Dark Web Monitoring: Is Your Personal Data Being Sold?

What Is the Dark Web?

The dark web is a part of the internet that requires special software (like Tor) to access. While it has legitimate uses for privacy and free speech, it also hosts marketplaces where stolen personal data is bought and sold. Passwords, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, medical records, and entire identity packages are traded daily.

How Your Data Ends Up There

Your information reaches the dark web through several paths:

• Data breaches — When companies are hacked, stolen databases are often sold on dark web marketplaces
• Phishing attacks — Credentials harvested through phishing are compiled and resold
• Malware — Keyloggers and info-stealers on infected devices capture and exfiltrate your data
• Insider threats — Employees at companies may steal and sell customer data
• Public information scraping — Data compiled from social media and public records to build identity profiles

What Is Being Sold

Dark web marketplaces offer various types of personal data at different price points:

• Email/password combinations — Often less than a dollar each
• Credit card numbers — Typically $5-50 depending on balance and type
• Full identity packages (name, SSN, DOB, address) — $10-100
• Medical records — Among the most valuable at $50-1000+
• Bank account credentials — Priced based on account balance

How to Check If You Are Affected

Free Methods

• HaveIBeenPwned.com — Check if your email appears in known breaches
• Google Password Checkup — Chrome checks saved passwords against known breaches
• Firefox Monitor — Mozilla's breach checking service

Paid Monitoring Services

• Identity monitoring services scan dark web forums and marketplaces for your personal information
• Credit monitoring alerts you to new accounts or inquiries on your credit report
• Many password managers include breach monitoring in premium plans

What To Do If Your Data Is Found

1. Change affected passwords immediately using our Password Generator
2. Enable two-factor authentication on all compromised accounts
3. Freeze your credit if financial data was exposed
4. Monitor financial accounts closely for unauthorized activity
5. File fraud alerts with credit bureaus if identity data was exposed
6. Consider identity theft protection if comprehensive data was compromised

Prevention Is Key

You cannot completely prevent your data from appearing on the dark web — you cannot control the security of every company that has your information. But you can minimize the impact:

• Use unique passwords for every account so a single breach does not compromise everything
• Minimize the personal data you share with companies
• Regularly check breach notification services
• Keep two-factor authentication enabled everywhere
• Monitor your financial accounts and credit reports regularly

The dark web is a reality of our digital world. Awareness and proactive monitoring are your best defenses.