Monitoring The Dark Web

Identity Monitoring

Concensus Technologies offers tailored cybersecurity solutions that fit any size organization. For over two decades, we’ve worked with large corporations, government facilities, educational institutions, and small and mid-sized businesses. You’re alerted as soon as any company information, such as your domain, IP address, or email addresses are found. You’re no longer in the dark about the theft, and we help you take the measures necessary to mitigate the damage. The dark web contains many websites, illegal marketplaces, criminal content, and more. While a lot of the dark contains harmful content and is a breeding ground for cyber-criminals to sell their services, the dark web is also useful for governments, journalists, and whistleblowers.

Understanding the Importance of Monitoring the Dark Web

• To access the dark web, you need to use an anonymizing browser called The Onion Router – or Tor.
• The “dark web” refers to the section of the internet that requires additional privacy support from visitors that can be provided by services like Tor and I2P.
• Explore our multi-vendor XDR platform, delivering Mandiant products and integrating with a range of leading security operations technology.

Experts thoroughly monitor the dark web to eliminate any form of personal data leakages that can cause you billions and hamper the reputation of the company. Our cyber specialists will use industry-leading monitoring technology and tools to track the presence of your company on the dark web. Our deep and dark web monitoring specialists will constantly monitoring your businesses exposure and keep you updated on any breaches of security. The deep web is a vast collection of websites on the internet that are hidden and can’t be accessed through the world wide web. It is used to store private and protected sites which are accessed via passwords and authentication. This can include password-protected social media or online banking sites, business intranets or retail sites hosting sensitive customer data.

In turn, this makes it harder for crooks to steal your personal data and resell it. Barclay has been writing about technology for a decade, starting out as a freelancer with ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up scene to comparisons of the best cloud storage services. After that, he spent some time as the managing editor of an online outlet focusing on cloud computing, furthering his interest in virtualization, Big Data, and the Internet of Things.

With increased digitization, the risks associated with data breaches and cyber threats have escalated, making monitoring the dark web a crucial aspect of cybersecurity. The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by conventional search engines, making it a hidden landscape for illicit activities.

A second strand of the service scans the Dark Web for data leaks relating to the protected business with particular attention paid to intellectual property and trade secrets. Although the service doesn’t look for all user account details, it does scour illegal sites for the disclosure of privileged credentials, such as the usernames and passwords of network administrator or DBA accounts. ThreatCover offers tooling for security analysts to deep dive into threat intelligence feeds, allowing optimal data quality and context from which response teams can initiate incident response. CTM360 can also facilitate takedowns internationally through its Takedown++ service.

Get actionable recommendations for new activity appearing on the Dark Web, social media platforms, or other malicious sources. If a breach-related security alert is generated, we also provide contextual awareness to our 24/7 SOC Cyber Analysts and complete support until the threat is resolved. Unlike other Dark Web threat intelligence vendors, we leverage threat intelligence gathered from the Dark Web to take actual response actions, disrupt cyberattacks, and put our customers ahead of disruption. With the right methods and cybersecurity breaches, hackers can search, find, and compile a complete set of a victim’s information, known as “fullz” on the dark net. These full sets contain a complete overview of a victim’s credentials with sensitive and non-sensitive info and can be sold for a much higher price than separate pieces of a person’s PII. That doesn’t mean your employees are freely giving your data away but, one way or another, humans were socially engineered or accidentally involved in exposing data in a whopping 85% of data breaches in 2020.

Various entities, including businesses and individuals, can become victims of cybercrime, theft of credentials, and identity fraud, all of which are often traded or discussed in dark web forums. This underscores the need for effective monitoring practices.

What is the Dark Web?

The dark web consists of encrypted networks that require specific software to access, such as Tor or I2P. Here are some characteristics:

The dark web often includes illegal activities and content, including drug sales, weapons, human trafficking and stolen data. Companies seeking to protect customer and employee data often invest in dark web monitoring tools to alert them if their compromised data is being advertised or sold on dark web forums, as this is something they cannot do alone. Most dark web monitoring software uses automated scanners, crawlers, and scrapers to locate stolen credentials on public sites.

Naturally, the number of victims of ransomware attacks have  also been rising rapidly. Clearly, a vast and opaque underground economy has developed that deals in stolen passwords, stolen credit card numbers, ransomware as a service, and other illicit goods and services. This is when most dark web monitoring data providers pick up the data through automated scanning.

Deep Web includes all the information which is publicly not accessible as regular search engines do not index it. You need special permission to get into the deep web where 96% of information on internet lies. Even if you don’t have dark web monitoring, if there is reason to believe that your personal information has been stolen, you should assume that it can end up for sale on the dark web. Here is what you need to know about the dark web, how identity theft services work, and what you can do if your personal information is in danger. Better take immediate action and report the identity theft to credit bureaus. Request a card replacement and review your credit reports and bank account statements.

• Anonymity: Users can engage in activities without revealing their identities.
• Illicit Markets: It hosts various illegal marketplaces where drugs, weapons, and stolen data are sold.
• Forums and Communities: Discussions often center around hacking techniques, data breaches, and cybercrime.

The Risks of Not Monitoring

Failing to monitor the dark web exposes individuals and organizations to several risks, including:

1. Data Theft: Personal and financial information can be bought and sold.
2. Reputation Damage: Early detection can mitigate potential damage to a brand’s reputation.
3. Compliance Issues: Organizations may face legal issues if they do not secure sensitive data.

Benefits of Monitoring the Dark Web

By actively engaging in monitoring the dark web, businesses and individuals can gain valuable insights. The benefits include:

• Proactive Defense: Identifying potential threats before they materialize.
• Incident Response: Faster response to data breaches and security incidents.
• Threat Intelligence: Gaining insights into the types of threats and vulnerabilities impacting similar organizations.

How to Monitor the Dark Web

Effective monitoring involves various strategies and tools. Here are some steps for successful dark web surveillance:

1. Utilize Specialized Tools: Employ software solutions designed to scrape and analyze dark web data.
2. Engage Cybersecurity Experts: Collaborate with professionals who understand the complexities of the dark web.
3. Regular Audits: Conduct thorough security audits to identify vulnerable areas.

FAQs on Monitoring the Dark Web

Q1: How often should I monitor the dark web?

A1: Regular monitoring is recommended, ideally at least once a month, but more frequent checks can be beneficial.

Q2: What kind of data can be found on the dark web?

A2: Common data includes stolen personal information, credit card details, login credentials, and proprietary business information.

Q3: Can individuals monitor the dark web?

A3: While individuals can use certain tools, it is often advisable to seek professional assistance to navigate its complexities.

Conclusion

Monitoring the dark web is an essential part of modern cybersecurity strategies. By taking proactive measures, organizations can protect themselves against potential threats and safeguard their valuable data. As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, intelligent monitoring practices become more critical, providing security and peace of mind in an increasingly digital world.