Did you know, that every Fortune 500 company has been exposed to the Dark Web at some point? Their massive Internet presence and amount of customer data leave them vulnerable. While no one is immune to the dangers of cyberattacks, those who invest in cyber security fare better than those who neglect Dark Web security.

So, how do you prevent your business from falling victim to attacks done using the Dark Web? Elevated Technologies founder Jason Rorie wrote a book for that. Rorie’s book, Small Business- A Hacker’s Playground, gives us valuable insights. Rorie explains everything you need to know about the Dark Web. He talks about how it affects small businesses and the steps you can take to protect yourself online.

What is the Dark Web?

The Dark Web is the hidden part of the Internet only accessed using a special kind of software. The websites here are still visible to the public. But, server details are hidden, and these sites are not indexed by search engines. Because of the anonymity, some hackers use it to release classified information. Unfortunately, the Dark Web attracts harmful people who often do illegal things. Here are a few examples of Dark Web activities:

Fraud

Fraud is a very broad term. This is a criminal action that intends to steal someone’s identity or information.

Hacker Solicitation

Hacker solicitation is when a hacker tries to get information from something. Whether it be from a person or system, they don’t have permission.

Subscription Traps

Subscription traps are very dangerous. They offer you a low price to get you to subscribe and then charge high rates that you can’t get out of.

Purchasing Credit Card Numbers

On the dark web, people can find ways to buy someone else’s credit card information. Once they buy the credit card they can use it at their own discretion.

What are the Dark Web Security Threats?

Phishing

Hackers can use the Dark Web to send emails that seem real to unsuspecting victims. This is Phishing. This tricks the recipient into giving away their personal details or login credentials. Once the hackers receive the sensitive information, they send malware to the victim. Then, they demand a ransom to stop the attack on the victim’s computer.

Malvertising

In this type of cyberattack, hackers inject malware into many legitimate advertising networks. They also deliver malware to victims whose personal details they have captured.

Watering Holes

The attacker watches a group and zeroes in on an individual who often visits certain sites. Then, the attacker infects someone from the group with malware. This capitalizes on the fact that attacking one victim could affect the whole group.

Web Attacks

The hackers begin by finding the weaknesses of an Internet-facing company. Then, they exploit that vulnerability to get into the company’s network and find login credentials.

Protecting Against the Dark Web Security Threats

Use Secure Passwords

Simple protection against the Dark Web is to stop using simple passwords that are too easy to guess. Create complex passwords by incorporating a variety of characters. You should also avoid using the same password for different accounts. While no password is completely secure, these measures should make it difficult for hackers.

Change Passwords Regularly

Using the same password over an extended period will make you more vulnerable to hacking. Changing your password often will make it difficult for hackers to get into your account. Also, you will be able to determine if someone else has been trying to log into your account.

Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Your email, social media, and bank accounts should have two-factor authentication. This makes it much harder for hackers to access these accounts. Another benefit of 2FA is a lesser chance of losing access to your own account. Those who log in will have to go through a double layer of security.

Answer Security Questions with Fake Answers

Social media has made it possible for anyone to find out the most private details about a person. For this reason, it would be wise to create fake answers to security questions. This way, hackers will not be able to crack the answer.

Password Managers

There is a service called Dark Web ID that detects stolen credentials and cyber security threats. It monitors the Internet and private websites. This is to ensure that its clients’ credentials are not found on the Dark Web. It also manages passwords to make sure that personal details are not compromised.
Criminal activities using the Dark Web generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year. This amount equals the money that businesses lose when they fall victim to cyber-attacks.

To prevent this scenario from happening to you, ramp up your company’s cyber security today. Don’t know where to start? Elevated Technologies is here to help. Contact us today to help protect your business from the dark web.
For more information on Dark Web security, check out our founder Jason Rorie. And his book Small Business – A Hacker’s Playground: Cyber Security.