Cybersecurity: how to monitor your data on the dark web for free

In the digital age, cybersecurity has become a major concern for Internet users who are conscientious about their confidential data. If this data – from a simple email address to a bank identity statement, a copy of an identity card or a password – is valuable in our eyes, it is also the preferred target of cybercriminals. Sold en masse through the Dark Web, they can then be exploited, compromised and used for fraudulent purposes by malicious individuals. How do you know if your information has been leaked? What tools and methods can you use to monitor the Dark Web and identify possible information about you? Here are our best tips for detecting data leaks that concern you.

Monitor the Dark Web for free with Google

Google includes a feature to monitor possible leaks of your personal data on the Dark Web. Through your Google account, navigate to the tab titled “Security”. Then, click on the “Dark web report” module. Google allows you to add multiple email addresses — including from third-party providers to Gmail — as well as track phone numbers and postal addresses. However, it will be necessary to validate the email addresses provided by receiving a one-time code in order to avoid any attempt at fraud.

Google then generates a report which lists all possible leaks of your data, which allows you to modify your identifiers manually with each site concerned. Note that it is possible to activate notifications to be automatically notified in the event of a new cyberattack involving your monitored data.

Detect data leaks with specialized software

Online software has specialized in monitoring hacked data. Some offer it for free, this is particularly the case with the platform “have I been pwned” which allows you to search for all leaked information from a specified email address.

Along the same lines, some VPN software offers advanced features in terms of detecting leaks on the Dark Web. This is the case of NordVPN which allows its subscribers to monitor pirate databases.

What to do in the event of a proven data breach

While some platforms communicate with great transparency when a cyberattack targeting their servers is confirmed, this is unfortunately not yet commonplace. This is why monitoring the Dark Web with Google or dedicated software is of paramount importance. When it comes to cybersecurity, choosing a unique password for each website is the best practice. If your password is leaked, cyberhackers will only have obtained your login credentials for the site in question. You will also be able to modify these identifiers as quickly as possible, since your monitoring software will have automatically notified you.

Proton Pass: Password Manager

Proton Pass is a free password manager available as a mobile app for Android and iOS, and an extension for many web browsers.

• Downloads:
  14
• Release date:
  10/24/2024
• Author :
  Proton AG
• License:
  Free license
• Categories:
  

  Security

• Operating system:
  

  Android, Google Chrome Extension, Mozilla Firefox Extension, Linux, Online Service, Windows, iOS iPhone / iPad, macOS
  

Despite this evidence in terms of cybersecurity, too many Internet users still choose to use the same password on several web platforms. Often, the difficulty in memorizing identifiers is the explanation. This is why password manager software exists. To name a few, Proton Pass and NordPass are good candidates for this task. They both offer secure (encrypted) storage of login credentials, allowing the user to only remember one master password.