Dark Web Monitoring - How to Protect Your Business

Nearly everyone has heard about the Dark Web, and there are a lot of scare tactics out there regarding it.  The Dark Web is a part of the internet where criminals can operate with relative anonymity, and a significant amount of illegal activity occurs there.  You need to understand what the dark web is and how it can impact your business.

Dark Web - The Basics

When you're using a site like Google or LinkedIn, you are only experiencing a tiny percentage of the actual internet.  The part of the internet on which we all surf daily is called the "surface web."  The reason it's called the surface web is that it represents only about 5-10% of all the information on the internet.  These pages are all indexed by search engines and are easily located.  The rest of the unindexed digital pages are known as the "deep web."  This constitutes about 90-95% of the digital world.  Content on the deep web isn't accessible through search engines.  If you know how to get to a site, you can find the information you need.  However, sites like Google aren't indexing these pages and including them in searches.  Much of the deep web consists of various types of information, including medical records, financial records, scientific reports, government resources and subscription details.

That leaves approximately .01% of the internet, and this nefarious place is the "Dark Web."  The Dark Web is intentionally hidden, and you cannot navigate to its information through a traditional browser.  You can only see the pages on the Dark Web with the Tor browser.  Through this browser, all network traffic is encrypted and routed randomly through various locations, making it untraceable.  This makes user information anonymous, allowing users to communicate and conduct transactions without fear of identification.

Dangers of the Dark Web

Before we get too deep into the dangers of the Dark Web, know that there are legitimate uses for it.  Activists in authoritarian governments depend on the Dark Web for anonymous communication.  Journalists use the Dark Web to communicate with sources for the purpose of maintaining confidentiality.  Scientists use it to discuss and share sensitive data on cutting-edge research.  However, the Dark Web is more commonly a place where cybercriminals buy and sell all sorts of things, including stolen identification data, credit card information, fake currencies, illegal images, drugs and even services such as hitmen!

As a business, your biggest concern on the dark web is the data trading and selling that takes place.  Cybercriminals can gain access to your network and data in any number of ways, and once your credentials are compromised, your customer data could end up for sale on the dark web.  When a hacker gains access to stolen data, many methods can be used to gain access to your business.

How to Protect Yourself From the Dark Web

Most businesses take a reactive approach to Dark Web threats.  They believe the probability of falling victim to it is low, and if it does happen, they'll take care of it when it happens.  Be warned, this is a very expensive approach to security.  Most data breaches aren't detected immediately, and by the time they are, it could be too late.  According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, nearly 50% of small businesses have experienced a cyberattack, and as many as 60% of those hacked small and mid-sized businesses go out of business within six months of the attack.

A company that is unaware of a data breach can appear incompetent or uncaring.  In 2017, credit monitoring firm Equifax exposed data for 143 million people, and their handling of the situation was an epic failure.  This type of response to a breach shows that all businesses need to be more aware of the threats they are facing, and protect themselves accordingly.  Here are a few ways you can protect your business:

• Believe Your Business Will Be Breached:  Let's face it, it's not a matter of if, but when a business will be attacked.  In the past, hackers would target large businesses, but today, small and mid-sized companies are considered equally as valuable.  If you're prepared for a data breach, you can create an effective strategy to make your data harder to interpret.
• Monitor the Dark Web Regularly:  The sooner you find out that your company or employee data is on the Dark Web, the faster you can take action.  Fraser offers Dark Web Monitoring services through our Managed IT group, which can inform you immediately when company-specific data is detected.
• Have a Plan:  If your data is on the Dark Web, have a plan in place to minimize the consequences.  Know specific risks that are particular to your business and create a step-by-step action plan.  This will have you prepared for when a breach occurs.

For more information on Fraser's Dark Web Monitoring Program and how it pertains to helping your business security, contact us today!