Most of us have heard about the “dark web” and “fraud,” as identity theft and cybercrime are some of the biggest issues in 2024. The dark web is a part of the deep web, including web pages not searchable through standard engines like Google. Accessing a dark web site requires special browsers, such as Tor (The Onion Router), which anonymize your data.
Dark web sites, due to their anonymity, become breeding grounds for cybercrime and scams, including the buying and selling of stolen personal information.
What is a Dark Web Scanner?
A dark web scanner is a tool designed to search parts of the internet not indexed by regular search engines, like the dark web, for personal information. These tools help individuals and organizations find out if their data, such as Social Security numbers, credit card details, or passwords, has been exposed on dark web marketplaces.
What Does a Dark Web Scan Do?
A dark web scan checks databases of stolen information to see if your personal data appears in any breach lists. These lists, often posted for sale on dark web marketplaces, contain sensitive data about millions of people.
Although no single dark web scan can cover the entire dark web, most focus on major marketplaces where stolen data is sold. A scan can reveal compromised data like email addresses, passwords, and other personally identifiable information (PII). Some services also offer dark web monitoring, where crawlers continually search for your information.
What Are Dark Web Scanners Looking For?
Dark web scanners primarily look for key personal information like email addresses, passwords, Social Security numbers, and financial information, including credit card and bank account details. This information is valuable to cybercriminals who use it for identity theft, financial fraud, and other illicit activities.
How to Find Out if My Information Is on the Dark Web
You can provide your email address to a dark web scanner, which will then search through data dumps for matching credentials. While free services offer one-time scans, paid services may provide continuous monitoring and send alerts if your data is compromised.
Is Dark Web Scanning Free?
Dark web scanning can be both free and paid. Many companies offer a free scan initially, but charge for ongoing monitoring services. While free scans can give you a snapshot of whether your data has been exposed, paid services typically provide more comprehensive protection.
10 Dark Web Scanners to Use
- Firefox Monitor
- Aura Dark Web Scanner
- Identity Guard
- Have I Been Pwned?
- MyPwd (from Axur)
- Dehashed
- Hashcast (from Azur)
- Intelligence X
- Dashlane
- IDStrong
How Does Personal Information End Up on the Dark Web?
Personal information can end up on the dark web through various methods, including phishing scams, data breaches, and malware attacks. Cybercriminals often sell this data in dark web marketplaces, where it is purchased for use in identity theft, fraud, and other crimes.
Firefox Monitor
Firefox Monitor, from Mozilla, is a free dark web scanner that helps users find out if their information has been part of a data breach. Using your email, it searches known breaches and alerts you if your data has been compromised.
Firefox Monitor’s Top Features
- Breach search: Provides a robust search for data breaches and lists the most recent breaches.
- Security tips: Offers educational resources on data protection, such as creating strong passwords.
- Real-time alerts: Sends notifications if your data is found in future breaches.
Firefox Monitor’s Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free to use
- Real-time breach notifications
- Comprehensive breach search Cons:
- Requires a Firefox account for notifications
- Limited to email breaches
Firefox Monitor Pricing
Firefox Monitor is completely free, making it a great budget-friendly option for dark web scanning.
Aura Dark Web Scanner
Aura is an all-in-one digital security service, offering dark web monitoring along with credit alerts, account monitoring, and identity theft insurance.
Aura’s Top Features
- Personal info monitoring: Continuously checks the web for unauthorized access to your personal information.
- Dark web monitoring: Alerts you if sensitive data, like your Social Security number, appears on the dark web.
- $1M identity theft insurance: Provides coverage for costs associated with identity theft, including legal fees and lost wages.
Aura’s Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive identity monitoring
- Fast fraud alerts
- Family plans with identity theft coverage Cons:
- Some features, like Wi-Fi security, aren’t available on macOS
- Higher-tier plans required for premium features
Aura Pricing
- Individual Plan: $12/month
- Couple Plan: $22/month
- Family Plan: $37/month
Identity Guard
Owned by Aura, Identity Guard offers powerful dark web scanning, combining traditional monitoring with AI technology powered by IBM Watson.
Identity Guard Top Features
- AI-driven monitoring: Scans millions of data points to detect compromised personal information.
