Do you know about the Dark Web? This online marketplace for stolen data and illicit goods might be having a sale on your personal info and business data right now.
Never heard of the Dark Web?
It’s a part of the “deep web”, which is a much larger collection of websites that aren’t accessible through normal Internet browsers you and I use. In every day web browsing, we actually only access about 1% of Internet data.
The rest is the Deep Web, and the black market portion of it is known as the Dark Web. Personal information such as school and medical records, bank statements, and private emails are all part of the Dark Web.
To gain access to this information, you must be able to access an overlay network using specialized software and passwords. This is a good thing, because it keeps sensitive information safe, and prevents search engines from accessing and indexing it.
How Can Your Information End Up On The Dark Web?
Before cybercriminals can sell your data for profit on the Dark Web, they have to steal it first. They may achieve this by…
- Phishing: Phishing emails are sent to large numbers of users simultaneously in an attempt to “fish” sensitive information by posing as reputable sources; often with legitimate-looking logos attached.
- Whaling: The bad guys target top executives and administrators, typically to siphon off money from accounts or steal confidential data.
- Social Engineering: LinkedIn, Facebook and other venues provide a wealth of information about organizational personnel. This can include their contact information, connections, friends, ongoing business deals and more.
3 Ways To Keep Your Data Off The Dark Web
- Train Your Staff: Besides an initial onboarding training session, all employees should attend refresher courses throughout the year. The vast majority of cybercriminals gain access to a company’s network through mistakes made by employees.
- Protect Your Passwords: It’s advisable that you assign strong passwords to each individual employee to prevent them from using passwords that are easy to guess, as well as implementing two-factor authorization.
- Get Expert Assistance: When you’re not sure if you have the skills or knowledge to get the job done, what can you do? Work with an expert cybersecurity team – Elevate Services Group. In honor of Cyber Security Awareness Month, Elevate Services Group is offering a free cybersecurity consultation – contact kyle@elevateservicesgroup.com to claim yours.
Like this article? Check out the following blogs to learn more:
The New Ways Cybercriminals Pose a Threat to Organizations
Are You Keeping Up With FINRA’s Cybersecurity Best Practices?
Using Managed IT Services to Save You Money