How to Protect Data from the Dark Web – Guide
The dark web is a troubling reality that can harm your finances or identity. It’s good to be cautious because it means you’re ready to learn how to take cover. Take some time to learn about safe practices when browsing the Internet. Historically, the dark web was conceived as a network for professionals such as government officials and journalists to collaborate on confidential projects and share proprietary information. Today, predators, criminals, and identity thieves often lurk on the dark web. The Dark Web gets its name because it hides tracking information such as IP addresses and URLs, allowing all activity to essentially take place in the dark. It is a hidden area of the internet where stolen social security numbers can be traded or sold for the purposes of identity theft and fraud.
Traditional search engines and browsers cannot find dark websites. Dark website URLs use special software that prevents search engines and crawlers from indexing your links. This software also prevents tracking – which makes the dark web a perfect place for illegal activities. Dark websites are typically used to provide criminals and dissidents with anonymity, sale of contraband, and access to taboo information. Financial institutions, including CFNA, and their partners often search the dark web for this information to determine whether their institutions or customers have been compromised. ..
How to Protect Dark Web Data
Witt offers several tips on how individuals and businesses can protect themselves against account takeover and credential theft.
Use a password manager.
Keeper, True Key, and many others generate complex, unique and encrypted passwords for all the websites you need to access. There are many types of password managers, but no matter which one you choose, they go a long way toward eliminating the problem of password reuse. In combination with other security steps like two-factor authentication, password managers can create significant obstacles for cyber criminals trying to break into your accounts.
Be pro active.
Witt recommends allocating a small percentage of your budget to external credential and identity monitoring systems to reduce the risk of your data being disclosed after a breach. Criminals can stay in breach data for up to 18 months before exploiting it, giving your data time to roam clandestinely. However, they can share or sell breach data on the dark web without acting on it, which gives companies the opportunity to find their stolen material before criminals use it.
Protect employee personal accounts
As people tend to use the same password on multiple accounts, if an employee’s personal email account is hacked, cyber criminals can gain access to your company’s networks using the same password. Witt suggested that companies extend security protection to employee accounts to lessen the risk of harm from password reuse. He also recommends extending these protections to employees’ family members to protect their larger online networks. When an employee or customer whose credentials have been compromised logs into their systems, “if a password is exposed, criminals are likely to use it.”
Automate account takeover prevention.
Password and account protection should be automated as much as possible to reduce the chances of user error or fraud. By using technology such as SpyCloud’s ATO Prevention software, Imperva’s ThreatRadar, or LexisNexis’ ThreatMetrix, you can ensure that your security measures are constant, current, and routine. ..
Final note
This guide is designed to help you protect your data from the dark web. If you have any query about this article, please feel free to ask us. Additionally, please share this guide with your friends and family so that they too can be protected from the dangers of the dark web.