- Quick alerts: Sends rapid notifications when data is found in a breach.
- White-glove recovery: Connects users with case managers to guide them through identity theft recovery.
Identity Guard Pros and Cons
Pros:
- AI-powered dark web scan
- 24/7 data monitoring
- Identity theft insurance Cons:
- Credit protection only available on higher-tier plans
- Premium recovery services require the highest plan
Identity Guard Pricing
- Value Plan: $7.50/month
- Total Plan: $16.67/month
- Ultra Plan: $25/month
Have I Been Pwned?
Have I Been Pwned is a free tool that lets users search for compromised data from known data breaches by entering their email or phone number.
Have I Been Pwned’s Top Features
- Breach database: Provides access to one of the largest breach databases.
- 1Password integration: Supports integration with 1Password for enhanced password security.
- Domain search: Allows domain administrators to check if any emails on their domain have been compromised.
Have I Been Pwned Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free to use
- Easy to search for compromised data
- Large breach database
Cons:
- No ongoing monitoring
- Limited to email and phone number breaches
Have I Been Pwned Pricing
Have I Been Pwned is completely free to use, but lacks some of the features offered by paid services.
MyPwd (from Axur)
MyPwd is a free tool that lets users search for their personal data on the dark web, offering both real-time scans and email alerts.
MyPwd Top Features
- Real-time monitoring: Tracks breaches and compromised data in real time.
- User-friendly interface: Easy-to-use dashboard for tracking breaches.
MyPwd Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free service
- Real-time monitoring
- Email alerts Cons:
- Limited to basic monitoring features
- No additional identity protection features
MyPwd Pricing
MyPwd is free, though it lacks some of the more advanced features offered by paid tools.
Dehashed
Dehashed is a paid dark web scanning service that offers detailed data breach reporting and monitoring.
DeHashed Top Features
- Advanced breach search: Dehashed allows users to search for email addresses, phone numbers, and other personal information in data breaches.
- Data remediation: Dehashed offers services to help you remove compromised information from certain databases.
DeHashed Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Detailed breach search capabilities
- Offers data remediation
- Alerts on compromised information Cons:
- Paid service
- Limited to searching existing breaches
DeHashed Pricing
DeHashed starts at $5.49 per month, with higher-tier pricing available for more extensive monitoring and alerts.
Hashcast (from Axur)
HashCast, offered by Axur, is designed for business security by detecting data leaks, particularly focusing on employee emails, passwords, and hashes. It scans both the surface web and the dark web, ensuring businesses are the first to know about a potential breach so they can take action quickly.
Hashcast Top Features
- AI Credential Scanning: HashCast uses artificial intelligence (AI) bots to sweep various online platforms—including forums on WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Facebook—for company credentials. The tool is designed to detect any paired email and password combinations, even in private groups.
- Real-Time Alerts: Businesses are notified in real-time if credentials are found on the dark web. Alerts come via email, and users can subscribe to premium alerts like webhook notifications and SMS updates.
- Quick Setup: Companies can get started by entering a business email, streamlining the initial setup without needing complicated onboarding procedures.
Hashcast Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Effective for company-wide security breaches.
- Free email alerts about compromised credentials.
- Different pricing plans cater to varying company needs.
Cons:
- Free version has limited features.
- Premium plans are required for more comprehensive services.
Hashcast Pricing
Hashcast offers three pricing options:
- Free: Basic credential scanning and email alerts.
- $50/month/domain: More detailed alerts and better monitoring options.
- $200/month/domain: Comprehensive business-wide monitoring and customized solutions.
Intelligence X
Intelligence X, a Czech-based tech company founded in 2018, offers a unique search engine for exploring the dark web, utilizing “selectors” as search terms. These selectors allow users to track specific data like email addresses, URLs, IP addresses, and BTC addresses, making it a powerful tool for organizations looking for open-source intelligence across the dark web and other sources.
Intelligence X Top Features
- Customizable Plans: Intelligence X tailors its plans to fit the needs of individual clients. The platform is versatile, catering to businesses, governments, and cybersecurity agencies.
- Comprehensive Selector Scanning: With a vast array of selectors, Intelligence X can perform thorough scans of dark web forums, IP addresses, Bitcoin addresses, and leaked data. Its quick search through billions of data points makes it a robust tool for detailed intelligence collection.
