What is dark web monitoring? Dark web monitoring helps people determine whether their information is shared or sold on the dark web. It will scan forums, marketplaces, and websites where the stolen data is dumped.
Every day, stolen passwords, credit card numbers, medical records, and company secrets are traded on the dark web. Most people do not know that their information is present on the dark web.
They will find that when they receive a strange message on their card charges, someone is trying to break into their account or access their company information.
By the time you realize the damage is already done.
If your information has been found on any of the websites, you will receive an alert right away. So you can act immediately and change your passwords to protect yourself from the threat.
In this article, we will learn what dark web monitoring is, how to use it, what you can do with it and what you cannot, and why you need it.
What is the dark web?
To understand why you need dark web monitoring, you should first understand what the dark web is.
So, basically, the internet is divided into three layers. The surface web, the deep web and the dark web.
Surface web is where you find the regular day to day websites, an e-commerce website, an informational blog, and search engines like Google and Bing.
The deep web is the next layer, which includes your email inbox, online banking portals, private company internal websites, etc. The deep web is not considered illegal; it is just not open to everyone.
The dark web is the next layer of the internet, accessible only to a small part of the internet. To access the dark web, one needs to install the Tor browser. You can access the dark web only with this browser.
People use the dark web for privacy, journalists use it to communicate in ways that protect their anonymity, and criminals use it to conduct illegal activities.
There are websites on the dark web that include forums, marketplaces where you can find stolen credit card details, email IDs and passwords, fake documents, and drugs.
These sites look like a modern e-commerce website with reviews, customer support, etc.
What is dark web monitoring?
Dark web monitoring will search for your information on the dark web. It is an early warning system. It looks for your email ID, password, credit card numbers, or your company data.
If your information is found, you will receive an alert. If you receive the alert you can change the password, call the credit card company, block the card, and take more security measures before someone accesses your data.
Dark web monitoring is available to individuals and companies.
The tool works 24/7, and the alert is instant. There will be no delay.
For companies, monitoring can also look for fake websites, brand mentions, and counterfeit products to spot fraud early.
Why do we need dark web monitoring?
Dark web monitoring is important because attackers often steal data for months before anyone notices. In that time, they can steal money, file fake tax returns, sell access to others, or break into the company’s systems further.
Monitoring helps you to act faster. For individuals, if you receive an early alert, you can change your passwords, freeze your credit card, or cancel cards before the money is stolen. For companies, security teams can reset passwords, block stolen cards, and respond quickly to data leaks.
Dark web monitoring also helps companies see what attackers are talking about and which industries they target. This information helps companies plan better security and training.
What are the limitations?
Dark web monitoring is very helpful, but it also has some limitations. It cannot do everything.
Many cybercriminals use private groups or secret chats to communicate where the tools cannot access. If your data is sold in private, then the tools become useless.
So, you should plan accordingly and prepare your defense.
The details found on the dark web cannot be removed or erased. But you can see on what can be done and act on it.
We have written a detailed analysis and guide on how to remove your email from the dark web. Check here.
What to check in the tools?
When choosing a dark web monitoring tool, you should look for the following.
How many sources does it check?
Will it search private forums, too?
How fast will you get alerts?
Does it filter out false alarms?
Will it work with your current security tools?
Will it help you remove the data?
Dark web monitoring tools:
Experian – Experian is a free tool that checks whether your information is on the dark web. You can use the tool to check whether your Social Security number, email address, or phone number is on the dark web. The paid service from Experian offers daily dark web surveillance that monitors 600,000 hidden wiki websites.
NordVPN DWM – NordVPN offers a dark web monitoring service to its pro customers. It is considered one of the best VPN providers in the industry. The service highlights include the ability to add up to 5 email addresses, 1 phone number, 2 credit cards, and 2 national IDs. It constantly scans the dark web for data leaks and sends you an alert instantly.
https://haveibeenpwned.com/– This is the most popular free website for checking if your email is on the dark web. It has a massive database. We recommend using this free tool before any premium tools. Remember, this is a one-time check tool, not a continuous monitoring tool that sends you an alert.
Tips to stay safe after receiving an alert:
If you receive an alert, follow the steps to stay safe and protect your identity.
Change the passwords across all the platforms you use, not only the email. This is because if you have used the same password for all the websites. This is the first thing a hacker will try. He will run the same username or email and the password on every available website. This could lead to financial damage. Also, it’s probable that they have all the websites’ usernames and passwords.
If your credit card information is leaked, immediately block the card in the app, reach out to customer support, or, in some cases, visit the bank.
If your identity has been leaked, file a complaint with the relevant law enforcement agencies. Make sure you have a copy of the complaint in case of issues in the future.
Conclusion:
The data leaks happen; you are not alone in this. Given today’s technological advancements, we cannot stop a leak or a hack.
We should stay prone and act accordingly.
Never trust any outsider, and never give access to your gadgets or wifi.
Act accordingly and avoid data leaks. Use the internet safely and follow the safety tips if your information is leaked.
Dark web monitoring helps you in a timely manner so that large damages can be avoided.
