Dark Web Monitoring For Businesses: Everything You Need to Know

Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel! Today, we're diving into a topic that's been making waves recently. You may have already heard, but there was a massive security breach reported within the past few weeks, where potentially millions of United States social security numbers were leaked. Hackers stole billions of records from the National Public Data—a company that specializes in background checks. And where did this sensitive data end up? On a free hacking forum on the dark web. This is a nightmare scenario for millions of Americans whose sensitive data has now been compromised.

Here's something even more shocking: The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 has risen by 10% compared to last year, reaching a staggering 4.88 million USD. This is the highest total ever recorded! The dark web, often referred to as a treasure trove for hackers, is where this stolen data is now accessible to cybercriminals around the world.

With such threats looming, it’s clear why large corporations must be vigilant, constantly monitoring for suspicious activity. Protecting sensitive information from cybercrime isn't just about avoiding financial losses; it's about safeguarding your organization's very reputation. But here's the thing—monitoring is only half the battle.

Offering comprehensive cybersecurity training to your employees is equally crucial. Preventing a cybersecurity breach is far easier and less costly than trying to neutralize one. So, let’s discuss these two vital practices: dark web monitoring for businesses and cybersecurity training.

We will start with going over what the dark web even is. If you're unfamiliar with it, think of the internet as an iceberg. The small part that you see above water is the “surface web”, accessible to everyone through search engines like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Firefox. You don’t need any special software to access this layer. But beneath the surface lies the deep web—a much larger part of the internet that requires special software to access. Now, some people confuse the deep web with the dark web, but they’re not the same.

The deep web makes up roughly 90% of the internet. It's not as scary as it sounds though, and much of it is used for legitimate purposes like databases and intranets. These pages are hidden behind passwords and security walls, making them inaccessible to the general public.

But if you go even deeper, you'll stumble upon the dark web. This is a much smaller part of the internet, hidden and accessible only through specialized browsers and router technology. Journalists and political activists often use the dark web for anonymity and protection. However, it’s also where criminals exploit this anonymity to engage in illegal activities like drug trafficking and data selling.

Now, you might be wondering, 'What does this have to do with my business?' Well, as we mentioned earlier, your sensitive data could be sold on the dark web to the highest bidder.

This part of the internet is an unknown space, which makes monitoring it complex. However, there are some basic tools and key features that you want to make sure you utilize when choosing monitoring software. Let’s go over the multi-stage cycle that is dark web monitoring.

These tools help you and your employees identify and remediate data breaches:

1. Scanning - Your system should scan the dark web at all hours of the day. This way you can identify threats as soon as they happen. Continuous monitoring with a platform that has broad visibility is best.

2. Identifying - This step identifies the data scanned. As well as how far the breach reaches. Crawlers, scrapers, and scanners are all able to identify risks and analyze data in real-time.

3. Alerting - The receiving of notifications as soon as a breach occurs. These notifications need to convey as much information as possible to the administrator user.

4. Reporting - Provides comprehensive reports that highlight vulnerabilities in your organization. Calculating a risk score associated with your organization is helpful for continuously monitoring specific assets so you can adjust your security tools as necessary.

5. Repeat - This process is always going to be ongoing. Compiling comprehensive reports over time as it continues to scan the dark web for more threats.

But remember, dark web monitoring alone isn’t enough. Comprehensive cybersecurity training is your first line of defense. A well-trained team is crucial for recognizing and responding to potential threats.

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