Intelligence X Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Personalized and flexible plans.
- Extensive selector-based searches for in-depth data exploration.
- Covers a broad spectrum of dark web and other online sources.
Cons:
- Free users have limited access to features.
- Primarily aimed at enterprise clients, making it less accessible to individual users.
Intelligence X Pricing
Intelligence X offers both free and premium tiers:
- Free users can access limited services but may lack essential selectors.
- SMB/Enterprise clients can negotiate customized plans based on their specific scanning needs.
Dashlane
Dashlane is a popular password manager that also offers dark web monitoring. While primarily known for password management, Dashlane extends its services to include dark web scanning, helping businesses and individuals protect sensitive information.
Dashlane Top Features
- Diverse Plan Options: Dashlane has flexible plans for individuals, families, and businesses. Its comprehensive security offerings ensure that clients get the right protection.
- Password Changer: Dashlane’s automatic password changer updates compromised passwords immediately after a dark web leak is detected.
- Additional Security: Beyond password management, Dashlane includes features like a VPN, Wi-Fi protection, and secure data storage.
Dashlane Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Suited for individual and business clients alike.
- Combines password management with dark web monitoring.
- Automatic password changer and additional security layers.
Cons:
- All premium features, including dark web scanning, require a paid subscription.
Dashlane Pricing
Dashlane offers several pricing options:
- Free: Basic password management but lacks dark web scanning.
- Premium: $6.49/month for advanced security features, including dark web monitoring.
- Family: $8.99/month, adding multiple user support.
IDStrong
IDStrong is a service focused on helping users secure their personal and credit information. The platform monitors black market websites, social media platforms, and the dark web for any signs of data breaches or compromised information.
IDStrong Top Features
- Data Breach Reports: IDStrong generates reports that give users an overview of where their personal and financial information has been exposed online. These reports are comprehensive and provide next steps.
- Identity Restoration Support: In case of identity theft, IDStrong offers access to a restoration team that helps users recover their identity.
- $1M Identity Theft Insurance: Advanced and Comprehensive Plan users are covered by identity theft insurance that includes lost wages and other expenses.
IDStrong Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free scanning for compromised personal information.
- Identity restoration support and $1M insurance for higher-tier plans.
Cons:
- Free tier only offers scanning; users must upgrade for other services.
IDStrong Pricing
IDStrong’s pricing is split into three tiers:
- Standard: $9.95/month.
- Advanced: $14.95/month, including restoration services.
- Comprehensive: $19.95/month, with identity theft insurance.
7 Best Practices for Dark Web Scanning
As threats from the dark web continue to grow, businesses and individuals alike must adopt effective strategies to monitor and mitigate risks. Scanning the dark web can provide valuable insights into stolen data, potential breaches, and emerging threats. To ensure that your dark web scanning efforts are thorough and productive, it’s important to follow best practices. Here are seven critical steps that can enhance the effectiveness of your dark web monitoring strategy.
1. Automate Dark Web Scanning
Manually tracking dark web activity is not feasible due to the sheer volume of data and the rapid changes in the landscape. Automating the scanning process helps streamline threat detection by continuously monitoring dark web forums, marketplaces, and chatrooms for any mention of your company, assets, or personal data. Automation allows for real-time alerts, which can prompt faster responses and minimize potential damage from cyber threats.
Additionally, automated dark web scanners can be programmed to search for specific keywords or patterns associated with certain types of threats, such as stolen credentials or intellectual property. This allows you to stay ahead of potential attacks without needing constant manual oversight. Automation frees up valuable time, allowing security teams to focus on more complex issues while maintaining a constant level of surveillance over the dark web.
2. Think and Act Like a Data Scientist
Effective dark web scanning requires more than just using the right tools—it also requires the right mindset. A data scientist’s approach involves gathering, organizing, and analyzing large sets of data to extract actionable insights. By adopting this mindset, you can maximize the value of dark web intelligence and make informed decisions based on the data collected.
To think like a data scientist, consider the following:
- Focus on data accuracy and relevance by filtering out noise and irrelevant results.
- Develop hypotheses about potential threats and use data to validate or invalidate those assumptions.
