What Is Dark Web Monitoring: Is It Important to Monitor Dark Web?

How it is important to monitor dark web? Almost everyone knows that cyber threats are everywhere. These threats make employing network security a priority for most business owners. The online environment is busier because more people go online to shop, communicate, read news, play games, watch videos, research, and work. With more people doing various transactions online, identity theft and loss of sensitive information (personal and corporate) are always at risk.

The web is a rich source of information. However, cybercriminals also use the web to find information and sell information. In the latter, they use the dark web to share, sell, or trade information they steal from individuals and enterprises. Sometimes, they threaten their victims with exposure of their vital information on the dark web to force them to pay a ransom. 

You can already imagine how the deep web works. It is from the dark web where users can find stolen data. This may include personal information, credentials, health records, credit/debit card information, and bank details that greatly value the victims and cybercriminals. So now, you understand why dark web monitoring is crucial. 

Meaning of dark web

Most people use the web to search for information, and it is enormous. But that is just the surface. The reality is that what you see from search engines is only about four percent of the overall data available online. The rest of the data requires further digging so you can access archives, journals requiring restricted access, subpages, and individual sites. The data from these enumerated items form the deep web. 

Remember that someone or something is monitoring most of the things you do online because they are traceable and visible. However, the situation is different with the deep web. This part of the entire web universe is masked. So, categorically, you have three levels. 

1. Surface web. Itis the part that everyone can access without restrictions. This is what everybody calls the World Wide Web. Various search engines index the information available on the surface web. 
2. Deep web. It consists of all the information that search engines do not index. Ninety-six percent of the information that you cannot access without special permission resides in this category. 
3. Dark web. It is the platform cybercriminals use for their illegal activities. Search engines do not index this category, which is a sub-section of the deep web. However, only one percent belongs to the dark web. 

Why need to monitor dark web?

The dark web does not threaten you or your business directly as ransomware and phishing do. However, you should still consider it a major threat as it can expose your personal information and company secrets and shatter your reputation.  

Search engines do not index the dark web. As a result, it has become a breeding ground for illegal activities, from selling stolen client and business information to selling weapons and illicit drugs. Cybercriminals use the dark web to sell stolen client databases, financial transactions, credit card information and leaked emails. 

They also trade user credentials, logins, and other company secrets that can financially harm businesses. As a result, the U.S. government considers the dark web a major threat, and it is serious about monitoring the dark web. 

• Small and large corporations are equal targets. Cybercriminals target not only large corporations. Even small businesses are at risk. Small businesses are easy targets because they do not have the resources to install cybersecurity systems. Many small businesses also accept credit card payments, which is attractive to cybercriminals because their data storage system is easier to penetrate. If they have non-existent or minimal cybersecurity protocol, they may not know if there is already a data breach or if the data stolen from them are already up for sale on the dark web. 
• Prevents data breaches and identity thefts. You perform dark web monitoring to prevent identity theft and data breaches. The process monitors and scours hard-to-find anonymous websites on the deep web automatically. It locates data breaches and detects physical threats on assets and people. It can also predict possible terrorist attacks. The service allows you to monitor your confidential information and alert you if the program finds your information online. First, you can choose which information you want to monitor to monitor dark web. Then, the service provider alerts you by email and gives you instructions on what steps to take.
• 24/7 surveillance. Dark web monitoring provides you with 24/7 surveillance. It minimizes the time between the occurrence of a breach and your knowledge of it. It reduces the window of opportunity for cybercriminals to make copies of your data and offer it online. Monitoring also prevents confidential data from leaving your company without your knowledge.  

The proliferation of the internet and social media makes information about people readily available. If you type a name in a search engine, you can find some information about the person. If finding personal information on the surface web is easy, you can imagine the volume of information available on the dark web.

The above proposition alone makes dark web monitoring essential for companies. They need to maintain data security and prevent data breaches and their effects, including damaged reputation, financial losses, loss of business, and fines for non-compliance with data security regulations. 

Fortunately, you can find several companies offering dark web monitoring services today. It is a solution to ensuring data security. Dark web monitoring scours the web for leaked information and will benefit your business and customers. They will trust you more knowing that you are putting security measures in place to keep their personal information safe. You can incorporate it into your marketing strategies and sales pitches to potential business partners. 

Therefore, choosing the right dark web monitoring service provider is essential. You should hire a company that offers real-time alerts of dark web threats when they find your data on the dark web. The company should have the capacity to track and report compromised data. Further, the service provider should offer compromised trending data, benchmarking, and monitoring supply chain threats.