What is the Dark Web? Explaining the benefits of hiring a professional firm to check and investigate information leaks.

The Dark Web is a generally undisclosed area of the Internet. In this article, we will explain the basics of the Dark Web that company personnel should know, the risks involved in the Dark Web, the dangers of accessing the Dark Web, and checking for information leaks to the Dark Web. It also introduces the advantages of hiring a professional investigation company to check and investigate information leakage to the Dark Web.

The Dark Web is a highly anonymous web that cannot be accessed by normal browsers

The Dark Web is a non-public area of the Internet that cannot be accessed by ordinary search engines and consists of websites with hidden IP addresses. In addition to the Dark Web, there is also the Surface Web and the Deep Web on the Internet.

Surface Web (Open Web)

The Surface Web is the portion of the web pages and websites that ordinary Internet users access on a daily basis. It is the web content that comes up in search engines such as Google and Yahoo, and includes a wide variety of websites from companies and individuals. It includes a wide range of content such as shopping sites, news sites, social media, blogs, etc.

Deep Web

The Deep Web is web content that cannot be accessed through normal web browsing. For example, confidential information inside a company, private pages of online banking and social networking sites, corporate and personal cloud data, and other pages with security and privacy protections. Because they can only be viewed by logging in with a specific account and password, they do not appear in search results on common search engines and are not easily accessible. They contain a wide range of content types, from legitimate to illegitimate.

Dark Web

The Dark Web, like the Deep Web, does not appear in general search engines. Furthermore, it requires specific tools and browsers and cannot be accessed through a normal web browser, so the public is never exposed to it. Because of its high degree of anonymity, the environment is often used for illegal transactions and crimes, making it a hotbed for a variety of cyber crimes. Without special security measures, it is considered dangerous to even use them, but it is said that there are many of them on the Internet.

Types of information traded on the Dark Web

Because of the extremely high level of anonymity maintained on the Dark Web, highly illegal transactions also take place. The following is an explanation of malicious content traded on the Dark Web.

Personal information

Personal information can be illegally leaked through cyber attacks and traded on the Dark Web, including addresses, phone numbers, names, credit card information, passport information, social security numbers, and various other personal information that is often entered when registering for membership on e-commerce sites. These information are highly susceptible to unauthorized use or fraud.

Illegal products

Illegal items that are not normally available may be bought and sold on the Dark Web. These include illegal drugs such as narcotics, methamphetamine, and marijuana, as well as highly illegal items such as child pornography and handguns. Some transactions are said to involve facilitating illegal entry into the country with fake passports or commission of crimes.

Login and account information for certain services

Login information that originally required an account and password known only to the individual is also traded as valuable on the Dark Web. Information about ordinary users who use the same IDs and passwords for multiple sites and have multiple accounts is easily obtained and traded in large numbers.

Confidential corporate information

Confidential corporate information and customer data are also targets of illegal transactions. Not only does a breach of confidential information damage a company's credibility, it can also take a long time to regain it. If important customer data is misused, the affected customers or related parties may demand compensation for damages, which can be very damaging to the company.

Malware/Ransomware

Malicious software, known as malware, is also widely traded. It can infect computers and networks, causing infected computers and other devices to leak information or shut down operating systems. Among malware, ransomware is software that encrypts data, seals off access, and demands a ransom payment from the victim. If the victim's data is rendered unusable, the company's critical data is restricted and business activities may be severely affected.

Login ID and password information for the company's equipment such as VPN devices

If a company's network or systems are attacked, login IDs and passwords for the company's equipment, such as VPN equipment, may be shared on the dark web. If the vulnerability is exploited, there is a possibility of theft of sensitive data or more serious attacks.

Hacking Tools

Hacking tools can be traded on the Dark Web to infiltrate computer systems and networks. These tools can be used for cyber attacks and unauthorized access, which can affect a company's information security.

What is a Dark Web Survey Check for information leaks to improve security measures

By conducting dark web research, companies can minimize the damage from cyber attacks and improve their security measures. This section explains the necessity of dark web investigations in companies.

Early detection and handling of information leaks

By investigating whether your company's information is circulating on the Dark Web, you can detect information leaks at an early stage. By tracking and monitoring the specific information that has been compromised, damage can be minimized. At the same time, we can quickly change passwords, strengthen security, and alert others.

Security levels can be improved.

By understanding the level of personal and confidential information that could be misused on the dark web, you can find directions for measures to protect important information and review your security system. If we can find vulnerabilities in our own systems and identify clear areas for correction, we can improve the level of security.

Can assist in criminal investigations.

If you can conduct a Dark Web investigation and find evidence or clues to a crime, you can share it with the police and law enforcement agencies, which can contribute to the arrest and detection of criminals. Conversely, if you use the dark web carelessly, you may become an unwitting participant and perpetrator of a crime.

Advantages of consulting a forensic investigation firm for dark web investigations

It is very dangerous for ordinary people without expertise to inadvertently access the dark web, as they may be involved in various crimes. It is wise to request a forensic investigation company with information security professionals to conduct a dark web investigation regarding information leaks. Specifically, the following advantages are available

Security risks and vulnerabilities can be discovered

Whenever important confidential information is leaked, there is always a cause. If a hacker or other malicious third party gained access to your company's database from the outside and leaked information to the dark web, you need to install stronger security software or review your information management system. Knowing in advance what risks and vulnerabilities your company is exposed to can help prevent information leaks. A forensic investigation company can detect various risks based on its experience and track record.

Highly accurate and professional analysis and analysis can be done quickly.

Forensic investigation companies, as experts in information security, have expertise and unique know-how in dark web investigation. For example, if information has been compromised, attempting to access the dark web to solve the problem in-house is risky and unlikely to lead to accurate information. A specialized firm will be able to analyze and analyze the information with a high degree of accuracy, increasing the likelihood of approaching information and risks that are generally difficult to discover.

FRONTEO, a pioneer in forensic investigations, offers cybersecurity investigations in one package, including dark web investigations

Dark Web investigations are still unfamiliar to the general public, and many companies do not have the personnel in-house to properly conduct investigations, so they must invest a great deal of time and money to set up their own environment. Inadvertently accessing the dark web without sufficient knowledge is risky.

The Dark Web is believed to contain confidential information from numerous companies around the world, and it is difficult to completely erase information once it is on the network. It is also possible that information that does not appear in general search engines is still being transacted on the dark web. In order to avoid a situation where the damage has spread while searching for a solution after the information has been leaked, it is recommended to rely on a professional company that can move quickly in case of an emergency. It is also important to be prepared for risks at ordinary times.

As security damages continue to increase, FRONTEO's "Cyber Security Survey Package," which includes the minimum required surveys in the event of a contingency, including dark web surveys, is effective in responding to cyber attack damage.

The Cyber Security Investigation Package is especially useful for small and medium-sized enterprises with limited expertise, and is a speedy solution that provides the minimum necessary investigations in the event of a cyber attack, including EDR and dark web investigations, in a single package. FRONTEO provides high-quality cyber security investigations by supporting the initial response to dark web investigations based on the know-how gained from its overwhelming experience in fraud investigations (10,600 cases).