A Full Guide to the Dark Web

Cyber security must be at the top of your business concerns in the modern world – some would even argue it needs to trump even your physical security concerns. The way the modern world is has led to the likelihood of your business being the victim of a cyber attack to grow considerably. The access that we all have to technology, and the level of which it is integrated into our daily lives, has led to problems. The more web connected devices you have then the more likely you are to become the victim of a cyber attack.

However, it isn’t the landscape’s fault that we are vulnerable to cyber attacks – it’s ours. It is important to educate ourselves on the threats posed by cyber criminals and familiarise ourselves with various cyber security measures, as learning as much as possible about them is the best way to combat them and remain safe.

Most commonly, cyber attacks are performed to gain access and control to your sensitive data, often with the intention of selling or distributing it on the Dark Web. The Dark Web is quite well known now in comparison to a few years ago, but in case you don’t know, it is a marketplace designed for criminals. We will now explore it in more detail and attempt to stress the seriousness of your business data being distributed or sold there.

The Dark Web

The Dark Web is a place for criminals to buy, sell, and advertise illegal goods and services anonymously. The Dark Web is not a small venture designed by a couple of criminals; it is a vast community of extremely dangerous activity. If your data finds its way on there it can cause serious problems for your business.

So, how can your data end up there?

The ways your data may end up on the Dark Web

Ransomware

Ransomware is software that is designed to be malicious. It works by locking and encrypting your data. The cyber criminal responsible for the attack will then hold it to ransom, demanding money before giving you access back.

Ransomware attacks are particularly frustrating – your data is still present on your computer, but it just can’t be accessed. The cyber criminals will almost always try to distil a sense of urgency in their target, threatening to delete or release your data on the Dark Web if you don’t pay when prompted to. Some actually believe their threats and promises and pay as requested.

We can’t blame you for paying up, but do you really think you can trust a criminal to return access just like that? Business owners are often left with their tails between their legs having paid up but not being granted access again, or some get lucky and are granted access only to be targeted a second time at a later date.

Phishing

A Phishing attack is when a cyber criminal uses fake/fraudulent emails to gain access to private information. Emails are the vessel for the malicious links that make the attack possible. The contents of the Email manipulates the recipient, and the attackers make it appear that they are a trusted source – both are likely to make their target click the link, and if this doesn’t work they often add a time sensitive element too. The time sensitive element makes the target panic and act without thinking, they click the attachment and, in the process, open the floodgates to all manner of threats.

Malware

Malware is designed with the intention of causing damage or stealing private data. Malware is managed by a group of cyber criminals or hackers that are looking to make money from selling the software over the Dark Web or by spreading content themselves.

Insecure connections

Hackers can intercept data that is being sent across an insecure network in what is known as ‘man in the middle’ attacks. Public Wi-Fi has very poor levels of security so be careful because you are very vulnerable when using it. There are also ‘rogue hotspots’, which involve the hacker setting up a public portal that imitates a legitimate one nearby – these hotspots can be used to distribute Malware, direct users toward malicious sites, and to listen in on web traffic. The user doesn’t even know they are on an illegitimate source.