Dark Web and Cybersecurity - Protecting Your Data on the Dark Web

As the internet continues to evolve and expand, cybersecurity threats have adapted, as well. Threat actors are now targeting companies using a wide variety of attack techniques, often leveraging stolen data found on the Dark Web. This hidden ecosystem presents unique challenges to organizations fighting cyberattacks. Dark web monitoring is one of the most effective ways to detect these emerging dangers.

The dark web is a section of the Internet that uses overlay networks such as Tor to anonymize users and information. It is distinct from the open web because it requires a specialized browser to access and is not indexed by search engines. Criminal marketplaces and forums are often hosted on this section of the internet.

Hackers use the dark web to buy and sell personal information, including passwords, credit card numbers and other sensitive financial details. These cybercriminal groups can then leverage this stolen data to breach your business or steal your identity. It is a lucrative market for hackers, which is why they continually exploit it.

Stolen personal data on the dark web is sold to a wide range of buyers. These include malicious hackers who are purely motivated by profit and kudos from peers, extortionists looking to collect ransom payments and other criminals looking to do damage to an individual’s reputation or finances.

Another major driver of the dark web is the sale of malware tools. These are used in sophisticated attacks such as APTs and phishing campaigns to infiltrate the network and exfiltrate data. They are also useful for credential stuffing attacks, which try to guess passwords on a company’s employees’ accounts and then expose the credentials to attackers.

Lastly, the dark web has become a repository of propaganda for various cyberattacks. During political events and world conflicts, hacking groups have instantly taken sides. For example, during the conflict in Eastern Europe, hackers supporting Ukraine have created sites and services to disrupt governmental and civilian activities while those supporting Russia have launched attacks against companies and the government. These attacks have caused significant disruption to businesses, the economy and the lives of citizens around the globe.

Businesses need a way to quickly and effectively detect potential threats on the open, deep and dark web. Dark web monitoring is an essential tool that provides early warning about threat actors targeting your organization and can alert you to data and credentials that have been leaked on the dark net, shortening recovery-response time so you can take appropriate action. Contact us to learn more about how our Dataminr Pulse dark web monitoring service can help your business protect against external cyberattacks.