10 Ways to Protect Business Data from the Dark Web

The dark web is a place on the internet where there are illegal activities and stolen information. This is a place where cybercriminals operate to buy and sell stolen information of businesses. But most organizations don’t think about the possibility of their data on the dark web. This puts them often at risk.

Hackers use the dark web to buy and sell  private information and conduct illegal activities. Cybercriminal prefer this side of the internet because it hides the IP address, URL and web history of the user.

The dark web utilizes a top-level domain called the .onion. Tor (The Onion Routing) – a web browsing software that can access the dark web by changing the address and moving things around to ensure the safety of the users. This conceals the identity of anyone who wants to sell sensitive data, illegal drugs and other illicit content.

There is more to the web than what we see. The World Wide Web is often associated with an iceberg, where the tip is the surface web and below is the deep and dark web that usually can't be accessed using a normal web browser.

In fact, what search engine indexes and what we use on daily online activities is the surface web, which is only 10%.

There are three components of the World Wide Web.

• Surface Web: This can be accessed easily using search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo. You can type the address you want on the search engine.
• Deep Web: This goes beyond the regular searching individuals perform daily. Most deep web pages are not indexed by search engines, therefore, cannot be seen. The deep web comprises of private accounts. If you log in to your email or Facebook and access the dashboard, these are the pages not indexed by search engines because they are mostly private.
• Dark Web: This is part of the deep web. A conventional search engine doesn’t permit dark web access. Instead, it requires a special software tool for anonymity.

What’s on the dark web?

The dark web is not made for daily use because of the unsafe content and illegal activities found on this part of the internet.

So, what exactly can be found on the dark web?

• Drugs
• Pornography
• Firearms
• Streaming services of passwords and usernames
• Bank details of individuals
• Credit card numbers
• Social security numbers
• Information from journalists, whistleblowers, and activists

The dark web can also be used by government agencies to track criminals and collect information for an investigation.

What happens if business data is on the dark web?

When business data gets leaked on the dark web, cybercriminals or hackers can access this information. Cybercriminals can use this data to gain access to financial accounts or steal the identity of a person and use it for illegal reasons.

The selling of data on the dark web costs a lot. According to a study, personal information can be sold for as much as $270, but, sometimes it depends on the data.

• Credit card costs: $6 to $20
• Medical records: $1 to $30
• Online banking account: 1-10% value
• Identification plus photo: $40 to $60

This is only the cost of personal information. Think about illegal activities like drugs and firearm selling, which cost millions of dollars.

How to know if your business data is on the dark web

If you want to determine if your business data is on the dark web, you first have to search the surface web and then scan the dark web.

Searching the surface web is needed to collect all publicly accessible information that might be used in cyberattacks. With the use of the right tools, you can gather an accurate idea of what data were stolen. But if you don’t know what to do, you can hire some experts to audit your business's data.

After searching the surface web, it’s time to scan the dark web. However, it is hard to do dark web searches as the pages are not indexed and has a higher risk of hacking.

Some businesses may want to perform the scanning themselves, but it’s better left to professionals.

Often these experts will scan popular dark web marketplace with no privacy safeguard. They don’t check every possible place on the dark web, but they are more likely to locate your data if it’s there.

You have to provide security companies the information you want them to search on the dark web.

Companies that perform the scanning can gather different information during dark web audits. They can see a list of  customers’ contact information, email addresses, passwords and more.

Dark web audits can help determine the level of exposure of a business. Furthermore, auditing can correct flaws from where the data has been collected. If a business knows the source of breach, it is possible to stop further exposure.

All information on the dark web is impossible to remove, therefore, the only way for companies is to strengthen their security and find which part is vulnerable to threats.

What to do if your company data is on the dark web

Change passwords

Change the password of the compromised account, and this time, make sure to use a strong password. If other of your accounts share the same password with the compromised one, change all the passwords.

If you handle customer data, inform your customers about the data breach. Encourage them to change their passwords and create strong ones.

Report data leakage

Immediately report a data breach to authorities. Let them do some investigation on your compromised data.

If you don’t have any data on the dark web, you’re lucky. But don’t let your guard down. While hackers haven’t accessed your company’s information, it is best to keep your data secure at all times.

10 ways to strengthen your company’s security

1. Use strong passwords

Create strong passwords that are difficult to crack. A strong password should contain a combination of upper and lower cases, numbers, and symbols. It must be longer than ten characters. Also, don’t use any private information as your password.

Do make sure to create different passwords for different business accounts.

If employees use their own devices, implement policies to protect company data.

2. Invest in a password manager

A strong and complicated password is difficult to remember. A password manager can keep it all safe without the need to remember all of the login credentials. All you need is a master key to access your passwords for any of your accounts. Some of the best password managers are LastPass, Dashlane, and Keeper.

3. Activate two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is a security solution that strengthens accounts from possible hacks. Instead of logging in with only a password, you need a PIN or code to enter your account. The PIN or code is received via text or email.

4. Install a good quality antivirus software

Phishing scams are common and difficult to notice, that’s why hackers use it to steal the identity of individuals and sell them on the dark web. When you use an antivirus program like Bitdefender, McAfee Livesafe or Kaspersky it can detect unsafe websites, remove viruses and scan for malware and phishing threats.

5. Be wary of suspicious emails

When receiving an email, check the sender’s email address and look for other telltale signs of a phishing email. If you think the email is suspicious, do not reply, click on links or download any attachment.

6. Educate employees

If you run a business, it is crucial to educate your employees about cybersecurity and threats. Inform them what to do to avoid attacks and how to respond in case confronted by a cyber-threat.

7. Protect all devices

BYOD policy or mobile devices are becoming part of the new work environment, so it is critical to keep personal devices secure. Create policies regarding the use of mobile devices for work, and protect them at all costs.

8. Keep systems updated

Always keep all your software and systems updated whenever available. Updating your software prevents hackers from gaining access to your business accounts.

9. Install a firewall system

A firewall is a security network that organizations and individuals use or activate to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. Once it notices a suspicious activity, it will block anything not defined by the set of security rules. Most devices have a built-in firewall protection that can be easily activated.

10. Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts data transferred on the network. If your employees need to connect to public Wi-Fi, they have to use a VPN to secure all your company’s data.

Wrapping up

The dark web, comprising a small portion of the deep web, is where most illegal activities happen. Most data stolen by cybercriminals are seen on the dark web. When your company’s data is on the dark web, all you need to do is strengthen the protection of your business, as it is impossible to remove the data posted on the dark web. You’ll need to review your organization’s security practices and change unsafe practices to protect your data from future attacks.