Cyber security companies will often refer to the ‘Dark Web’ but what exactly IS it, and how can it affect you?
Cyber security companies will often refer to the ‘Dark Web’ but what exactly IS it, and how can it affect you?
The Dark Web (noun) is defined as ‘the part of the World Wide Web that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable’. While it was originally developed by the US government in the 1990s to assist intelligence agencies, once made public the level of anonymity afforded to users made the dark web a popular hangout for criminals.
Who uses the Dark Web – and what for?
There are people who use the Dark Web because they are in need of anonymity for legitimate reasons; either because their life is in danger or the information they possess is too volatile to share publicly. The bible, for example, is often accessed on the Dark Web by people living in countries that suppress personal freedom, and where reading the bible is viewed as a subversive act. Journalists have also been known to use the Dark Web to contact sources anonymously or store sensitive documents.
However the majority of people using the Dark Web are doing so for illegal purposes, benefiting from the anonymity it provides.Based on the overwhelming number of criminals accessing the Dark Web, it’s no surprise that people buy and sell all manner of illegal goods and services. From drugs and weapons, to media exchange between pedophiles and terrorists, there is almost no limit to what you can exchange on the Dark Web.
However it is also the perfect playground for hackers, and hacking ‘communities’, who share huge caches of stolen data for use in cyber scams. The stolen records are shared in what’s known as hacking ‘forums’ – some are shared for free, purely to help hackers build their credibility among their peers, while others charge for the information they have obtained.
What is DynaRisk doing about it?
DynaRisk consistently monitors over 250 hacking communities all over the world. When hackers release stolen data we take a copy, adding it to our growing database which you can scan to check if your personal information has been breached or leaked.
DynaRisk does not pay for stolen data; we only take free information shared by hackers and consolidate it for our users to access. The information we access is freely available to those who know how to look for it; we just simplify the process and help our customers to take control of their digital footprint.
By identifying whether your information has been leaked, you are better able to protect yourself against a growing number of cyber threats.
- Phishing emails
- Telephone scams
- Account takeovers
- Extortion
- Identity theft
Scan your email address now to discover if your information has been leaked on the Dark Web.