Dark Web Monitoring
Business Dark Web Monitoring Services
What Are Dark Web Monitoring Services
Dark Web Monitoring is a service that routinely scans the dark web for places where information is bought and sold in order to find out if your valuable information is there. The monitoring company then notifies you if your information is discovered. Dark Web monitoring companies, like the ones Alexonet partners with, keep an eye on the happenings in the deep recesses of the internet to take care of this for you, giving you ongoing, proactive security.
What is the Dark Web
Every day, people around the world use the internet, yet the part of the web that we access is just the tip of the iceberg. This everyday part of the internet, known as the “Clear Web,” only accounts for a very small percentage of everything that’s online.
Further down is the “Deep Web,” which is the name for the part of the internet that has most of the websites and pages. The Deep Web is not nefarious, it is simply where all of the websites and pages that contain private information can be found. Information that is neither meant for the public, nor indexed by Google and other search engines resides in the Deep Web.
The deepest layer of the iceberg is called the Dark Web. Unlike the Clear Web and the Deep Web, the Dark Web is chock-full of illegal websites, chat rooms, and other anonymous communications. This section of the web cannot be accessed through Google Chrome, Firefox, or other popular web browsers. Instead, this part of the internet is accessed using a variety of special tools.
While there are certainly non-illicit uses for the Dark Web, the anonymity of browsing and communicating, unfortunately, gives rise to a lot of illegal activity, which has the potential to cost the average internet user a lot, and the average business even more, if their private information is found.
What is the Potential Harm
If you’re wondering where all the stolen information and data goes after a cyber security breach, the short answer is that it often goes to the Dark Web. Whenever you (or your customers) interact with companies online, you’re more than likely giving them your information. The information you enter onto websites can be something as simple as your name and email, or it can be highly confidential information like your passport information, your social security number (SSN), your credit card information, and other pieces of data you’d rather keep on a need-to-know basis. Be it through a security breach, unsecured networks, or brute force hacking, once your information is out there, it may be shared and sold illegally on the Dark Web.
What is Dark Web Monitoring
Dark Web Monitoring is a service that routinely scans the dark web for places where information is bought and sold in order to find out if your valuable information is there. The monitoring company then notifies you if your information is discovered. Alexonet partners with Dark Web monitoring companies to keep an eye on the happenings in the deep recesses of the internet, giving you ongoing, proactive security.
Through the relationship that Alexonet has with Dark Web Monitoring partners, you can rest easy knowing that we will always be scanning the Dark Web on your behalf. By using our expertise and an array of special tools, we can protect you by notifying you if we find your information, and helping you to reduce or avoid threats.
To get started, we simply need to understand the scope of your network, any potential threats you suspect may be occurring, and just how involved you want our team to be. Discuss those details with us today for an estimate, and sleep better from now on.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is dark web monitoring?
Dark web monitoring is a cybersecurity service that routinely searches for specific user data through the dark web, a part of the Internet known for selling sensitive information. This data can include passwords, identity details, account information, and other private organizational data.
The service works by actively scanning discussion boards, marketplaces, and other places where cybercriminals may buy and sell sensitive data such as credit card details or personally identifiable information such as full names, DOBs, SSNs, driver's licenses, etc.
If your information is found, the monitoring service promptly alerts you to the situation. It allows you to correct a security breach by changing the affected passwords, increasing security measures, or informing affected people.
Why is dark web monitoring important?
In today's global networked business environment, data loss is on the rise, and most of the leaked information finds its way to the dark web. That is why dark web monitoring is an indispensable tool for businesses.
Much of the information you collect can be misused in the wrong hands—data such as personnel identification or customer credit card information. For businesses, this could result in aggravating consequences that range from financial loss, damage to business reputation, possible legal liabilities, and regulatory fines.
A dark web monitoring service can quickly help to identify breaches when they occur and prevent their consequences from spreading through your system or to third-party businesses that work with you.
Can dark web monitoring be used to stop data breaches?
In essence, dark web monitoring cannot stop data breaches on the primary level because it is an indirect response type. It is best suited once a breach has happened as it assists companies in controlling losses and potential liabilities following the cybersecurity incident.
However, it can be a valuable addition to a comprehensive cybersecurity arsenal in conjunction with other preventive measures, such as firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication, to provide full-service protection from cyber threats.
What should I do if my information is found on the dark web?
When a dark web monitoring sweep alerts you that your data has been compromised, you should act quickly to avoid further misuse.
- If your account has been compromised, change your passwords and enable multi-factor authentication so you can keep your online accounts secure.
- Find out whether it is necessary to inform the affected financial institutions when payment details, including account details, have been disclosed to crooks with intentions of embezzling from the breached institution.
- Perform a comprehensive security audit and analyze forensic reports to determine the point of entry and plug other potential loopholes in your IT security environment.
- If you discover your client's information has been leaked, follow proper incident reporting procedures to alert them. You should also assure them that you're preventing a recurrence. Transparency and accountability can go a long way in repairing your brand's image.
Is dark web monitoring legal?
Yes, employing dark web monitoring services for your business is legal.
A reputable IT service provider like Alexonet with experience providing dark web monitoring services for businesses assures you of legality.
Dark web monitoring services exist to protect businesses and their customers' data so that it is not exploited in the event of a data breach. Services like Alexonet alert and give recommendations to control the exploit and protect against future complications while maintaining complete compliance with ethical standards and laws.
What is the potential harm if my information is found on the dark web?
- Identity Theft: Using information obtained through credit and debit card details, social security numbers (SSNs), passport details, and driver's license numbers, hackers can create a fake identity, fill out an application for a credit card or loan, or make unauthorized transactions.
- Financial Loss: In case of a data breach involving banking information or credit card details, attackers can use the details for purchases, wire transfers, and other fraudulent transactions.
- Reputational Damage: For businesses, identifying their customer or proprietary data on the dark web poses risks in terms of damaged reputation with customers, potential loss of business, legal consequences, and regulatory fines.
- Fraud and Scams: Criminals can use stolen data to launch social engineering attacks, introduce malware or ransomware into a network, or extort the victim.
- Legal Consequences: Compromised security measures leading to data leaks may result in legal action from the affected customers. Regulatory bodies like the GDPR and HIPAA may also launch investigations with legal ramifications depending on the sector in which you operate.