It may surprise you, but most internet users only surf the internet at the surface level. They only visit websites that are indexed by popular search engines. However, much content is hidden beneath this surface level on the dark web.

• What is the dark web?

About 90% of the total content on the internet cannot be accessed via search engines. This content exists on the deep web, and the websites that house this content can only be accessed with a specific URL or IP address. The deep web often stores databases from financial institutions, insurance companies, and social media sites.

A less accessible portion of the deep web, which relies on peer-to-peer connections, is called the dark web. It can be accessed via specialized software and tools, like the widely used Tor browser or the communications platform Signal.

Most internet users don’t see pages that are on the dark web or the deep web. If you picture an iceberg floating at sea, the dark web and the deep web are the parts that remain submerged and hidden from view. The dark web, which is the least accessible part of the internet, is a hotbed for criminal activity — and that’s precisely why you need dark web monitoring.

• What is dark web monitoring?

Dark web monitoring is searching and tracking information on the dark web. Organizations and individuals use dark web monitoring tools like search engines to identify confidential or sensitive information, such as compromised passwords, stolen intellectual property, health and finance records, trade secrets, and more, that may be circulating on dark web sites, forums, or chat rooms. They do this to protect against cybercriminals and other malicious actors.

• Why is it essential to monitor the dark web?

Interactions on the dark web can be characterized by one keyword — anonymity. Anybody who accesses the dark web does it through anonymizing software that encrypts data and reroutes it through the computers of others using the same program. In this way, the origin and destination of the data are protected, and anonymity is achieved.

The dark web has helped many people who’ve had to work in strict secrecy, like journalists covering oppressive regimes, political activists, and intelligence operatives. However, it has also provided hackers, terrorists, and other cyber criminals a safe (anonymous) mode to communicate and conduct nefarious activities.

Organizations and individuals protecting sensitive information must monitor the dark web to mitigate risks from stolen passwords or other leaked sensitive information.

• How does a dark web monitoring tool work?

A dark web monitoring tool works like a search engine. It searches the dark web for specific information that can be used against a user or organization, like compromised access credentials or Personally Identifiable Information (PII). As soon as it detects any hits, it notifies the stakeholders so they can quickly act to mitigate risks before bad actors take advantage of the compromises.

• What are the key features of a dark web monitoring tool?

The key features of a dark web monitoring tool are as follows:

1. Threat intelligence: Using a dark web monitoring tool, companies and individuals can bridge gaps in their cyber defense. They can search and monitor every nook and corner of the dark web for stolen credentials, leaked information, and compromised identities. This information can help prevent attacks and keep an organization’s data and networks safe.
2. Threat hunting: With cyberattacks increasing in frequency and severity, prevention certainly is a better strategy than cure. Companies and individuals can proactively use a dark web monitoring tool to look for unknown and non-remediated threats.
3. Smart integrations and automation: A dark web monitoring tool can integrate with other security solutions to help bolster your defenses against cybercriminals. It may also leverage artificial intelligence and automation to help monitor and protect your sensitive information.
4. Rapid incident response: An advanced dark web monitoring tool will help you monitor the activities on the dark web in real time and immediately alert you to any potential dangers. It may even have the capability to help you auto-remediate threats before they cause trouble.

• What are the benefits of dark web monitoring?

A dark web monitoring tool allows you to identify compromised data and when and where it was exposed. It lets you actively monitor the dark web for security threats to help you:

1. Protect your stakeholders, customers, partners, vendors, and users against identity theft and cybercrime.
2. Prevent financial and reputational damage caused by data breaches.

• How does data get on the dark web?

Cybercriminals sell information they steal from individuals and companies on the dark web, like email addresses, passwords, and more. They steal this information through one or more of the following ways:

1. Phishing: Cybercriminals pose as a legitimate organization or person and send fake emails or texts to try and obtain sensitive information from unsuspecting victims.
2. Malware: Hackers access sensitive information using malicious software designed to gain unauthorized access to computer systems and disrupt or cause damage.
3. Through unsecured infrastructure/unpatched software: When a device on a network has outdated software, it may still have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to gain access.
4. Screen scraping: Visual data displayed on screens are automatically captured by hackers, converted into text or other formats, and used for malicious purposes.
5. Keylogging: Everything typed on a mobile or computer is recorded, often without the knowledge and consent of the user, and used for illegitimate purposes.

Once hackers gain access to sensitive information, they can sell it on the dark web for a suitable price determined by how important the data is, what one can do with it, the financial resources of the victim, and other factors. They may sell the information in bulk if they gather complete records from an organization.

Source: ID Agent