Why Dark Web Monitoring is Crucial for Business Security

In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes are increasingly reliant on technology to operate and grow. However, with this reliance comes an increased risk of cyber threats, including those that originate from the dark web.

What is the Dark Web?

Sensitive Information

The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through traditional web browsers. It is often used for illegal activities, such as the sale of stolen data, weapons, and drugs. Due to its anonymity, the dark web can be a breeding ground for cybercriminals looking to exploit businesses and individuals.

What is Dark Web Monitoring?

Dark web monitoring is the process of continuously scanning the dark web for any mention of a business’s sensitive information, such as employee credentials, financial data, and intellectual property. By monitoring the dark web, businesses can quickly identify and respond to any potential threats before they result in a data breach or other cyber attack.

The average employee uses the same password 13 times, which hampers the security of their accounts. A one-password approach places them at significant risk of theft, fraud, and professional liability. Thus, it is important that employees change their passwords every 30–90 days and use strong passwords for every account.

Why is Dark Web Monitoring Important?

Dark web monitoring is crucial for businesses for several reasons:

Is Dark Web Monitoring Legitimate?

Try 1Password for free today and see how easy it is to monitor data breaches, get alerts if you’ve been compromised, and protect your accounts from criminals on the dark web. That’s why any website or app that stores your personal information could one day fall victim to a cyberattack, phishing scam, or data breach, exposing your sensitive information to hackers and scammers. Often used as a tool for illegal activities, the dark web needs monitoring. Yet, most organizations completely leave this out of their security strategy. Secrets such as API keys, access tokens, passwords, encryption keys, and access credentials often make it to the dark web and put your organization at severe risk.

• Protecting Sensitive Information: By continuously monitoring the dark web, businesses can ensure that their sensitive information is not being sold or traded on the black market. This can help prevent data breaches and other cyber attacks that can result in significant financial and reputational damage.

ZeroFox Dark Web Monitoring safeguards businesses against data leakage, breaches, and the illegal sale of data on a broad range of deep and dark web sites including TOR, I2P, ZeroNet, and Paste Sites. You’ll be able to detect the sharing of customer information, account credentials, passport numbers, and PII that puts clients, employees, brand, and business at risk. ZeroFox continuously monitors deep and dark web channels to detect and alert teams to information leakage and contextual analysis of cyberattacks.

• Identifying Insider Threats: Dark web monitoring can also help identify insider threats, such as disgruntled employees or contractors who may be selling sensitive information to external parties. By detecting these threats early, businesses can take appropriate action to mitigate the risk.
• Compliance with Regulations: Many industries have regulations that require businesses to take steps to protect sensitive information. Dark web monitoring can help businesses demonstrate compliance with these regulations and avoid costly fines and penalties.

Unfortunately, not all criminal activity takes place solely via the dark web, which means dark web monitoring software offers insufficient protection in some situations. A large volume of criminal transactions, which can include the sale and trade of fresh breach and malware-exfiltrated data, can happen through private exchange within trusted networks, encrypted chat, and closed groups. The data searches are performed by web bots and so they continue to operate around the clock.

Are There Any Free Tool Options?

How Does Dark Web Monitoring Work?

The part of the internet that is open to everyone and indexed by search engines. Many people believe that the surface web is the internet, when in reality it barely covers 10% of all existing web content. In the wrong hands, this kind of data can be used to steal your bank account numbers, credit or debit card information, or worse — your identity. Offer pros and cons are determined by our editorial team, based on independent research.

Dark web monitoring typically involves using specialized software and tools to scan the dark web for any mention of a business’s sensitive information. This can include monitoring dark web forums, marketplaces, and chat rooms where cybercriminals may be discussing or trading stolen data.

Once sensitive information is detected, the dark web monitoring service will alert the business and provide recommendations on how to mitigate the risk. This may include changing passwords, implementing additional security measures, or contacting law enforcement.

FAQs

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

• Our AI Assistant automatically summarizes and translates posts from rooms of interest and analysts can seamlessly pivot between threat actor profiles.
• That way, you can change the affected password before any cybercriminal has the chance to use it.
• Ntiva offers some of the best dark web monitoring services by combining machine-based cybersecurity tools with the knowledge and experience of our team.
• It forms a protective layer, emphasizing why Norton is often considered among the best identity theft protection services, especially to prevent child identity theft.
• Identity theft services look for signs that that your personal information may have been used fraudulently.

The deep web refers to the 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.

Stolen credentials and personal information isn’t all that is for sale on the dark web. Malicious actors will also at times steal proprietary corporate technical data such as source code, API keys, and other confidential technical data. Actively monitoring the dark web can help you identify whether proprietary corporate data is for sale.

Can dark web monitoring prevent all cyber attacks?

While dark web monitoring can help identify and mitigate potential threats, it is not a silver bullet for preventing all cyber attacks. Businesses should also implement other security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus software, and employee training, to reduce their risk of cyber threats.

Is dark web monitoring expensive?

The cost of dark web monitoring varies depending on the provider and the level of service. However, many providers offer affordable options for small and medium-sized businesses, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Can I monitor the dark web myself?

While it is possible to access the dark web using specialized software, it is not recommended for individuals without expertise in cybersecurity. The dark web can be dangerous and illegal activities are common, making it important to leave monitoring to professionals who can navigate the dark web safely and effectively.

Conclusion

In today’s digital age, businesses must take steps to protect their sensitive information from cyber threats, including those that originate from the dark web. Dark web monitoring is a crucial component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, helping businesses identify and respond to potential threats before they result in a data breach or other cyber attack. By investing in dark web monitoring, businesses can protect their sensitive information, comply with regulations, and maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.