A Guide to an Effective Dark Web Scan: Tools and Techniques
In today's digital age, no organization or individual is safe from malicious activities on the dark web. And as cybercriminals continue to find new ways of exploiting unprotected systems, organizations must take proactive steps to ensure their sensitive information and operations are not compromised.
This guide will explore the basics, techniques, best tools, and practices for conducting a successful dark web scan. Scanning the dark web regularly and with the right tools and techniques will help your organization understand and anticipate any evolving threats you might be facing so that your cyber security approach is proactive and effective.
Dark Web Scan: The Basics
The internet comprises publicly accessible websites, with many of its contents hidden in the deep and dark web. While this part of the web can be used for legitimate purposes, cybercriminals often use it to access and distribute confidential information. Organizations must conduct dark web scans as part of their security strategy to counter such threats.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is an anonymous network of websites and resources that require special web browsers, such as The Onion Router (Tor), I2P, and Freenet. It is a subset of the deep web, which consists of any content not indexed by search engines, such as databases, online forums, and paywalled content. While the dark web is made up of legitimate websites, it is primarily used for illicit activities, such as hacking, money laundering, drug dealing, human trafficking, the sale of PII like credit card number and login credentials, and forging documents.
How Does a Dark Web Scan Work?
With the help of specialized tools and techniques, expert analysts can conduct dark web scan searches through the non-indexed content, websites, marketplaces, and forums of the dark web for personal identifying information (PII), hacking services related to your organization, malware as a service, leaked intellectual property (IP) and more.
The process works by utilizing algorithms to crawl through the dark web, look for your details within data dumps, and alert you if any information is found. This will enable you to take necessary steps to protect yourself, such as changing passwords or reporting identity theft.
Monitoring for Compromised Credentials
In addition to scanning for PII, it's crucial to monitor for instances where hackers gain unauthorized access to account credentials and sell them on the dark web. These compromised credentials may belong to the organization's customers or employees, posing a significant security risk. And that risk is costly. IBM found that compromised credentials were the most common cause of data breaches in 2023, costing organizations an average of $4.45 million.
Detecting Security Threats and Discussions
Monitoring discussions or communication on the dark web where attackers may be planning or discussing potential attacks targeting your organization is essential. Using a combination of tools and human operatives, detecting such chatter early can help you take preventive measures to mitigate or thwart potential cyber threats before they materialize into actual attacks.
Responding to Data Breaches
It's imperative to monitor for instances where your organization's data has been compromised or leaked, often due to a security breach. Attackers may gain access to databases containing sensitive information such as employee details, customer data, intellectual property, etc. Monitoring for leaked or breached data is crucial for promptly identifying and responding to security incidents.
Choosing the Right Dark Web Scanning Services
While the services provided by dark web scanners differ, most focus on the most popular dark web marketplaces that don't have additional privacy safeguards. It's important to remember that no single scan can cover the entirety of the dark web, so you may need to use more than one service for an effective protection strategy.
Alternatively, you can consider using a PII removal solution, a scanning service that searches and deletes PII information across more than 150 broker sites. Or, choose dark web monitoring, which uses crawlers and scrapers to search compromised data for signs of your personal information constantly.
By incorporating these additional aspects alongside PII scanning, you can adopt a more comprehensive approach to dark web monitoring and cybersecurity, ensuring enhanced protection against various potential threats.
4 Common Cyber Threats on the Dark Web
You might question how risky it is to directly access dark web forums and marketplaces from the perspective of your personal privacy. The reality is that it can be a dangerous place, and many threats lurk on the dark web. Here are some of the most common types of cybersecurity risks and threats from the dark web that could affect organizations and individuals:
- Phishing attacks: These are cyberattacks where malicious actors use emails and other forms of communication to trick users into downloading malware or giving away sensitive information. Unlike regular websites, the dark web allows scammers to remain anonymous, making it easier to target unsuspecting victims.
- Malware and ransomware: Malware and ransomware are far more prevalent on the dark web. Due to the lack of regulation, users can easily become infected with malicious software like Trojans, Botnets, ransomware, and Keyloggers. This can lead to severe risks, such as data theft and computer hijacking.
- Financial fraud: You probably have heard or read about professional "hitmen" allegedly offering their services on the dark web. While you might be tempted to believe this is true, reports have suggested these services are likely scams designed to make money from willing customers. Dark web marketplaces are also known for selling stolen credit card information, fraudulent accounts, and counterfeit currencies.
- Legal consequences and government surveillance: Since the dark web is not regulated, it can be challenging to determine who you are dealing with on this anonymous network. With the help of custom software and embedded operatives, law enforcement authorities can discover user identities and monitor activity. That means even visiting a dark website could lead to being placed on a watch list or immediate targeting for criminal activities.
Dark Web Scanning Tools
Now that you know the techniques and threats associated with dark web scanning, let's look at some tools you can use to implement the process. These tools are a specific subset of threat intelligence platforms, focused primarily on monitoring and alerting organizations to compromised credentials, data leaks, and targeted threats. They enable continuous surveillance of sensitive information, alerting organizations to specific terms or data linked to their interests. This proactive monitoring helps organizations respond swiftly to threats, minimizing potential damage.
