According to new research from Bitglass, data stolen on the dark web is 11 times faster now than it was six years ago. They performed the first data tracking study of its kind in 2015 to better understand how information is presented and accessed on the Dark Web.
But the dark web is more than simply a data repository. It’s been a haven for illicit marketplaces and discussion boards since its inception, with a diverse range of perversely and sexually explicit material available.
Stolen data has a broader reach and travels at a faster pace, according to the study. In 2021, breach data was viewed over 13,200 times vs. 1,100 views in 2015 – a 1,100 percent increase. In 2015, it took 12 days to reach 1,100 link views; by 2021, it took less than 24 hours.
The nature of providing cybersecurity is changing: it now entails stopping malware from entering your system, as well as actively detecting and eliminating a danger before it strikes.
In 2021, the number of anonymous viewers on the Dark Web (93%) would be higher than in 2015 (67%), according to the report.
Bitglass researchers seeded data to access retail and government networks, which received the most clicks, at 36% and 32%, respectively.
The Bitglass Threat Research Group launched a phony identity claiming to have a list of verified login and password data from the RockYou2021 password compilation leak. Researchers also published in several Dark Web marketplaces known as pastebins, where they posted links to phony files with credentials that would allow access within businesses in retail, government, gaming, and media.
Governments and businesses must take more proactive measures to safeguard their data as cyberattacks become increasingly common and sophisticated. You can read the whole report here.