You’re probably thinking how Demogorgons, Winona Ryder, and a bunch of high school kids could possibly explain the Dark Web.
Well, think of it this way…
The internet is much like the town of Hawkins, Indiana, where your daily routine is uninterrupted, and so are summer ice-cream day-outs. But, beneath the surface is a home base for cybercriminals, who thrive on spamming your emails, hacking your social profiles, and emptying out your bank accounts. A dark black-hole where criminals attack your brand identity by exchanging your private and personal business information.
“So what does the inside of the dark web actually look like?” you might ask.
Demogorgons, possibly? Let’s hope not. We still don’t know how to kill them. For that, you’ll have to catch Vol.2 this month.
We know that the Dark Web remains a dangerous territory for most businesses. Read on to understand how critical it is to keep your information from landing up there!
What is the Deep Web?
The content stored on the Deep Web is part of worldwide content, not stored or attached to the Surface Web. Hidden from outsiders, it does not want to be indexed by the standard search engines. The Deep Web is 1000-2000X the size of the Surface Web. Better known as “the portion of the internet which is hidden and not shown from conventional search engines, as by encryption; the aggregate of unindexed websites” according to Dictionary.com
What is the Dark Web?
A tiny part of the deep web, the dark web is inaccessible without the right hardware, software, or user credentials. The dark web is similar to the deep web in that search engines do not index its content. The dark web, like the rest of the internet, is not a specific location. Instead, this is a darknet, a special kind of online community. An example of a darknet would be if you and your friends created your own private, encrypted network. Most often uses masked IPs for example, Freenet, Tor, and I2P, to name a few.
Is the Dark Web illegal?
Although entering the Dark Web is not a crime in and of itself, the acquisition of illicit materials and the purchase of restricted goods is. In other words, while it’s perfectly fine to use the dark web for research, it’s against the law to acquire pirated media like movies and games. Similarly, it is not illegal to access information unless doing so would compromise national security. It is also illegal to use the Dark Web to access illegal content like child pornography or to buy illegal items like drugs or firearms.
Hackers are not your “friendly” airhead residents of Hawkins
White hat hackers: They’re your friend, not a foe. They are always looking for the slightest system vulnerabilities so that your data doesn’t get into the hands of other hackers. Though, they only gain access because you (the owner) give them full consent.
Black hat hackers: Motivated by personal/financial gain, their primary motive is to break into computer networks with malicious intent (often illegal). They may steal, exploit, or steal essential data.
Grey hat hackers: They are your typical 90’s bully, who find hacking fun. Sometimes they tend to violate laws or normal ethical boundaries. Though their intent isn’t malicious, they are a curious bunch. Favorite pastime: hacking high-profile systems.
Ransomware is a recurring nightmare, could it be Vecna
Since the 1980s, businesses have been privy to ransomware attacks. More and more people became aware soon after the release of WannaCry — a Windows exploit spread through numerous computer networks in 2017. Many users were disappointed with the failure to patch the worm. Now, MAJOR ransomware attacks are happening almost every week. It’s just as bad as a Vecna curse.
The growth of ransomware has not only impacted large businesses, but SMBs can no longer fly under the surface like in The Upside Down.
Advice on keeping your personal information safe
Your business credentials are everywhere, a hot reading commodity in the marketplace. While it’s too late to delete information from the dark web, you can take precautions to ensure it never ends up there in the first place.
- Try out a password manager.
- Don’t use free wireless networks.
- Implement a two-factor authentication system.
- Create a disposable email address
When data breaches happen, valuable information, including your social security number, DOBs, email addresses, and crucial financial numbers, are among the most commonly leaked.
Knowing that your personal information has been posted on the underground web can be unsettling. You shouldn’t have too much trouble with it as long as you understand what’s at stake and act accordingly. Keep in mind that the best way to protect yourself from cyber threats is to avoid them altogether.
What’s alarming is that according to an annual data breach report, approx. 80% of consumers have been a victim of email leaks on the dark web. Which is an indication that data breaches will continue to grow to scale heights in the near future.
Fret not,
There’s a way to know if your employees, your client, or even your firm’s information is on the dark web.
At Creative Networks, we provide businesses with a thorough dark web scan, safekeeping your digital footprints. Minimizing dark web risks in their tracks. Creative Networks, helps you execute the best cybersecurity services to help you outsmart and outmanoeuvre cybercriminals. Giving you back your much-coveted reputation in the marketplace.
Finally, as technology continues to grow exponentially, with it the methods of exploiting it. Call us today to protect your SMB in the future. Our services are enabled with breach alerts and 24×7 threat monitoring.
Without the proper tactics, you’re being a burden on your business continuity and liberating your sensitive data to all the evil lurking in the Upside Down of the deep dark web.