- Use predictive analytics to assess emerging trends on the dark web.
- Leverage machine learning algorithms to improve data analysis and identify patterns of cybercriminal behavior.
By treating dark web scanning as a data science problem, you’ll be better equipped to identify significant risks and predict future attacks, enhancing your overall security posture.
3. Zoom in on the Data that Matters
One of the biggest challenges with dark web scanning is the sheer amount of data available. Not all of it is relevant, and trying to analyze everything can overwhelm even the most sophisticated threat intelligence teams. To avoid this, it’s crucial to zoom in on the specific data that matters to your organization.
Identify key areas of interest, such as:
- Mentions of your company name, domains, or proprietary information.
- Stolen credentials associated with your employees or customers.
- Threats targeting your industry or competitors.
By focusing on these key areas, you can significantly reduce the volume of data you need to analyze, allowing you to prioritize and act on the most important insights. This will also help improve the accuracy of your alerts, as you’ll receive fewer false positives and unnecessary notifications.
4. Analyze Data Sources Comprehensively
When it comes to dark web scanning, it’s important to cast a wide net and ensure that you’re gathering data from a variety of sources. Dark web marketplaces, forums, and social media platforms often act as communication hubs for cybercriminals, but not all threats will originate from the same place. To get a comprehensive view of potential risks, analyze data from multiple sources, including:
- Hidden forums and dark web markets.
- Encrypted chat rooms where illicit activities are discussed.
- Social media platforms that may indirectly provide clues to upcoming attacks.
- Clear web sources that can hint at dark web activity.
By pulling data from a diverse set of sources, you can paint a fuller picture of the threats facing your organization. Additionally, analyzing these sources comprehensively helps in identifying patterns, recurring threats, and evolving tactics used by cybercriminals, allowing for proactive security measures.
5. Keep Humans in the Loop
While automation plays a critical role in dark web scanning, human oversight remains essential. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, and human intelligence is necessary to interpret and contextualize the data collected. Analysts can provide a deeper understanding of the trends identified through automated systems, helping to differentiate between legitimate threats and false positives.
Keeping humans in the loop also enables more effective responses. Security professionals can leverage their expertise to determine the most appropriate course of action when a threat is detected, whether that involves monitoring the situation further or initiating a response plan. Additionally, analysts can adjust the algorithms used for dark web scanning, refining them to ensure they’re as effective and accurate as possible.
6. Integrate and Contextualize Threat Intelligence Data
To fully understand the risks uncovered through dark web scanning, it’s important to integrate threat intelligence data with other security information. This can involve combining dark web data with data from network logs, firewall logs, or other security tools to build a more complete picture of the threat landscape.
Contextualizing the data helps to ensure that alerts are not only accurate but also actionable. For example, if dark web scanners identify stolen credentials associated with your company, you can cross-reference this with your internal systems to see if those credentials have been used for unauthorized access. By linking dark web insights with broader threat intelligence efforts, you can improve your response to potential breaches.
Contextualized threat intelligence also allows for better prioritization. Not all threats discovered on the dark web are immediate concerns, and contextual data helps to identify the most pressing risks that need immediate attention.
7. Extend Threat Intelligence to Suppliers
Many organizations focus solely on their own assets when conducting dark web scanning, but cybercriminals often target third-party suppliers to access sensitive data. Extending your dark web monitoring efforts to include your suppliers and partners can help mitigate the risks of supply chain attacks.
For instance, if one of your suppliers suffers a breach and their data is leaked on the dark web, it could expose your organization to risks. By proactively monitoring your suppliers’ security posture and looking for signs of breaches on the dark web, you can take steps to protect your own systems and data. This may involve working with your suppliers to improve their security measures or developing contingency plans in the event of a supply chain breach.
Incorporating supplier monitoring into your dark web scanning strategy helps create a more comprehensive security framework, ultimately reducing vulnerabilities that could arise from third-party relationships.
Consider a Dark Web Scanning Service
Dark web scanning is crucial for detecting and mitigating cyber threats. While some individuals and businesses attempt to monitor dark web activity manually, using a professional dark web scanning service is often more effective. These services specialize in identifying stolen data, credentials, and other critical information that might be traded on the dark web, helping you act swiftly before damage occurs.
