Deep and dark web hackers buy and sell all kinds of personal information. They sell stolen credit card numbers for as little as $9 and if the card uses a unique one-time payment code even that is available for the right price.
Credit card numbers are far from the only thing that’s at risk though. Let’s look at 9 ways hackers on the dark web steal your information.
The Deep and Dark Web Compared
There are three levels of the web:
- The world-wide-web that anyone can access.
- The deep web is made up of sites that aren’t indexed by the search engines but aren’t necessarily bad.
- The dark web, a subsection of the deep web, deals mainly with illegal activities.
Encryption & Anonymity
The foundation of how hackers steal your information through the dark web is encryption and anonymity. They use special software to access these sites that encrypt everything they do. Nobody uses their real name and most transactions use completely anonymous cryptocurrencies.
Carding
“Carding” is the buying and selling of credit card information. If your credit card details get stolen, they could end up for sale on the dark web for any hacker to use. Even high-tech protection like one-time purchase codes is for sale.
Botnets
Botnets are one of the most common ways hackers steal information. They take over personal computers around the world and turn them into “bots” that are all connected through the internet. These botnets are incredibly powerful because of the sheer number of machines involved.
Brute Force Attacks
Hackers may use a brute force attack to steal your information by hacking into your accounts or your PC. These attacks often use botnets to test millions of different passwords until they find one that works. This is why it’s not a good idea to use dictionary words for your password.
Malware
Viruses and other malware are another common method of stealing information. Once your computer gets infected with one of these, a hacker can easily access all your data and even track everything you type including things like your login credentials for banks and other websites.
Stolen Documents
Scanned copies of sensitive documents are often available through the dark web. Passports, citizenship documents, and other personal information can be bought by anyone with access to these sites.
Finding Your Address and Other Information
Hackers use resources on the dark web to find addresses, phone numbers, workplaces, and many other things about your “real” life. Hackers can use these to target you in other ways or as part of a larger identity theft operation.
Social Engineering
Most people picture someone in a dark room, hammering away on their computer keyboard when they think of hackers. A lot of the information hackers collect is obtained through social engineering. They’ll pretend to be someone they’re not and trick people into revealing personal information through email, over the phone, or even face-to-face.
Deep and Dark Web Hackers are Buying and Selling Information
The dark web has its own underground economy, with hackers buying and selling almost any kind of information you can imagine. They use untraceable websites and payment methods to do “business” with one another outside the view of most of the world.
If you’ve been targeted by hackers on the dark web or you want to make sure you’re protected if it happens, Core Networks can help.
Get in touch with us today to find out more about our Cyber Security service and how it can help keep you safe.
