The dark web sounds scary doesn’t it? Like something from a movie, where you see the green text flying by while the guy in the hoodie types away. Well, it’s not far off. The text probably isn’t green, unless they set their settings that way, and the hoodie is not a requirement, but the dangers are real and they are active every day wreaking havoc on businesses around the globe.
The Dark Web, a part of the World Wide Web that is only accessible by means of special browsing software, allows users and website operators to remain anonymous. The anonymity of the Dark Web allows hackers to monetize their skill sets and operate essentially as information hitmen. Anyone who might want to get their hands on private information such as customers’ or employees’ social security, banking, or personal information can post a job on the Dark Web and outsource the technical challenges to skilled hackers who take advantage of holes or exploits in security to obtain this information. As a small business owner, you might be surprised to learn how valuable your stored information can be. A search of the dark web can determine if your information is already for sale. There are also many non-technical, yet just as seedy, services and requests for services happening on the dark web, but we won’t get into those here.
So how do you protect yourself from this deep sea of danger? A scan of the dark web can determine what of your credentials are already for sale, so that you can change those passwords immediately. You can then employ a service to provide ongoing monitoring for your domain name or email, so when new a breach occurs, you are notified as soon as your information appears for sale. While not all breaches can be prevented, following these steps can minimize the damage that a data breach causes for your organization.