Monitoring the Dark Web: What You Need to Know

The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, such as the sale of drugs, weapons, and stolen data. As a result, monitoring the dark web has become increasingly important for individuals and organizations looking to protect themselves from potential threats.

What is the Dark Web?

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The dark web is a collection of websites that are not indexed by search engines and cannot be accessed through traditional web browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox. Instead, users must use special software, such as the Tor browser, to access these sites. The dark web is often used for illegal activities, but it also provides a platform for individuals to communicate and share information anonymously.

Why Monitor the Dark Web?

Monitoring the dark web can help individuals and organizations stay informed about potential threats and take steps to protect themselves. For example, monitoring the dark web can alert you to:

Our AI Assistant automatically summarizes and translates posts from rooms of interest and analysts can seamlessly pivot between threat actor profiles. Even if you do manage to take down a listing offering to sell your personal data, there is no way to know how many people have already gained access to it or where else your data has been shared. In this guide, we’ll explain how Dark Web monitoring works and explore the pros and cons of 10 of the best Dark Web monitoring services in 2023. This section of the Internet requires special software (such as TOR) and configurations to access and criminal forums and marketplaces are typically hosted here (the “underground”). Solve your toughest cyber security challenges with combinations of products and services. P2P Escrow on the Dark Web refers to transactions using ‘P2SH’ addresses as defined by BIP 016.

Why Get A Dark Web Triple Scan?

• Stolen credit card information or other personal data
• Plans for cyber attacks or data breaches
• Sale of illegal goods or services
• Online harassment or cyberstalking

How to Monitor the Dark Web

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Monitoring the dark web can be challenging, as it requires specialized software and knowledge of how to navigate the dark web. Here are some steps you can take to monitor the dark web:

• Our dark web data includes more than 12 billion records attached to hacks and data breaches, and we add nearly a million new records every day.
• Dark web monitoring requires specialised skills and contacts developed over many years with the goal of looking for and finding information that pertains to specific threats your organisation faces.
• The dark web consists of websites that can only be accessed via special software like Tor, and there are more than 200,000 hidden sites offering illegal services including the sale of drugs, weapons, and stolen data.
• Utilizing a Dark Web Monitoring service is an excellent way to safeguard yourself and your family against identity theft.

• Use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your identity and location
• Use the Tor browser to access the dark web
• Use dark web search engines, such as Ahmia or not Evil, to find relevant information
• Set up alerts for specific keywords related to your organization or personal information
• Consider using a dark web monitoring service to help you stay informed about potential threats

Once your report is finished our specialists will then work with you to tackle these breaches, ensuring that any leaked credentials become invalid before issues arise and addressing the source of the data breach. Our dark web monitoring services help your business to stay on top of your dark web exposure and with the help of our specialists lower the risk of falling victim to a cyber attack due to stolen credentials. Along with the Intelligence Program that provides quarterly reporting, this service includes continuous monitoring of the Dark Web. It covers threats such as new data breaches, databases for sale, confidential information leaks and new ransomware information. Cybercriminals then capitalise on this stolen information, engaging in identity theft, perpetrating financial fraud, and sometimes even selling this data on the dark web for further exploitation.

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FAQs

What is the difference between the deep web and the dark web?

The deep web refers to all parts of the internet that are not indexed by search engines, while the dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden and requires special software to access. The deep web includes things like academic databases and corporate intranets, while the dark web is often associated with illegal activities.

A complete set of data for an individual can retail on the Dark Web for $150 when it is packaged into a digital profile. These are auctioned to criminals for identity fraud, which are used for loan applications, money laundering and impersonation. The sooner you can act, the better the chance you have to mitigate these threats or avoid them altogether. Because of complex access requirements, search engines like Google do not index entities on the dark web.

Is it illegal to access the dark web?

Gaining visibility into these untapped territories is a challenging mission. It requires a comprehensive knowledge of underground sites backed by technical expertise. All significant enterprise risk zones must be secured, including endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data. Consider systems that offer hyper-accurate detections, robotic protection and remediation, elite threat hunting, and priority testability of weaknesses, so that exploits for your ecosystem cannot be offered on illicit sites. On the darknet, hackers peddle your private data, login credentials, and access to your assets. Get actionable recommendations for new activity appearing on the Dark Web, social media platforms, or other malicious sources.

No, it is not illegal to access the dark web. However, many activities that take place on the dark web are illegal, and accessing these sites could potentially lead to legal consequences.

Can I use a regular web browser to access the dark web?

No, you cannot use a regular web browser to access the dark web. You must use special software, such as the Tor browser, to access these sites.

By staying informed about potential risks discussed on the dark web, businesses can proactively implement security measures, educate employees about new threats, and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture. Developing a plan for analyzing and responding to incidents identified through dark web monitoring is crucial in order to stay ahead of emerging threats. This involves establishing clear protocols for incident response, defining roles and responsibilities within the team, setting up effective communication channels between stakeholders, and leveraging automation where possible. Automated monitoring is a type of dark web monitoring that involves using software to scan the dark web for any mention of your organization’s name, sensitive data or other relevant information.

What is a dark web monitoring service?

A dark web monitoring service is a company that monitors the dark web for potential threats and alerts you if they find any information related to your organization or personal information.

Is it safe to use a dark web monitoring service?

Using a dark web monitoring service can be safe, but it is important to do your research and choose a reputable company. Be sure to read reviews and check their credentials before signing up for a service.