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    State of the Dark Web: 4 Key Takeaways + 2 Actions

    are you exposedFast Facts

    COVID-19 has affected every corner of the world – including the Dark Web. As we’ve monitored and analyzed the Dark Web in 2020, we’ve discovered trends that point to today’s biggest cybersecurity threats and gained insight into the risks of tomorrow.

    • There are more than 4.5 billion web pages on the “standard” internet.
    • The “full” internet, including the Dark Web, is estimated to be 400 to 500 times larger.
    • A 2019 analysis of 2,723 Dark Web sites found that 57% of them included illicit material.
    • The Dark Web offers approximately 75,000 terabytes of data.

    Takeaway #1

    The Dark Web isn’t just accessed by a small number of people.

    • 2 million active users connect to the Dark Web through the TOR browser every day.
    • 26% of North American and 17% of EU users access the Dark Web daily.
    • Approximately one third of North Americans used the Dark Web in 2019.
    • About 60% of the information on the Dark Web could potentially harm organizations.

    Takeaway #2

    Dark Web activity is skyrocketing post-pandemic.

    • Over 1,400 COVID-19 related domains were registered in Q1 2020.
    • There was a 738% increase in COVID-19-related terms on the Dark Web in March 2020.
    • Phishing attacks including COVID-19 scams have climbed 667% in 2020.
    • Dark Web use has increased by more than 300% in the last 3 years.

    Takeaway #3

    The Dark Web economy is booming.

    • An estimated 2 to 5% of the global GDP is laundered on the Dark Web in one year.
    • More than 75% of Dark Web sites appear to be marketplaces.
    • The price for access to corporate networks increased by 61% in Q1 2020.
    • Cybercrime yields in excess of $1.5 trillion in revenue per year.

    Takeaway #4

    Your data may already be on the Dark Web, even if you haven’t had a breach.

    • Information on 267 million Facebook users sold in Q1 2020 for $540.
    • In Q1 2020 alone over 73.2 million new user records hit the Dark Web.
    • 164 million user records from a dozen major companies were exposed in a single Q1 2020 dump.
    • 53% of organizations have had a data breach caused by third party information theft.

    2 Actions That You Can Take Today to Protect Your Data

    1. Get Someone to Watch Your Back.

    Are your passwords for sale on the Dark Web? Is one of your staffers selling access to your systems? Were you exposed in a third-party Dark Web data dump? Find out with our Dark Web monitoring service. We’ll dive deep into the corners of the Dark Web to look for potential risks to your organization. We watch for new Dark Web threats to your systems and data 24/7/365 to alert you to potential trouble quickly, enabling you to stop cyberattacks before they start.

    Request a complimentary Dark Web Scan here.

    2. Get Ready to Defend Against Your Biggest Threat.

    Over 90% of data breaches start with a phishing attack, and everything a cybercriminal needs to mount an effective phishing attack against you is available on the Dark Web. Prevent those attacks from landing with Security Awareness Training and Phishing Simulations. Our service offers 80 phishing kits and 50 video campaigns (including COVID-19 threats), plus 4-6 new training tools added per month in 8 languages, to ensure that your staff is ready to be your first line of defense against this Dark Web threat. Learn more here.

    Next steps

    Your employees are your first and primary line of defense against online crime. Equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves – and your business – from criminal elements.

    I invite you to have a 15-minute conversation. Whether or not we decide to collaborate, I’m confident I can offer insights that can help you find the right solution for your needs. Please click here to book a call with me.

    NetOne Technologies is a Managed Service Provider expert in network design, disaster recovery, VoIP and IT risk management and offers assistance with all of your technology needs.

    For the past 20 years, as President and Technical Director of NetOne Technologies, my team has brought companies the connectivity, security, and network infrastructure to be successful in today’s changing world.