The internet you browse and make your living on every day probably feels like an endless expanse. There are countless websites on every topic imaginable. However, the reality is that what we conventionally think of as the internet makes up only about a tenth of cyberspace. An estimated 90% of the web is occupied by an unstructured, unregulated expanse called the Dark Web. If your information—usernames and passwords, financial information, personally identifiable information, etc.—finds its way into the wrong hands on the Dark Web, either by mismanagement or accident, your business is at risk for dangerous levels of exposure. The good news is that advanced cyber security tools like Dark Web monitoring can help protect your business and preserve your peace of mind.

What Is the Dark Web?

The Dark Web is a segment of the internet where anonymity is easily had. Because it is unindexed by search engines such as Google and requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access its depths, the Dark Web serves as a breeding ground for cybercrime.

In this realm, anonymous peer-to-peer boards and networks allow for the sale and acquisition of sensitive information. In other words, the Dark Web is where cyber criminals go to make their money. If they acquire your sensitive information, they are likely to sell it on the Dark Web, meaning that your passwords, social security number, or credit financial information are quickly copied and redistributed to other cyber criminals who will either use or sell your information for their own financial gain.

All this means that, without proactive Dark Web monitoring from your managed service provider, your business’s sensitive information may find itself in any number of criminals’ hands.

How Do Passwords End up on the Dark Web?

One of the biggest dangers of the Dark Web is the traffic in login information, such as usernames and passwords. This trade in stolen information is particularly dangerous because a stolen password can give cyber criminals access to all manner of data that could prove disastrous to your business in the wrong hands, from financial data to trade secrets to customers’ personal information.

Passwords can end up on the Dark Web whenever they are compromised by hackers. This could be the result of large-scale data breaches of retail stores and service providers, such as Yahoo. Phishing emails, which trick unsuspecting recipients into giving away their login information, are another vector of attack hackers use to collect passwords for sale on the Dark Web. Individual hackers can also conduct targeted attacks on your website, especially if your cyber security is not properly managed by an expert.

Once your passwords are stolen, they are then sold on the Dark Web to the highest bidder, who will then likely attempt to use them to gain access to your assets.

The Solution: Dark Web Monitoring

Because the Dark Web is a common source of cyber security issues, it demands proactive monitoring. Advanced cyber security tools allow outsourced IT providers like Affinity Technology Partners to monitor activity on the Dark Web and notify you if any of your employees’ login information appears there. This allows you to prevent Dark Web breaches long before they become a potential problem.

Interested in Discussing Dark Web Monitoring with a Security-Focused Managed Service Provider?

Cyber Security has always been one of Affinity’s key concerns in providing a full-service outsourced IT department to clients across the Greater Nashville area. Dark Web monitoring is just one of the ways that our Complete Care partners enjoy peace of mind in knowing that their passwords and data are secure. Interested in learning more about these services? Schedule a conversation with one of our technology consultants today.