Help with alerts

CC

Was alerted the my email is on dark web, not sure what all is on dark web. Changed password

Gjoksi

Hello.

Since you already changed the affected e-mail password, there's nothing else that should be done.

Also, check out this article:

https://www.bitdefender.com/cyberpedia/what-are-data-breaches/

Regards.

Alexandru_BD

Hello,

For a bit more context regarding the Dark Web, this is a part of the Internet that can be reached using specific software technology that offers anonymity. Websites in this space are open to public access but are not indexed by web search engines. Their IP addresses are hidden, which makes it difficult to learn where they are hosted. Often, this space is a hiding place for cybercriminals who sell and trade stolen or illegal goods (digital or physical). On the digital side, commodities exchanged on the dark web include user data like personal information or payment card details that fuel fraudulent activities. In many cases, this info results from data breaches, although the dark web is not the only place for trading such goods.

Typically associated with illegal activities, the Dark Web has its legitimate uses, too. Activists and whistleblowers often rely on it for anonymity, as do other users fearing surveillance. Reputable publications and communication services also have mirrors on the dark web to be accessible even from countries where normal access to their resources is blocked.

This anonymous communication between users and the destination servers is possible through thousands of computers in a network that forwards traffic to one another to encrypt and anonymize it from one point to another. Typically, this is done using the Tor software, but other solutions exist. Unlike normal websites, locations on the dark web have no human-readable domain name, end with the .onion extension, and don’t load directly in regular browsers. Most often, Tor Browser is used to connect to the Tor network and access the resources it relays.

Depending on what you are looking for, reaching certain websites on the dark web can be difficult unless you already have their address. Specialized search engines indexing content from this part of the web can be helpful but not all operators of hidden services want to be visible so their content and resources remain available to a smaller number of users.

Bitdefender offers awareness about your Digital Footprint (data exposed on Surface Web) and remediation steps for data breaches (data exposed on Dark Web) courtesy of Digital Identity Protection, however the leaked information cannot be deleted from there.

Regards,

Alex

CC

Should I make a new primary email?

Alexandru_BD

First, you can use the link below to check for past data breaches that involved your email address and take the necessary measures to change passwords for the affected accounts.

https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Then, it's entirely up to you if you wish to create a new email address altogether, or keep the existing one and enforce its security. Keep in mind the implications of a leaked email address can range from annoying to downright dangerous.

I think the main risk when having a leaked email address is that scammers may target you with phishing emails, trying to trick you into revealing sensitive information. Then, you should prepare for an influx of unsolicited emails cluttering your inbox. In severe cases, attackers might use your leaked email address to access your accounts, potentially taking control of them.

Regardless of your choice, here's a list of precautions to reduce the risk of your email adress being exposed online in the future:

• Use strong, unique passwords. Consider a Password Manager for added security.
• Activate Two-Factor Authentication to make it harder for unauthorized access.
• Never share sensitive data through email
• Be cautious about links and attachments from unknown senders.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi for confidential tasks. Public networks can be risky.
• Hide your primary email address. Utilize email alias features on services like Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail.

I hope the information is useful.

Stay safe