eBay is generally safe to buy from; however, it’s important to take security precautions because people are often scammed on the platform. If you’ve never shopped
Unfortunately, once your information has been put on the dark web, you cannot remove it. Despite this, you can still protect your personal information and identity by changing your passwords, enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and monitoring your online accounts for suspicious activity.
Continue reading to learn how to tell if your information is on the dark web and what you can do to protect yourself if it is.
How do I know if my information is on the dark web?
You can tell if your information is on the dark web by conducting a free dark web scan. To use a free dark web scanning tool, you must enter your email address and potentially some other personal information, depending on the tool you use. After entering your private information into the tool, the dark web scanner will scan its database of compromised data found in public data breaches. If the tool finds a match between the information you entered and its database, this means your information exists on the dark web.
What to do if your information is on the dark web
If you learn that your information is on the dark web, there are several things you should do immediately to protect your privacy and identity.
Change your passwords
If a dark web scan reveals that your login credentials for an online account are on the dark web, you need to change your password immediately. For every account with compromised login credentials, you should update your passwords to be strong and unique – consisting of at least 16 characters and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. You can quickly change all your passwords by using a password manager like Keeper®, which features a built-in password generator that creates stronger passwords. Not only does Keeper Password Manager make it convenient for you to update your passwords, but it also securely stores them in your encrypted digital vault.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
After making the passwords on compromised accounts stronger, you should also enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add another layer of security to your accounts. MFA is an additional security measure that requires you to provide an extra form of authentication to access your account beyond your username and password. Some examples of MFA include a PIN, a code from an authenticator app, an answer to a security question or your biometric information. It’s important to enable MFA on any accounts that support it because even if your username and password are compromised, a cybercriminal would be unable to log in with your login credentials since they won’t have your MFA.
Scan your devices for malware
If you’re unsure how your information ended up on the dark web, malware may have been installed onto your device without your knowledge, stealing your information and sending it to a cybercriminal. Malware is malicious software that can infect your device if you fall for a phishing scam or download free games, apps or movies from third-party sources. Once malware is installed on your device without your knowledge, a cybercriminal can spy on your online activity and steal data from your device.
It’s important to scan your devices for malware with antivirus software when you learn that your information has been found on the dark web because malware may be what collected your information to begin with. Antivirus software will compare your device’s data with its database of known viruses, and if it finds a match, it will isolate and delete the malware from your device. After learning that your information is on the dark web, it’s best to run antivirus software on your devices to determine if malware caused your information to become compromised.
Place a security freeze on your credit report
A security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, stops creditors from accessing your credit report, preventing them from approving any new loans or lines of credit in your name. This is a necessary step for you to take if your private information was found on the dark web because a cybercriminal may commit identity theft and fraud while impersonating you. Placing a security freeze on your credit report will protect your identity and credit from anyone attempting to assume your identity. Even if you don’t believe you’re a victim of identity theft, it’s best practice to keep your credit frozen at all times unless you plan on taking out a loan or opening a new line of credit. To place a security freeze, you need to contact each of the three credit bureaus separately: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.
Keep an eye out for suspicious activity
If your information appears on the dark web, you should stay alert and monitor your online accounts for unusual activity. Some kinds of suspicious activity to watch out for include unusual and frequent login attempts, unfamiliar transactions on your bank statements and 2FA code requests you didn’t initiate. For example, if you keep receiving emails from an online account with a One-Time Password (OTP) code that you didn’t request, a cybercriminal is attempting to log in to your account. If you continue to notice suspicious activity occurring on your accounts, it means that a cybercriminal either has access or is trying to gain access to them.
Stay protected against the dark web
Although there is no way to remove your information once it appears on the dark web, following the steps above will help keep your accounts and identity protected. Changing the passwords to your compromised accounts is essential for securing your online accounts, and the easiest way to do this is by using a password manager like Keeper Security. Keeper Password Manager securely stores your passwords and also has an add-on feature called BreachWatch, which is a dark web monitoring tool. BreachWatch notifies you if your information has been found on the dark web so you can change your passwords.
Start your free 30-day trial of Keeper Password Manager to discover how simple it is to securely store your passwords. Try using BreachWatch to know as soon as your information reaches the dark web, so you can act quickly and update your passwords.