Crawlers and Scrapers
As the name implies, crawlers and scrapers are automated tools to navigate dark web pages and collect relevant data. With so many web pages on the dark web, these tools can help save time and resources by automatically checking each page for any signs of malicious or suspicious activity. Whether it's monitoring underground marketplaces or researching the latest data dumps, these tools can help you stay on top of the latest threats.
Search Engines
Far from the usual Google or Bing, dark web search engines are tailor-made for the anonymous network. These specialized tools allow users to look up dark web forums, specific content, marketplaces, or hidden services. They also allow you to filter results by region, language, and other criteria, which can be helpful when conducting targeted searches on the dark web.
Threat Intelligence Software
Threat intelligence platforms aggregate and analyze data collected by crawlers, scrapers, and other sources to provide a comprehensive view of potential threats. These platforms use advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze the data and identify threats. Additionally, they often include human expertise to access and interpret data from sources that automated tools cannot reach, such as certain restricted forums. This blend of technology and human analysis is vital for comprehensive dark web monitoring.
Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) in Dark Web Monitoring
While the dark web is inherently a more "closed" environment, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) still plays a crucial role in monitoring and analyzing associated activities. OSINT techniques are adapted to gather data from publicly accessible sources that indirectly relate to dark web domains, such as information on free platforms and through industry-sharing groups like ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers). These sources provide insights into IP addresses, email addresses, and other entities that could be linked to the dark web, helping uncover potential risks and threat actors. By combining automated tools with manual analysis from experienced analysts, organizations can extend their visibility beyond the opaque nature of the dark web, gaining valuable intelligence about emerging threats and malicious activities.
Best Practices for Dark Web Scanning
When dealing with the complexities of the dark web, businesses must use effective best practices to improve security, particularly considering the specific challenges this environment brings. Here are our recommendations that you should follow while performing dark web scanning:
Prioritize Anonymity and Security
To protect yourself against potential risks and retain confidentiality when using the dark web, you must take extra precautions. Your organization should prioritize using secure, anonymous ways over logging into forums, which can lead to exposure and confusion from dark web operators. This includes using services that allow secure access without directly exposing the organization's network or employees.
Ensure Broad Coverage
The dark web is constantly evolving, with new forums, marketplaces, and covert channels appearing regularly across platforms like Telegram, IRC, and Discord. Your organization needs to ensure it has broad coverage that keeps up with these changes. Utilizing a comprehensive dark web scanning solution that includes the latest sites and channels is crucial for thorough monitoring and threat detection.
Integrate into Your Security Tech Stack
It is critical to integrate dark web scanning and monitoring capabilities directly into your organization's current security technology stack. This integration enables continuous, real-time alerts and updates on potential threats, increasing the overall responsiveness and effectiveness of security measures.
Have a Plan in Place for Dark Web Threats
Detecting sensitive data or threats on the dark web needs an elaborate strategy. Work with a Threat Intelligence (TI) vendor who has created dark web personas and may authenticate findings or perform anonymous inquiries on your behalf. This method ensures that any possible risks or leaks are dealt with quietly and effectively, reducing risk to your organization.
Future Trends in Dark Web Scans
As cybercriminals become increasingly sophisticated, organizations must keep updating and searching for new ways to defend against cyberattacks. Dark web scans are no exception, with dark web trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLM), and predictive analytics providing organizations with the tools they need to avoid potential threats.
Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models
Next-generation internet technologies, like AI and LLMs, have enabled a new level of automation in dark web scanning. But to truly realize their potential, organizations need a comprehensive strategy that includes a plan of action when risky findings are discovered. This will allow organizations to mitigate risks more effectively and avoid potentially costly data breaches.AI and ML technologies, such as LLMs, can be used to formulate a recommended course of action based on the specific type of incident and best practices learned from the massive amounts of available information on past breaches.
Predictive Analytics
Organizations can develop predictive analytics models to forecast emerging threats, anticipate cybercriminal activities, and prioritize proactive security measures. This helps organizations avoid potential threats by proactively addressing any issues before they become serious problems.
Why Implement Dark Web Scanning for Cybersecurity?
Dark web scanning is an integral part of any cybersecurity program. When implemented correctly, it can help organizations detect threats, prevent data breaches, respond to incidents quickly, mitigate insider threats, protect their brand and reputation from malicious actors, and strengthen employee security awareness.
It is important to note that the evolution of cyber threats and the complexity of the dark web demands an advanced arsenal of tools and technologies. That's why keeping up with the latest cybersecurity solutions and best practices is essential for organizations looking to protect their information and operations.
Partner With ZeroFox to Safeguard Your Organization and Proactively Monitor the Deep and Dark Web
Getting started on a successful dark web monitoring program can be challenging. Fortunately, ZeroFox provides organizations with the tools and expertise to monitor the dark web effectively. Our real-time dark web monitoring platform, free botnet scan, and threat intelligence solutions provide organizations with comprehensive visibility of their digital assets and threats, enabling them to detect potential vulnerabilities before they become serious problems.
Ready to get started? Request a demo today and learn how ZeroFox can help you protect your organization from the threats lurking on the dark web.