Find out how to know and protect your information from cybercriminals.
In today’s hyper-digital world, data breaches have become an all-too-common occurrence, leading to personal information being sold on the dark web. The consequences can range from minor inconveniences to life-altering financial losses.
Let’s delve into understanding what is dark web, how your data reaches the dark web, its potential misuse, steps to check the leaked data and how to protect yourself.
What is the Dark Web?
Think of the dark web as an uncharted part of the internet, invisible to regular search engines. While it’s used for some legitimate purposes, it’s also a hotspot for illegal activities. Here, stolen information—ranging from login credentials to entire identities—is bought and sold.
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How Your Data Reaches the Dark Web?
1. Your Favorite Apps Could Be the Culprit
Many apps you use daily collect sensitive personal information, from phone numbers, Address to Aadhaar, PAN and bank account details. These apps, if poorly secured, can become easy targets for hackers. A breach in their databases can result in your data being dumped and sold on the dark web.
2. Casual Attitude Towards Permissions
Remember approving unnecessary permissions while downloading apps? This allows malware or fraudulent APKs to steal your data silently. Fraudsters use tactics like call forwarding and bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) to gain unauthorized access.
3. Data Breaches You Ignore
When news of a data breach surfaces, many shrug it off because they don’t see immediate harm, your data could be a part of the breach. Fraudsters use this data to build comprehensive profiles over time, enabling targeted frauds on you.
What Happens to Your Data on the Dark Web?
Once stolen, your data is traded on the dark web for various purposes:
1. Profile Creation: Fraudsters combine your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details to create fake identities.
2. Information Chains: Missing pieces of data are acquired to complete profiles, enabling more sophisticated fraud.
How it’s Misused?
1. Loan Fraud: Loans are taken out in your name, damaging your CIBIL score.
2. Targeted Scams: Fraudsters call you with all your personal details, gaining your trust to execute scams.
3. Unauthorized Transactions: OTP bypass methods enable them to empty your bank accounts.
Must Read: How to Verify the Authenticity of a Fake OTP Message
How to Check If Your Data is on the Dark Web?
Quick Heal’s AntiFraud.AI allows you to check if your personal data is compromised. Its Dark Web Monitoring Feature — scans the dark web for any traces of your sensitive information, like email IDs or passwords, Phone number,address, IP etc
Steps You Can Take:
1. Reset Passwords: Regularly update passwords for your accounts and keep separate passwords for all your important accounts
2. Enable 2FA: Always activate two-factor authentication for enhanced security.
3. Change Email ID: If your email is compromised, consider switching to a new one.
4. Monitor Real-Time Alerts: Quick Heal AntiFraud.AI provides instant alerts if your data surfaces on the dark web from any known or unknown sources.
Must Read: How to Protect Yourself from Fake OTP Scams
Why Choose Quick Heal AntiFraud.AI?
Quick Heal’s AntiFraud.AI is designed to prevent and mitigate fraud by:
- Providing real-time alerts to prevent various kind of frauds like phishing links, OTP Scams, hidden or fraudulent apps unauthorized on your smartphones
- AI-driven Fraud Detection Technology helps to identify complex and advanced nature of frauds
- Getting actionable recommendations to reduce exposure to fraud based on your Risk Score
- Keeps you up to date to latest kind of frauds and provides you with step by step Guide, unfortunately if you become a victim of Fraud
The dark web thrives on our ignorance. Stay ahead of fraudsters with Quick Heal AntiFraud.AI
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