Paulo draws insight from years of experience serving as an infrastructure architect, team leader, and product developer in rapidly scaling web environments. He’s driven to share his expertise with other technology leaders to help them build great teams, improve performance, optimize resources, and create foundations for scalability. Below is a list of additional dark web monitoring tools that I shortlisted, but did not make it to the top 12. Flare is a cybersecurity platform designed with scalability in mind, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. I chose ZeroFox because it offers unique features aimed specifically at brand protection and tracking digital footprints.
Cybersecurity Solved
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 an important task for law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity professionals, and businesses alike.
Our expert security research team has visibility into criminal communities and underground marketplaces where stolen data is traded and sold. Other business segments like retail or pharma are more susceptible to nontraditional attacks like brand spoofing in the form of fake domains or phishing attacks, according to Schneider. In his view digital footprint monitoring is a particularly valuable tool and will often include a dark web component.
Why Monitor the Dark Web?
Navigate Evolving Threats With A Trusted Dark Web Monitoring Tool
Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence: Monitoring the dark web can provide valuable intelligence on potential cybersecurity threats. For example, hackers may sell stolen data or discuss planned attacks on the dark web. By monitoring these activities, organizations can take proactive measures to protect themselves.
Brand Protection: The dark web is also a popular place for the sale of counterfeit goods and trademark infringement. By monitoring the dark web, brands can identify and take action against those who are selling fake products or using their trademarks without permission.
Investigations: Law enforcement agencies use dark web monitoring to investigate illegal activities, such as child exploitation, human trafficking, and terrorism. By monitoring the dark web, they can identify and track suspects, gather evidence, and build cases against them.
Who Needs A Dark Web Monitoring Service?
But drugs and weapons aren’t the only commodities traded on the dark web; data can also be sold. This includes compromised account credentials, credit card details, addresses, and social security numbers. You might not even know that your organization has been hacked, but your company and employee details could end up for sale. Exploring the intricacies of dark websites reveals a complex underworld where cyber threats and criminal forums thrive. These sites often harbor malicious software and compromised credentials, posing significant risks to individuals and organizations alike. Dark web monitoring tools work by continuously scanning the dark web and deep web for any data that may be relevant to a business.
How to Monitor the Dark Web
Monitoring the dark web can be challenging, as it requires specialized tools and knowledge. Here are some steps you can take to monitor the dark web:
- Use Dark Web Monitoring Tools: There are several tools available that can help you monitor the dark web. These tools use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to scan the dark web for specific keywords, phrases, and images. Some popular dark web monitoring tools include DarkOwl, Webhose, and Sixgill.
- Partner with a Dark Web Monitoring Service: If you don’t have the resources or expertise to monitor the dark web yourself, you can partner with a dark web monitoring service. These services use specialized tools and trained analysts to monitor the dark web on your behalf. Some popular dark web monitoring services include Flashpoint, Recorded Future, and Terbium Labs.
- Follow Dark Web News and Forums: Staying up-to-date on the latest dark web news and forums can help you identify potential threats and trends. Some popular dark web forums include Tor Carding Forum, Dread, and The Hub.
Read on to learn more about dark web monitoring and how it can help protect you from having your accounts compromised and your identity stolen. With data breaches on the rise, unnoticed activity on the dark web puts organizations at risk. Many solutions offer dark web monitoring that is hard to parse and difficult to glean actionable insight. Cut through noisy and complex logs and understand what threats pose the most significant impact on your organization with Bolster’s complete dark web monitoring platform.
FAQs
What is the dark web? 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.
- Keeping you safe online means protecting your information and respecting your privacy.
- Make sure your credentials aren’t found on the dark web, a hotbed of cybercrime.
- Even though the dark web is comparatively small when compared with the clear web, there are dozens of markets spanning thousands of pages.
- The GreyMatter DRP platform can be seamlessly integrated into an organization’s existing security operations tech stack, enhancing visibility across multiple tools and providing valuable context and insights.
Why is monitoring the dark web important? Monitoring the dark web can provide valuable intelligence on potential cybersecurity threats, protect brands from counterfeit goods and trademark infringement, and help law enforcement agencies investigate illegal activities.
How can I monitor the dark web? You can monitor the dark web using specialized tools and services, following dark web news and forums, and partnering with a dark web monitoring service.
What is the best dark web monitoring service?
- Aura – Most Comprehensive.
- Identity Guard® – Best With AI Protection.
- LifeLock – Best Web Alerts.
- IdentityForce – Best With Credit Monitoring.
- ID Watchdog – Best Value Dark Web Monitoring.
- Experian IdentityWorks – Best Dark Web Scan.
Is it legal to monitor the dark web? Yes, it is legal to monitor the dark web for legitimate purposes, such as cybersecurity threat intelligence, brand protection, and investigations. However, it is illegal to engage in illegal activities on the dark web.
What are the most common crimes on the dark web?
Approximately what percentage of cyber crime takes place on the dark web? According to the RAND report it's estimated, that over half of the sites on the dark web are linked to criminal activity. The illegal actions include drug trades, crypto currency transactions, weapon purchases, and malware scams.
