The Dark Web, Where Access to Your Business can be Bought
What is the Dark Web?
To understand what the Dark Web is let’s look at the big picture of the internet as a whole. If you envision the Internet as an iceberg the portion above the water would be the Public Web while below the surface, where the mass of the iceberg resides, is the Deep Web. Then within the nooks and crannies of the Deep Web lies the Dark Web.
Public Web: This is the publically accessible internet. The public web represents a small portion of the internet and is anything that can be indexed by a search engine like Google, Bing or Yahoo or is publically viewable using your web browser like Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer or Edge. It is estimated that this portion of the web makes up about 5% of the entire internet.
Deep Web: Any content that can’t be found on the Public Web can be considered the Deep Web. Examples of Deep Web content can be found whenever you navigate away from Google and do a search directly in a website, for example government databases and libraries. The Deep Web also includes private intranets, online databases, member only websites and content behind paywalls. It is estimated that this portion of the web makes up the bulk of the entire internet at about 90%.
Dark Web: The Dark Web is a small section of the Deep Web that has been intentionally hidden and cannot be accessed through standard web browsers. The Dark Web is not an actual destination on the internet but rather a network of hidden websites, chat systems, peer systems and private networks. The Dark Web is an ‘underground’ medium which allows for the distribution of harmful information as well as for the browsing and purchasing of illegal goods and services, most of which are practically untraceable by law enforcement.
How relevant is the Dark Web to my business?
On the Dark Web some of these goods and services for sale have been illegally captured by hackers who have infiltrated or breached a company or network. Once a company’s network has been breached, the intruder can exploit the company by identifying and extracting valuable and sensitive information, such as customer account details, trade secrets, banking details, passports and so on.
Furthermore, Dark Web forums are often utilized as a communications channel in which hackers can expose and discuss vulnerabilities identified in a company’s system that can be exploited. This information is then sold to anonymous buyers all across the world who cannot be easily traced by law enforcement.
Given the lack of accountability and traceability, more and more buyers are purchasing illegal goods, meaning more and more sellers are infiltrating business networks to exploit them for this sellable information. This illicit trade constitutes a growing threat for all businesses. One that could have a catastrophic effect on your finances and reputation.
How do you know if your business information is on the Dark Web?
Short answer is you don’t! You need solution that alerts you when an employee’s credentials are on the loose. Because if you don’t know then you can’t take action to mitigate or completely avoid a potential problem. Enter our Dark Recon Discovery and Monitoring service. Our Dark Recon acts as your early warning system and provides a means to help prevent a debilitating breach.
What is Dark Recon and what does it do for my business?
Our Dark Recon Monitoring & Discovery service combines human and sophisticated Dark Web intelligence with search capabilities to identify, analyze and proactively monitor for your organization’s compromised or stolen employee and customer data.
Our security team proactively monitor for your organization’s stolen or compromised credentials. We’ll analyze and alert you when data is discovered. Dealing with cyber-criminals is risky business, a risk you didn’t sign up for when you started your company so let Momentum IT troll the waters of the Dark Web for the protection of your business. Sign up today!
