The Dark Web

Do you monitor your online risks?

Do you know where your data is? Do you use secure passwords? Have you considered using a VPN to keep your internet usage more secure from prying eyes? Do you know if your data is exposed to criminal eyes? If you do any online shopping, banking, or investing, then you should be more cautious and careful than most are.

For example, I use an antivirus solution (McAfee – but I’m switching to Trend Micro in about one week) and I also use NordVPN and NordVPN Threat Protection. I don’t click on links in email messages. I don’t answer questions from unknown callers who want me to say “Yes.” I also monitor our credit reports and get updates of suspicious activities.

It is wise to be skeptical. As the author of Proverbs wisely suggests, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27:6 In other words, enemies can appear friendly but are really just a ploy to do you harm.

Dark web definition: “The dark web is a part of the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines. You’ve no doubt heard talk of the ‘dark web’ as a hotbed of criminal activity — and it is. Researchers Daniel Moore and Thomas Rid of King’s College in London classified the contents of 2,723 live dark web sites over a five-week period in 2015 and found that 57% host illicit material.” – csoonline

What can you buy on the dark web?

“You can buy credit card numbers, all manner of drugs, guns, counterfeit money, stolen subscription credentials, hacked Netflix accounts and software that helps you break into other people’s computers. Buy login credentials to a $50,000 Bank of America account, counterfeit $20 bills, prepaid debit cards, or a “lifetime” Netflix premium account. You can hire hackers to attack computers for you. You can buy usernames and passwords.” – csoonline

Ransomware

We have family members who have been held hostage. If you don’t back up your computer, you may regret that lack of discipline. It can be very costly and time-consuming. “The dark web is also used in certain extortion-related processes. It is common to observe data from ransomware attacks on several dark web sites, for example data sales sites or public data repository sites.” – Wikipedia

A Recent Example

These images reveal what I received from Capitol One CreditWise. At the very least you should monitor your credit reports. Even big companies like AT&T have had recent break ins. We used to be AT&T customers, so I suspect some of our data has been compromised.

Credit Scores

Your credit score is only important if you need loans or want to open a credit account.

Some people care about their credit score. Given the reality that we don’t need any new credit cards or loans, I don’t really worry about that. It is far more important to stay safe on the internet.