Web Security Concerns
Before we talk about dark web monitoring, it’s important to discuss dark web threats and risks.
If you don’t use the dark web, you may think you have nothing to worry about.
But that’s hardly the case, with attackers targeting small and large businesses to sell their information online through the dark web.
A competitor might sabotage your business even if an attacker isn’t stealing and selling your information.
Here’s the type of data that’s typically found on the dark web:
- Username and passwords: Compromised credentials of users for a particular system or application (for example, a banking app) are often sold through the dark web.
- Personally identifiable information (PII): Personal information such as your full name, address, and social security number (SSN) may be shared and result in dark web identity theft.
- Financial information: Bank account numbers, debit/credit card numbers, and security codes can be sold through the dark web, resulting in financial loss.
- Digital certificates for communication: Companies that use digital certificates to secure communication lines may find their certificates on the dark web, which people can use to monitor communication.
The dark web is a big threat to businesses, regardless of size or industry.
Bad actors are constantly on the hunt for information. They exploit businesses' security weaknesses to steal information and sell it online.
They typically use hacking, phishing, and malware to breach security and gain access to sensitive data.
And the dark web provides the perfect place for them to profit off of stolen private data.
What is Dark Web Monitoring?
Dark web monitoring is threat intelligence that monitors millions of websites on the dark web to locate possibly compromised information.
It employs tools that actively search websites to find information about your business or you.
The purpose of dark web monitoring is to detect information as soon as it’s shared on the dark web so appropriate action can be taken.
For instance, if the email and password of an employee end up on the dark web, a monitoring tool can instantly alert the security personnel, and they can take action, for example, change the password or delete sensitive emails.
How Do Dark Web Monitoring Services Work?
Dark web monitoring services use special software that crawls through millions of websites, especially marketplaces, to search for data that may be relevant to the business, for example, email addresses, bank accounts, or security questions/answers.
The way this typically works is that the tool is provided with certain keywords relevant to a business or its employees.
The tool then scans the dark web to look for any mentions of the keywords.
It alerts the designated person if it discovers any information relevant to the keywords.
A dark web monitoring provider can set up alerts (for example, email notifications) and take action to prevent data breach attacks.
Dark web monitoring services are always on, meaning they keep scanning the dark web around the clock.
They report any relevant dark web activity almost in real time. This ensures that any leaked information is detected promptly and alerts generated timely to prevent further harm.
Why Use Dark Web Monitoring Services?
Dark web monitoring is essentially threat hunting, which involves proactively looking for possible cyber threats.
While investing in cybersecurity solutions like antiviruses or network monitoring tools is crucial, dark web monitoring serves as another layer of defense.
Here are the advantages of dark web monitoring:
Detection of Data Breach
Unfortunately, hackers are getting extremely sophisticated, which makes data breaches all the more likely.
Even with proper security protocols and tools, you should take security to the next level with dark web monitoring.
Should your security lapse and data get breached, perhaps because of a human error or configuration vulnerability, dark web monitoring will help you detect it before it’s too late.
For instance, if a hacker gets access to a secret contract and leaks it on the dark web, a monitoring service can detect it before your competitors or any other bad actor gets a whiff of it.
Protect Personal Information Online
Dark Web scams and frauds often involve the PII of innocent individuals. And these individuals may very well be your employees.
The PII can be used to steal their identity and commit crimes or fraud, which can have devastating consequences for them.
Prevent Financial Loss
The information most susceptible to breaches is financial information, like credit card or online banking information.
You may face hefty financial losses if your financial information or credentials are stolen and leaked on the dark web.
While banks offer some protection in such instances, there’s no guarantee that your money will be returned.
The average data breach cost has gone insanely high in recent years, with IBM putting the average at $4.45 million in 2023.
Compliance with Regulations
Data protection and privacy regulations like HIPAA and GDPR have become increasingly strict, so businesses must go the extra mile to protect their customer data.
If your client data ends up on the dark web, it can result in customer loss and damage to your reputation.
Your business may also be fined for data security and privacy negligence, making recovering from dark web attacks even more difficult.
How to Protect Your Business and Personal Information with Dark Web Monitoring
Dark web monitoring should form a cornerstone of your security strategy.
While free dark web scanners are available online, they're not advanced enough to detect threats in real-time.
They’re typically one-time scanners that must be used repeatedly for active threat detection.
Investing in solid dark web cybersecurity solutions that provide comprehensive detection, information, and mitigation is best. Why, you ask?
Besides your regular cybersecurity solutions, working with a professional dark web monitoring service can help solidify your security even more.
Choose a provider that offers features specific to your business needs. Here’s what a reliable dark web monitoring solution looks like:
Comprehensive Scanning
The dark web monitoring solution should be able to scan every corner of the dark internet, including private marketplaces.
It should leave no stone unturned to ensure that any mention of your keywords and data traces are not missed.
Real-Time Alerts
Most importantly, you should be able to set up and receive custom alerts in real-time so that necessary actions can be taken.
If the alert is a few minutes late, you may not have enough time to secure your systems and data.
Also, the alerts should use a medium that you are most likely to respond to, for example, email or SMS.
Actionable Insights
The dark web monitoring service should offer you valuable insights that consequently help you improve your business's cybersecurity.
This may also include the recommendations for further improving access controls and threat detection.
Reliable Dark Web Scan Service
The CyberLynx Dark Web Scan is a professional service for businesses to find illegally acquired information related to them.
It provides a comprehensive report of findings that detail everything you need to know about your business information and its presence on the dark web.
You can get a one-time report or set up the service for continuous monitoring. Should a threat be detected, the CyberLynx team will alert you immediately.
You’ll also get a personalized consultation about the scan's findings, with expert recommendations on how to stay safe on the dark web.
FAQ
What does a dark web scan do?
A dark web scan searches for traces of your personal or business information on the dark web, a part of the Internet often used by hackers and criminals.
It aims to identify potential security risks or instances of identity theft.
How does your information get on the dark web?
Information typically ends up on the dark web through various means, such as data breaches (due to human or security errors/vulnerability), hacking incidents, or the sale of personal data on illicit online marketplaces.
Cybercriminals may exploit or trade your information for malicious purposes, for instance, commit fraud in your name.
Can I remove my info from the dark web?
It may not be possible to remove your information from the dark web completely. Still, you can take steps to mitigate risks by enhancing online security, regularly monitoring accounts for suspicious activity, and promptly addressing any incidents of identity theft through legal channels.
Changing your compromised email or password may help. If your financial information has been shared, make sure to block your account, credit card, etc., immediately and get new ones.