Business owners today know the internet is not only a force for good. Some people exploit the Web for ill intent. They congregate on the Dark Web, and small businesses must understand the risks.
What is the Dark Web?
You and your employees spend time daily on the Web, researching clients, checking out competitors, and searching for information. They are not accessing the Dark Web, which houses dangerous, often illegal activity. This includes black-market drug sales, illegal firearm sales, and illicit pornography.
The Dark Web’s collection of websites is inaccessible using standard search engines or browsers. Users employ a Tor or I2P encryption tool to hide their identity and activity, and they spoof IP addresses.
Photo by Soumil Kumar from Pexels
To go into the Dark Web, you must also use the Tor or I2P service. Plus, you’d need to know where to find the site you are looking for. There are Dark Web directories, but they are unreliable. The people on the Dark Web don’t want their victims to find them. Ultimately, it’s not somewhere you or your employees need to be.
So, why do you need to know about it? Because Dark Web users can buy:
usernames and passwords
counterfeit money
stolen credit card numbers or subscription credentials
software to break into people’s computers
operational, financial, or customer data
intellectual property or trade secrets
The Dark Web is also where someone can hire a hacker to attack your computers.
The Dark Web Business Risk:
The Dark Web isn’t illegal, and not all its traffic is criminal. Journalists and law enforcement agencies also visit it, and it’s used in countries prohibiting open communication.
Yet the number of Dark Web listings that could harm your business is growing. A 2019 research study found that 60% of all listings could harm enterprises, and those Dark Web listings have risen by 20% since 2016.
Business risks from these Dark Web listings include:
undermining brand reputation
loss of competitive advantage
denial-of-service attack or malware disruption
IP theft
fraudulent activity
With media attention on data breaches impacting millions, it’s easy to think a small business is not at risk. However, bad actors don’t target a company of a specific size – they look for ease of access.
Dark Web information is up to twenty times more likely to come from an unreported breach, privacy specialists told a Federal Trade Commission Conference. Victims included medical practices, retailers, school districts, restaurant chains, and other small businesses.
Reduce your risk:
If your information ends up on the Dark Web, there’s little you can do about it. The bright side, at least, is that you would know that your business security has been compromised. Be proactive instead. Keep your security protections current, and install security patches regularly.
Consider a unified threat management (UTM) device or UTM appliance. The UTM plugs into your network to serve as a gateway and protect your business from malware, illicit access, and other security risks.
Your UTM security appliance can provide the following:
application control
anti-malware scanning
URL and content filtering
data loss prevention
email security
wireless and remote access management
Or, let a managed services provider (MSP) protect your business in all its aspects. For a consistent monthly fee, an MSP will handle all your technology, patching, monitoring, and assessment needs.
Stay on top of the latest cybersecurity threats with an MSP, or learn more about installing a UTM. We can help protect you from the dangers of the Dark Web. Call us today at 786-233-2002!
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