Dark Web Alert: How To Know If Your Info Is On The Dark Web

Summary: This brief blog discusses cyber security related to data leaks and the dark web. Learn how cybercriminals fabricate data leaks to create opportunities for data breaches. If you have additional questions about protecting your hard-earned data, contact DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) or visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to schedule a cyber risk assessment.

Cyber security is largely about preventing data leaks and breaches, which can expose vulnerabilities and private information to cybercriminals. No matter whether you’re an SMB or an individual, cyberthieves may attempt to steal, expose or sell your data.

What is a Data Leak?

Data leaks are not the same as data breaches. The difference lies in what causes the exposure. Data leaks are caused by accident. User errors and unknown cyber security vulnerabilities unwittingly allow opportunities for data breaches.

What is a Data Breach?

A data breach is when cybercriminals attack your computer system by exploiting cyber security vulnerabilities. There are many strategies that bad actors can use to breach data. Weak passwords, phishing emails and unsecure websites are all part of the hacker’s toolbox. Once a cyberthief is in, all of your data is at risk. Unlike data leaks, data breaches target specific companies or users for specific nefarious goals.

What is a Fake Leak?

Fake leaks are generally not active leaks. They are older leaks, previously resolved, that are repackaged and used as marketing tools by hackers. The goal is to fool other cybercriminals into buying the fake leak on the dark web. The scam can be created by aggregating publicly available data from different sources such as Facebook, X and LinkedIn and presenting the finished product as if it were a new leak. Old leaks are constantly uploaded to the dark web, positioned as new data leaks and sold to other cyberthieves.

How to Know if Your Info is on The Dark Web

The dark web is a scary place. Hackers buy and sell private data like commodities on the market. Hype and alleged value help jack up prices in the dark web marketplace. Fortunately, several tools are available to scan the online universe, including the dark web, for your data. Several websites allow users to enter an email account and identify all the incidences of that account showing up on the dark web. Also, several top password managers can offer the same information about your email accounts. When you first log in, the password manager will “announce” how often email accounts have been compromised or found as part of a data breach.

The biggest threat to your company or personal data being on the dark web is that, once there, there isn’t much you can do. Your data is out there, and that’s that. By that time, any action would be too late. Going forward, the best thing you can do is analyze vulnerabilities, establish user best practices and apply additional security to your system to protect against future breaches. Prevention is the best safeguard. There are a few steps you can take:

• Always Use a VPN – Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, are great tools for minimizing internet exposure. Using tunneling technology, VPNs create a private network within the network, encrypt your incoming and outgoing data and conceal your actual IP address location. They are robust tools at your immediate disposal. VPNs make it almost impossible to track your online activities. Once it is installed, your simple job is to make sure you always use your VPN.
• Use Multi-Factor Authentication – The more steps required to verify that you are the owner of your online credentials, the better. Multi-factor authentication can include sending additional credential prompts, such as a randomly generated code to your phone or other device, fingerprint matching, retinal scanning and other ways of confirming your unique identity.
• Use a Password Manager – Password managers are great for storing passwords. But password managers can also help users create unique multi-character passwords that are much harder to guess, even by experienced hackers with state-of-the-art password-guessing applications.
• Immediately Close and Report Compromised Accounts – Once you are aware of a data breach or your data being shared or sold on the dark web, your urgent task is to mitigate the damage and stop further attacks. Closing any compromised accounts is the easiest first step. If the breach is severe, advise your business partners of the risk. Then, file an identity theft report with local law enforcement. Doing nothing will perpetuate the problem for you and the next compromised entity.

Cyber threats and security are pervasive concerns for all SMBs. Unfortunately, 60% of all small businesses go out of business in the first six months following a cyberattack. Individual users can lose their identity, life savings and credit card security. Cyber security requires relentless diligence and robust cyber protections. If cyber security is beyond your skill set, it would be prudent to enlist the services of professional IT experts to perform a cyber risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and suggest measures to protect your data. Your privacy and identity are invaluable when working online.