Many companies only realise that their customer’s data is breached when they receive a notification that the data appeared on the dark web – a particularly elusive and shady part of the internet. But what is it, and why does it matter so much? This Verizon article provides answers.
Summary:
- The dark web emerged in the 1990s from a US research project. Its goal was to exchange anonymous information across the internet
- The dark web is a specific section of the unindexed part of the internet that is difficult to access without the proper tools.
- With your regular browser, you won’t be able to access it. Instead, you’ll need a special browser
- Cybercriminals often use the dark web as a platform to organise themselves and buy and sell illicit products and services. For instance, stolen credit card information, user login credentials, ransomware-as-a-service, or previously unknown vulnerabilities (“zero days”)
Why does this matter for cybersecurity and businesses?
- Many companies have found customer data on the dark web
- As a result, monitoring the dark web can help identify and detect breaches and cyberattacks
- Companies in the cybersecurity space offer services that monitor activity in the dark web and provide that intelligence to clients