Professional services have access to sophisticated tools, expertise, and a wide network of data sources, making them more efficient at scanning the hidden corners of the dark web. Additionally, they provide actionable reports and real-time alerts, allowing for timely interventions. Considering a dark web scanning service can save your organization or personal identity from falling victim to cybercriminals, without the need for constant manual monitoring.
Is the Dark Web Illegal?
The dark web itself is not illegal, but much of the activity that occurs there can be. The dark web is simply a hidden part of the internet that requires specialized software, like Tor, to access. It provides anonymity, which can be used for both legal and illegal purposes.
Legal uses of the dark web include protecting free speech in oppressive regimes, enabling privacy advocates, or facilitating whistleblowers. However, many parts of the dark web host illicit activities, such as the sale of stolen data, drugs, weapons, and hacking services. Engaging in these illegal activities is against the law in most countries, but browsing or visiting the dark web is not inherently illegal.
It’s essential to be cautious if you’re accessing the dark web, as it can expose you to dangerous elements, malware, and illegal content.
How Much Does a Dark Web Scan Cost?
The cost of a dark web scan varies depending on the service provider, the level of monitoring, and the scope of the scan. Basic one-time scans can cost anywhere from $20 to $100, depending on whether you’re looking for personal or business-related data. These basic scans usually provide a report of whether your data—such as email addresses, passwords, or financial information—has been found on the dark web.
For ongoing dark web monitoring, subscription-based services are available and typically range from $10 to $50 per month. Larger organizations may require more robust scanning services, which can come with enterprise-level solutions costing several thousand dollars per year. These services often offer comprehensive monitoring, real-time alerts, and extended support for mitigating the threats discovered during scans.
What Should I Do if My Information is on the Dark Web?
If a dark web scan reveals that your personal information has been compromised, it’s critical to take immediate action. Start by identifying the type of data that was exposed and take the following steps:
- Change Passwords: Immediately change any passwords associated with the compromised accounts, and consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Wherever possible, enable 2FA for an added layer of security, especially on banking, email, and social media accounts.
- Monitor Financial Accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank accounts and credit cards for any suspicious activity. You may also want to place a fraud alert or credit freeze with major credit bureaus.
- Notify Relevant Organizations: If sensitive data such as Social Security numbers or identification details were compromised, notify the appropriate authorities or institutions (e.g., your bank, credit bureau, or government agencies).
- Use Identity Theft Protection: Consider enrolling in an identity theft protection service to continuously monitor for any further misuse of your data and assist in recovering from identity theft.
Acting swiftly reduces the chances of cybercriminals exploiting your data further.
What Is a Deep Web Scan?
A deep web scan refers to monitoring parts of the web that are not indexed by traditional search engines like Google. The deep web includes a wide range of content such as databases, academic resources, medical records, and private communication platforms that are inaccessible through normal search queries. While not as illicit as the dark web, the deep web can still contain sensitive data that should be monitored.
A deep web scan can help identify if any of your private or confidential information is inadvertently exposed in this hidden layer of the internet. These scans are typically part of a larger dark web monitoring service that ensures data privacy and security across both the deep and dark web.
Prioritize Your Online Security
In today’s increasingly digital world, prioritizing your online security is more important than ever. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and taking a proactive approach to protecting your personal or business data is essential. Dark web scans are just one part of a broader cybersecurity strategy, and they must be combined with other best practices to truly safeguard your online presence.
Here are some ways to prioritize your online security:
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Ensure that you use different passwords for each account, and make them complex to prevent easy guessing.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone.
- Stay Updated: Regularly update your software, apps, and operating systems to patch vulnerabilities.
- Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your financial and personal accounts for unusual activity.
- Secure Your Devices: Use antivirus software, firewalls, and encryption to protect your devices and networks.
By following these measures and conducting regular dark web scans, you can significantly reduce your exposure to cyber risks and ensure the security of your digital life.
References:
- https://backlinko.com/dark-web-scanners
- https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2017115272A1/en
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10695971/
- https://www.spiceworks.com/it-security/data-security/news/google-rolls-out-free-dark-web-monitoring-tool-for-all-users/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338878596_Dark_Web_A_Web_of_Crimes