The internet can be broken down into three layers: 1. surface web 2. deep web 3. dark web.
Content on the surface web is easily accessible from everyday websites and browsers and makes up only 5% of all content available on the internet. The deep web is home to private and secure portals, like your bank and healthcare accounts, and represents 90% of all internet content.
The dark web is the #1 marketplace where stolen identities are bought and traded. The dark web consists of websites that hide their IP addresses and are not accessible from standard internet browsers.
Dark web monitoring is the search for and surveillance of personal information on the part of the web that isn’t normally accessible. This type of monitoring isn’t something you can easily do yourself, as the dark web requires a particular web browser—it’s hidden from the search engines you would typically use. No organization, business, or government oversees the dark web or can enforce rules, which is why it is commonly associated with illegal activities.
You can protect your identity by enrolling in an identity theft protection plan that monitors your personally identifiable information (PII) across the internet, including the dark web. If you are enrolled in IDShield, remember to add your personally identifiable information for monitoring! If a threat is detected, you will receive an alert.
If you have any questions about an alert you’ve received or concerns due to a recent data breach, you can call to speak to an IDShield identity theft specialist. If you do not have IDShield, consider enrolling at your next opportunity.