What is the Dark Web?
Most all of us are familiar with the Surface Web: Yahoo, Google, reddit, bing and the like. Some of us are even familiar with the Deep Web: Academic databases, medical records, financial records, legal documents etc. The part of the World Wide Web that is only accessible by means of special software, allowing users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable is known as the Dark Web. The Dark web accounts for an estimated 96% of all content on the internet today. Think hackers. Think criminals. Think the virtual and Internet version of a dark, sketchy alley on a cold, rainy night. What used to be the creative brain child of science fiction films is now the reality of the world we are living in. This is where illegal activities function and thrive.
Sound creepy? It is. It’s also a very real threat to innocuous daily users. With today’s ever-expanding dependence on devices that is rapidly stretching to encompass even innocent kitchen appliances, the need for educated and skilled IT professionals to keep business and personal data safe is immediate. Cybersecurity is promising to become the most important global security concern for literally every user.
Why do I need to monitor my information on the Dark Web?
Identity thieves use the Dark Web to buy and sell personal information. Criminals use personal and business information to commit fraud. Empty bank accounts. Wreak havoc on credit ratings. The threat and problems are real and local to Columbus Ohio and Cincinnati Ohio. The FBI has special agents permanently located regionally to help businesses and individuals reclaim their identity, prosecute offenders and, hopefully, stop bank transfers before money has disappeared overseas.
The process happens quickly and silently and is oftentimes aided by unknowing, improperly trained internal users. Think Pam in Accounts Receivable who pays the invoices every month. Or Patrick in HR who has access to all the W2’s of the organization. Hackers and dark web criminals are experts in friending key individuals embedded in organizations to either slowly learn systems or launch an acute attack. Their full-time job is to take some one else’s hard-earned dollar or personal information and exploit it for gain.
So how do you monitor your personal or business information on the Dark Web if it’s only accessible by means of special software? The IT professionals at Astute Technology Management can help with that. We offer affordable, secure solutions to Dark Web monitoring and reliable malware protection.
What do I do next?
Luckily the next steps are easy. Astute Technology Management has partnered with ID Agent, the world’s leading Dark Web monitoring platform. Their award winning platform combines human and sophisticated Dark Web intelligence with search capabilities to identify, analyze and proactively monitor for an organizations compromised or stolen employee and customer data. Monitoring and discovery of compromised data mean businesses can act before the damage occurs. For our Managed IT Services clients we can take care of password hygiene and user information for you. It’s as easy as that.
Astute Technology Management services small to medium sized companies in the central Ohio (Columbus) and southern Ohio (Cincinnati) areas. Cities include Dublin, Powell, Worthington, Westerville, New Albany, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, Canal Winchester, Lancaster, Grove City, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Columbus, Mason, Madeira, Montgomery, Blue Ash, Beckett Ridge, Mariemont, Indian Hill, Oakley, Stetson Square and Hyde Park.
