HOW TO PROTECT INFORMATION FROM THE DARK WEB

Hey! Do you consider yourself addicted to the internet or a social media fanatic? Are you one of those people who store all their data information online? Well, you should be aware of the dark web, a place you might not want to visit. Here are some interesting facts:

The World Wide Web is an iceberg, and what we see on a daily basis is only a small fraction of it. The websites we visit are just the tip of the iceberg.

PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION FROM THE DARK WEB. The hidden part of the web can be divided into three categories:

1. SURFACE WEB: This is the part of the web that we access through search engines by typing web addresses or keywords.
2. DEEP WEB: This is everything else other than the surface web. The deep web cannot be found with search engines as they are not indexed.
3. DARK WEB: This is an encrypted part of the internet that is not accessible by web searches. To access it, one must download specific software to mask their IP address and visit it anonymously. The dark web is a powerful and dangerous place where hackers indulge in illegal activities like stealing personal information, credit card numbers, passport details, and other sensitive data.

Data breaches are a common threat to people and corporations alike. In 2020, the cost of data breaches was roughly $3.86 million. Having your data stolen and put on the dark web is a nightmare.

BE THE VICTOR, NOT THE VICTIM Selling someone else’s private information has become a trending, although illegal, business. Most legitimate businesses go belly up when their private details are sold elsewhere. Having an online presence can be very unsettling! Here is how to protect your private information and avoid having it being misused on the dark web:

1. MULTIPLE STEP AUTHENTICATION FOR ALL ONLINE ACCOUNTS: It is strongly advised to have multiple authentication steps for all your email and social media accounts to prevent hackers from stealing your information. In addition to putting in your account password to log into an online account, an authenticator app will send you a one-time password, or OTP. This OTP can be sent to your mobile phone as a text, or arrive in your email. The sooner you add at least two-factor authentication to your online accounts, the sooner they will be protected.
2. PASSWORD MANAGEMENT METHODS: You should change your passwords every 30 to 90 days for security. Several companies use automated password changing applications that provide high security for online accounts and data. A third party password management option, like Bitwarden, may help you keep track of all your passwords.
3. USE AUTHENTIC ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE: Antivirus software helps prevent spyware, adware, and trojans from infecting computers. If the software detects intrusive software, the antivirus program will eliminate it from the system before any data is breached.
4. UPDATE SOFTWARE PERIODICALLY: New viruses that hackers create can show up on a general user’s computer and look as harmless as a piece of floating ice. Any good antivirus software will update itself automatically and identify problems that potentially lie underneath and remove them before they wreck your entire day.

THE RP TECH SOLUTION YOU NEED Knowing how to avoid these types of theft will give you confidence the next time you upload a profile picture on social media, save your credit card details on a shopping website, or update your business information online. RP Tech Services can help you protect your data with these techniques and more. Get the conversation started with us today to find out how RP Tech can secure your private information.