Did you know about the portion of the internet that is hidden and inaccessible using standard search engines or web browsers, known as the “dark web”? It is known for being an underground network hub of criminal activity, where individuals can buy and sell illegal goods and services, such as drugs, weapons, and, more importantly, stolen data. If your personal information has been exposed in a data breach or through other means, it could end up being traded on the dark web. Below are some examples of the most common data that gets traded on the dark web:
Personal Information: including your name, address, phone number, email, and other contact information. This can be bought to use for identity theft and phishing scams.
Financial Information: credit card numbers, bank account information, and sort code numbers, which can be bought to perform fraudulent purchases or steal money. Your credit card information can be sold for as little as $10 when there are low security measures in place.
Login Credentials: including passwords to give unauthorized access to your accounts and steal your data. That’s why a Password Vault is a good idea – to store them away from prying eyes.
Health Information & Social Security Number: both valuable to hackers who want to perform identity theft or insurance fraud.