How Do You Know if Your Information Is on the Dark Web? If your data is available on the dark web, one of the easiest ways to find out is to check the “Have I Been Pwned” (HIBP) website. It's a free service, and all you have to do is conduct a search using your email address or phone number.
While you can scour the Dark Web yourself, it isn't easy — nor is it safe to do so. Instead, a free Dark Web scanner can search countless Dark Web pages and marketplaces for your personal information. This is a good place to start — however, free scanners only check for email addresses (and sometimes phone numbers).
Identity thieves use the Dark Web to buy and sell personal information. If you have ever been a victim of a data breach, the Dark Web is a place where your sensitive information might live. If your information is there, criminals can potentially use it to commit fraud.
If your personal information is spotted on the dark web, it could mean someone took the information without your permission. Criminals steal personal information in a variety of ways. Some try hacking into accounts or using malware to capture passwords.
If you're wondering “how does one's personal information get on the Dark Web?”, the answer includes data breaches, scams, and a very diverse range of cyber-attacks (phishing through email, private messages and voice calls, social media impersonation, malware infections or digital identity theft).
It is generally implausible to remove data that has been disseminated within the Dark Web. Individuals whose PII has been discovered on the Dark Web are encouraged to enroll in an identity and credit monitoring service immediately.
Can you remove your email from the dark web? Unfortunately, if your email address has been compromised, there's nothing you can do to remove it from the dark web. It's impossible to track down the person responsible for the breach and ask them to remove your data from this unregulated corner of the internet.
Other Ways to Check if Your Email and Password Are on the Dark Web: Use a Reputable Dark Web Scan Tool: There are several reputable platforms available online that can scan the dark web for your data. Some examples include HaveIBeenPwned, Experian, and IdentityGuard.
An identity thief with a stolen identification number may look for a quick payout through getting access to your credit, financial accounts or government benefits such as unemployment claims fraud.
Inform the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that your SSN has been found on the Dark Web and ask to file an identity theft report. Even if your information hasn't been used maliciously yet, filing a formal claim with the FTC can help you if you need to dispute fraudulent charges, accounts, or crimes.
This level of anonymity is why so many criminals use the Dark Web to buy, sell, and trade stolen and leaked information. If your email address is circulating on the Dark Web, it's almost certainly due to a data breach.
Search the first 5 pages of Google and search for images, video, blogs, and news. You should Google yourself beyond page 1 because you may find “buried” information in later pages. You should search at least through 5 pages. Also, you should also use Google Image search and Google Video search.
The dark web is known to have begun in 2000 with the release of Freenet, the thesis project of University of Edinburgh student Ian Clarke, who set out to create a "Distributed Decentralised Information Storage and Retrieval System." Clarke aimed to create a new way to anonymously communicate and share files online.
Use HaveIBeenPwned.
HaveIBeenPwned has been around for many years and is a great tool you can use to find out if your passwords are being leaked on the dark web.
Look for strange emails in your sent folder that you didn't send. You're getting password reset emails you didn't ask for. Once a hacker gets access to your inbox they can see which services you use. For example, Facebook email notifications tell them you have a Facebook account.
Personal information like email addresses can find its way onto the dark web as a result of data breaches at services and platforms you may be signed up for. This information can then be sold and used by cybercriminals in a variety of ways, including identity theft, banking fraud, and phishing scams.
To find out when an email you sent was opened, you can request a read receipt. A read receipt is sent to you as an email with the time and date of when your message was opened. Want to get more out of Google apps at work or school?
With the results, you can review your information and make informed decisions about how to protect yourself. You don't need a paid Google One membership to run a dark web report for the email address associated with your Google Account.
Some companies will inform you of a data breach and what information is at risk. You can also look online yourself to find out what information was compromised. This website will tell you if it is your email address, phone number, or password. If you get an alert your password was compromised, change it right away.
Always use an anonymous browser like Tor, and keep your security settings at the maximum value, even if this limits your browsing experience. Doing so will protect you from malicious scripts and payloads that can leave your device vulnerable to attacks. Never download or buy anything on the dark web.