If you have ever been curious about what is going on behind the curtain of the internet, you may want to check out the dark web. It’s a vast network of servers that are hidden from public view and are used by hackers, drug dealers, cybercriminals and other nefarious individuals who use it for illegal purposes.
While there is no way to be 100 percent certain about whether your information is on the dark web or not, here’s how you can find out if it is. The steps below will help you determine if your personal information has made its way onto the dark web and be able to take appropriate action should it happen.
Step 1: Search online
You need to search the dark web using one of two methods: Tor (a free browser) or I2P (free browser).
Tor is an encrypted network of nodes that allows users to browse anonymously while protecting their privacy. On the surface, it looks like any other browser, but under the hood, it hides your IP address and encrypts all of your communications. This makes it difficult for anyone — even those with access to your computer — to know where you go on the Internet.
I2P is similar to Tor in that it uses encryption to protect your identity, but it does so much more than just hide your IP address. In addition to hiding your identity, it also hides your location. Unlike traditional browsing software, I2P doesn’t allow websites to track your activity. It lets you surf the web completely anonymously and without fear of being monitored.
Step 2: Check for malware
When you’re surfing the dark web, you might come across malicious links or sites looking to infect your PC with malware. These sites try to trick you into downloading something dangerous, such as spyware or ransomware. To avoid getting infected, make sure you only download files directly from trusted sources.
To ensure that a file isn’t potentially harmful, right-click on it and select Open With ” Notepad. In this example, we’re using Notepad instead of the default text editor because Notepad doesn’t contain any code. If you see code, don’t open it!
When the person have the taken the decision to be on Darkweb link list then he must have the clue regarding the viruses. The main thing for the person is to ensure that the platform is no having any amount of the issues. The platform will prove to be a fruitful option.
Step 3: Scan your hard drive for sensitive data
Once you’ve downloaded the file, you’ll have some important decisions to make. You could choose to delete the file immediately, but if you do that, you won’t be able to recover the information later.
Instead, you should scan the file for sensitive data — anything that could compromise your safety or privacy. There are several ways to do this, including using tools developed specifically for the purpose. For instance, you could use VirusTotal, which uses a community of antivirus scanners to detect viruses, worms, Trojans, keyloggers and other types of malware.
Using these kinds of tools is a good first step, but if you’re really concerned about your security, you should hire someone to conduct a full-blown scan. A reputable IT company would be able to analyze the file for you and report back any threats it finds.
Step 4: Remove suspicious items from your system
As you remove each suspicious item, remember to keep notes on what was removed. This will help you to identify any potential risks further down the road when you need to remove them again.
After removing everything you think is a threat, you should restart your computer and run a virus scan, especially if it was previously infected. If the scan reports that your machine is clean, then you can move forward with regular use of the computer.
Step 5: Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity
After you’ve cleared your computer of malware, you’ll need to monitor the accounts that you have set up on services that you use regularly. If the service provider detects unusual activity on your account, they may ask you to provide additional proof that you own the account before allowing you access.
This kind of precautionary measure is designed to prevent someone else from accessing your account without your permission. However, some services offer optional features that let you monitor your activity yourself, so you can take advantage of this feature without waiting for a response from the service provider.
For instance, Google offers an optional tool called Google Takeout that lets you export all of the content that you have stored on Google Drive. Similarly, Apple provides iCloud Monitoring, which lets you view your device’s logins and passwords for every single app installed on your iPhone.
In both cases, you can use the exported data to monitor your activity on a regular basis. If someone logs on to your account or opens a password-protected app without your permission, you’ll be notified immediately. This gives you time to react, preventing it from happening again.
Step 6: Protect your passwords
If you’ve taken the time to protect your accounts and devices, you probably already have secure passwords. But did you know that there are programs designed to crack passwords? They’re called password cracking programs, and they work by trying millions of combinations until they find the correct one.
Unfortunately, the longer the password, the more likely it is to fall victim to a brute-force attack. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk. If you have a short password, you can add special symbols to make it harder to guess.
You can also create complex passwords by combining multiple words or phrases. This can prove extremely effective, especially if you use the same password for many different accounts. If you use the same password for your Gmail account and Amazon account, for instance, a hacker would have to hack both of those accounts at the same time.
But wait: What about encryption? Isn’t encryption supposed to make it impossible to crack a password? Actually, most people are using weak encryption. Strong encryption requires keys that are long, random strings of data. Most people aren’t generating strong enough passwords, so they’re susceptible to attack.
If you really care about securing your passwords, you should consider using a password manager. Most password managers include a built-in form of encryption, making it nearly impossible for someone to steal your login credentials.
