Does Your Business Need a Dark Web Assessment?

what exactly is the dark web?

Unlike the regular or surface web, the dark web offers an increased level of anonymity that makes it a popular platform for hackers or criminals engaging in illegal activity. These sites are not indexed by regular search engines. The dark web can only be accessed using special software like TOR that leverages layers of encryption to hide a user’s location and browsing activities.

There are some legitimate uses for the dark web. But the main cybersecurity threats to businesses come from hackers that use the cover of anonymity to coordinate an attack or sell malware and stolen data – such as credentials, payment card information, and passwords.

what are the cybersecurity risks of the dark web?

There are numerous forums and underground marketplaces on the dark web where cybercriminals actively buy and sell sensitive company information. Your organization’s data can end up there through various means—whether it’s through social engineering tactics that deceive employees into revealing login credentials or by exploiting vulnerabilities within your systems and network infrastructure.

Businesses that experience a dark web data breach risk exposure of their sensitive company or customer information, which can lead to more attacks in the future. Such breaches can also open the door to penalties and reputational damage if your customer data is exposed. Once your confidential information is on the dark web, hackers can leverage compromised credentials to carry out a range of cyberattacks like phishing, financial fraud, credential stuffing, and ransomware.

The CrowdStrike 2025 Global Threat Report found that hackers are increasingly moving away from malware-based attacks and leveraging stolen credentials to execute a security breach. So, it’s important for businesses to proactively assess their risk exposure and take measures to prevent an attack.

what is a dark web assessment?

A dark web assessment can tell you if your data has been compromised or provide indicators of malicious activity against your business.

During an assessment, trained cybersecurity professionals dig deep into available breached databases and illegal marketplaces to identify any potential or active threats to your business. Here’s some common compromised information that can be uncovered through a dark web assessment.

• Clear text emails
• Passwords or stolen corporate credentials
• Personal Identifiable Information (PII)

These assessments are a key part of a broader cybersecurity strategy, helping businesses answer the common question: “How do we know if our data is on the dark web?” By identifying threats early, your business can take steps to protect systems and reduce the chance of a costly breach.