Page 10 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – May/June 2022

FINANCIAL SERVICES
The Dark Web:
What Is It?
You may have heard the term “dark web,” but On the dark web, people looking for this information can
it can sometimes be difficult to understand what
it really is and what it can mean to you. It may help to look at the internet as three levels based on the access available and their respective purposes.
get access to records that live online and are often available inexpensively. Savvy cyberthieves also may wait some
time before using the data they buy, because immediately following a breach, many people are more guarded and on the lookout for red flags on accounts, bills and their credit reports. These criminals can make a decent living by selling, buying and using stolen personal information.
There’s no absolute way to keep your information off the dark web since hackers are always attempting to secure your information and sell it to those looking to pay for it, but you can be vigilant about looking for red flags that your identity is in someone else’s hands, including:
• Monitor your accounts and statements for any information that looks off
• Check your credit report regularly to see if inquiries or new accounts appear that you don’t recognize
• Use strong passwords and change them often
• Consider an online product to help you protect your identity and monitor your credit
• Know how to respond immediately to suspicious activity
By staying on top of potential issues, you can help minimize the impact of your personal information falling into the wrong hands. Visit AAA.com/IDTheft for more information and tips to prevent your own identity from being stolen.
Public Web Deep Web Dark Web
Information normally found on search engines.
Information not indexed by search engines and may require authentication.
Information not accessible by normal internet browsers.
The dark web isn’t an actual place, but rather a hidden network of websites where most stolen data lives and illicit online activity occurs.
Visitors to the dark web utilize anonymity software
to mask their true identities. When you visit a website
on the internet, IP addresses trace online activity on
your computer. But on the dark web, with masking software activated, a computer takes a randomized path to its destination, bouncing around several encrypted connections to mask ultimately both location and identity.
Once exposed, information on the dark web can change hands again and again over time— especially if it’s a valuable combination of information, a Social Security number or an identifying address with account information.
10 I MAY/JUNE 2022