How Can You Find Out If Your Info Is For Sale?
Cybercrime is a big part of the news these days. You hear about data breaches, identity theft and more on a seemingly daily basis.
Maybe it’s got you wondering – all these cybercriminals are using people’s SSNs, credit card numbers, passwords and other private info…
Where do they get it all from?
It’s a good question – in truth, there’s a complex economy of supply and demand in the cybercriminal world. Some hackers steal information to sell, and others buy it to use.
Where does it all happen? On the Dark Web.
What Is The Dark Web & How Does Your Data End Up There?
The Dark Web is like the black market of the Internet – if your personal or business data has been stolen and is being sold, that’s where it’ll be.
However, before it can be sold, cybercriminals have to steal it first. To do so, they use a number of different methods to get your info from you…
- Phishing: Phishing emails are sent to large numbers of users simultaneously in an attempt to “fish” sensitive information by posing as reputable sources; often with legitimate-looking logos attached.
- Executive Whaling: The bad guys target top executives and administrators, typically to siphon off money from accounts or steal confidential data.
- Online Research: LinkedIn, Facebook and other venues provide a wealth of information about organizational personnel. This can include their contact information, connections, friends, ongoing business deals and more.
3 Ways To Keep Your Data Off The Dark Web
Ideally, you won’t have to worry about your private data being sold for profit, because cybercriminals can’t steal it in the first place.
Follow these three best practices to maintain effective data security:
- Protect Your Logins
You need to have processes in place to make sure strong passwords are being used at work, and identities are being verified during the login process. It’s advisable that you assign strong passwords to each individual employee to prevent them from using passwords that are easy to guess, as well as implementing two-factor authorization. - Careful What You Share Online
Think about the security questions you have protecting your email account – are the answers to them available on your public Facebook account?If someone only needs to know your mother’s maiden name or the year you graduated high school in order to hack your account, then it’s not very secure, is it? Make sure you don’t overshare online, and make sure you choose security questions that only you have the answer to. - Train Your Staff In Cybersecurity Best Practices.
Train staff members on the proper handling of corporate data and procedures to limit data loss, including ways to handle phishing scams.Besides an initial onboarding training session, all employees should attend refresher courses throughout the year. The vast majority of cybercriminals gain access to a company’s network through mistakes made by employees.
That said, no matter what you do, your data may still end up online…
Find Out If Your Info Is On The Dark Web – Right Now
If you think you may have compromised your data, then the next step is to find out if it’s for sale online.
Alvarez Technology Group can help you check – in honor of Cyber Security Awareness Month, we’re offering a free Dark Web Scan – contact [email protected] to claim yours.
Like this article? Check out the following blogs to learn more:
Watch Out! You’re IT Provider May Not Secure Your Data Properly
URGENT/11 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Impacting 2 Billion Devices
