Technology is changing every day providing new opportunities for you to streamline your business systems and increase your company’s efficiency. Unfortunately, the dark web has continuously evolved as well, presenting new threats and fresh dangers to small businesses. To mitigate risk to your business, it’s important to understand the potential sources of trouble. Below, we’ll discuss the top 5 dark web threats that your business may face today…
Initial Access Brokers (IAB)
Initial Access Brokers sell access to secure networks to cybercriminals. IABs may have gained access to the secure networks themselves or they trade credentials that were stolen by others. There are more than 350 IABs currently active on the dark web.
Malicious Insiders
Yes, there are threats that can come from within your own business. Disgruntled employees or third-party contractors with access can sell their legitimate credentials or proprietary data (like customer lists and intellectual property) on the dark web to IABs or other cybercriminals. Malicious insiders are responsible for an estimated 25% of data breaches.
Cybercrime-As-A-Service (CaaS)
It’s no longer necessary for cybercriminals to possess the technical expertise needed to gain access to systems or information themselves. They simply need to buy or lease the tools, infrastructure or services they need to accomplish the task at hand.
Common types of CaaS include Ransomware-as-a-Service, DDoS-as-a-Service, Phishing-as-a-Service and Malware Kits.
Dark Web Data
There is a lot of information on the dark web including stolen customer records, hacked payment cards and proprietary data – gained illegally and all bad for businesses. Of the data floating around on the dark web, an estimated 60% could harm businesses.
Operation Technology (OT) & Industrial Control Systems (ICS)
Obtained through theft, purchased from other cybercriminals or harvested from a data dump, exposed OT and ICS data makes it easier for cybercriminals to conduct successful cyberattacks against infrastructure and manufacturing targets. An estimated one in seven cyberattacks gives cybercriminals access to sensitive information about OT or ICS.
Final Thoughts
While these 5 dangers aren’t the only ones to emerge from the dark web to hurt small businesses, having the right strategies and security solutions in place will help to protect your business and mitigate the danger of damage.
What should you do to protect your business against dark web threats?
Start today with a free dark web scan to help assess your current exposure. Our team of IT experts can help you understand your options and find the best fit to mitigate dark web threats and danger.