Some of you have probably heard of the so-called Dark Web. Many internet users haven’t. However, the very name suggests that there’s a dark part of the internet where something creepy lurks. Dark web users go after like successful bloggers, influencers, and YouTubers for potential soft spots in their security profiles. A lot of information is available on sites like check people, and that’s just the regular web.
Naturally, you may want to shield yourself from the dark side of the web, and with good reason. If you’d like to learn what the Dark Web really is and how you can keep it at bay, read on to inform yourself.
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Welcome to the World of Tor
The Dark Web is not only dark; it is invisible. The stuff that’s on there is not discoverable by search engines, including Google Almighty. They say that this mysterious and dangerous part of the web is only accessible through a special browser called Tor.
Back in 2015, a group of scientists from London’s King’s College analyzed over 2,700 sites not indexed by the search engines and found illicit content on over half of them. If you are wondering what illicit content is, let me just mention that you can buy batches of stolen credit card numbers from the dark web. Unfortunately, there still are credit cards without a card verification number (CVV).
What Threats Come from The Dark Web?
You’ve probably heard of cyber wars. Well, the Dark Web is where cyber warlords go to recruit hackers to carry out their attacks. Other threats that may attack you from the Dark Web include destructive denial of service (DDoS), malware, or phishing, to name just a few.
It appears that the Dark Web poses a greater threat to big corporations rather than to average internet users. This is because they make the world’s money move around, and big money is typically what most hackers are after.
How to Shield Your Personal Data from a Dark Web Invasion
This section includes tips to protect yourself and your data, which we’ve compiled from authority sources.
#1 Update Your Passwords
The fact that you’ve come up with five strong passwords does not mean you should use them across all of your email, work, or social accounts.
Ideally, you should have a unique password for every account. If you can’t remember all of them by heart, consider closing some of the accounts. There must be some you’re not using very often.
If your job demands that you maintain several social accounts, then ask your boss to provide you with a password storage device or a password generator.
Moreover, you should regularly change your passwords, even if they are relatively strong. Suppose you asked Google to remember and automatically fill in all of your passwords. When you sync your account with another device you are using, all of your passwords would sync, too.
Then, if you forget to sign out of the shared PC in the office, a colleague who might use it when you’re off duty will involuntarily get access to all of your passwords.
#2. Store Sensitive Information Offline
Who says that all of your personal info should be stored online? There are portable hard drives, SD cards, and USB flash drives that you can use to organize and store all of your personal data safely off the web. The Dark Web is part of the internet, so it has no access to something that is off the internet.
Take an old-fashioned notebook and write down all of your passwords, your family’s social security numbers, their credit card numbers, and other super-sensitive info. Then, hide the notebook, but not so painstakingly that you forget where it is.
#3. Have a Cyber Security Company set up and Monitor Your Office Network
If you run an online business, you should probably hire cybersecurity professionals to set up and monitor your office network. This may cost you up to several thousand dollars per month, but your company data and transactions will be shielded from the Dark Web.
The cybersecurity experts will also recommend the best antivirus software for your company and train your staff to safely and responsibly manage their office accounts. They will also make sure that all security protocols and encryptions your office network uses are up to date.
Most security breaches occur through outdated security software. Don’t use free antivirus at home. Some of the oldest and best-known antivirus providers offer all-in-one protection for up to five devices (including tablets and smartphones) for just under $100 a year.
