Dark Web Monitoring for Businesses: Why It’s Vital for Company Security

The Dark Web has inspired a sort of morbid curiosity since its inception in 1999. Originally created by University of Edinburgh student Ian Clarke – and called Freenet – it was the first P2P (peer-to-peer) platform for anonymous communication.  

This means Freenet is decentralized (yes, it still exists), allowing computers (peers) to communicate without a central authority (server). 

Freenet laid the groundwork for the Tor platform, which the US Naval Research Laboratory created for the intelligence community. In 2004, the US government made Tor open source, garnering wide praise from journalists, privacy advocates, and dissidents. 

Today, the word “dark” conjures up images of danger and secrecy.  

Yet, darkness also hides opportunity: Dark Web Monitoring is that bright light in the shadows, an early warning system that transforms fear into insight. 

In this post, we pull back the curtain on the Dark Web’s hidden dangers and reveal how Dark Web Monitoring can be your ally against identity theft, ransomware, and phishing scams targeting your business. 

The dangers of the Dark Web 

Deep Web versus Dark Web: Does it matter? 

In truth? Yes. 

While the Deep Web quietly powers your digital life, the Dark Web hides both danger and opportunity.  

If you’re aware of this, you’re already ahead of 90% of businesses. While others are caught off guard, you’re actively anticipating threats and exploring ways to prevent attacks. 

Coming up, we reveal a powerful approach that gives you the visibility you need – without hiring more staff or working more hours. 

	Deep Web	Dark Web
Size	90-95% of the Internet Possibly 500X larger than the "Surface Web" (4%-5% of the Internet), where openly viewable content lives Not indexed by search engines, unlike Surface Web	Approximately 0.01% of the internet Accessible through specialized tools like the Tor browser
Scope and typical assets	Paywall content Password-protected sites and email accounts Subscription services like Hulu, Peacock, and Netflix Non-public facing e-commerce login portals Private commercial intranets Academic databases	Hacking forums Hacking tools and services Pornographic materials Illegal narcotics and weapons marketplaces Extremist propaganda materials Stolen login credentials, PII, and PHI Money laundering operations
Purpose	Restrict access to sensitive or private information	Offers a measure of anonymity for both legal and illegal activities
Access methods	Accessible with standard browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge	Requires special software like Tor or I2P to access

The single misstep that could put your company on a law enforcement watch list – without you realizing it 

If you’re tempted to explore the Dark Web to see if any corporate info has been exposed, wait. Trying to DIY Dark Web investigations can expose you to huge risks. 

Here’s why: Many Dark Web sites are quietly monitored by law enforcement and simply accessing them exposes you to potential scrutiny from the authorities.  

In addition, some Dark Web sites may actually be undercover sting operations. Interacting with them, even unknowingly, can damage your brand reputation and land your business in serious legal trouble. 

Now, let’s answer the question: Is the Dark Web illegal? 

The short answer is no. 

Just visiting the Dark Web isn’t a crime in most democratic countries – but engaging in illegal activities there is. 

That said, accessing the Dark Web in countries with restrictive censorship laws can carry significant personal risks, such as being subject to prosecution or harsh penalties. 

In 2025, Dark Web marketplaces remain active, with large-scale black-market platforms like Silk Road replaced with smaller, invitation-only networks. Many of these scam networks pose as reputable B2B vendors.  

The unsuspecting – lured by convincing websites, escrow services, and seller ratings – pay in good faith, only for the seller to vanish without delivering on goods and services. 

In some cases, entire marketplaces will “disappear” after accumulating millions in transactions, leaving victims with no recourse for recovery. 

Behind the curtain: The perils of the Dark Web for modern businesses 

Why no business is too small to target 

Did you know? Over three (3) million people visit the Dark Web daily, and identity theft is the most common crime, accounting for over 65% of illicit activities. 

And that’s not all: The average company with credentials exposed on the Dark Web faces a 2.56X higher risk of a cyber-attack. 

So, if you’re doing business in 2025, here’s what you should know about the threat landscape: 

Threat or trend	What it means for your business
Number of cyber attacks	In Q1 2025, cyber-attacks per organization rose 47%, with an average of 1,925 weekly attacks 46% of cyber-attacks target businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees. Small and medium businesses (SMB) receive the highest rate of malicious emails (1 in 323). Most spam, phishing, and email malware target businesses with fewer than 250 employees.
Average cost per cyber accident	For firms with 1,000+ employees in Europe and the United States = $53,000+ For SMBs = $826 - $653,587 The average cost of a cyber-attack for healthcare organizations is $3.5 million.
Cyber-attacks by industry	The education sector was the hardest hit in Q1 2025, averaging 4,484 attacks per organization weekly (➕73%) The government sector was second, with 2,678 attacks per organization weekly (➕ 51%) The telecommunications sector experienced the highest percentage increase, with 2,664 attacks per organization weekly (➕94%) In 2024, 400 healthcare organizations in the U.S. experienced cyber-attacks. In May 2024, a ransomware attack on Ascension Healthcare led to disrupted patient care across 40 senior care facilities and 140 hospitals across 19 states. Healthcare accounts for 17% of ransomware attacks worldwide, with an average ransom of $7 million. About 75% of attacks in finance and insurance comprise customer personal details.
Information theft metrics	Credential theft is linked to 46% of cyber-attacks. 75% of businesses reported secondary incidents due to stolen data being sold or reused. PII and PHI Dark Web listings rose by 21%, with full identity kits fetching up to $120/set. PHI data is highly targeted on the Dark Web because it contains: full names, addresses, SSNs, insurance policy data, medical histories, payment info, and prescription details. A single medical record can sell for $250–$1,000 (compared to $5 for stolen credit cards. Stolen healthcare data is mainly used to commit medical identity theft, credit card & insurance fraud, and extortion scams.
SMB statistics	Due to budget limitations, only 51% are spending the recommended 6–15% budget on IT security. 30% use free, consumer-grade tools. This includes free versions of Malwarebytes, Avast, or Microsoft Defender, which offer limited protections, minimal support, and less frequent updates. 23% have NO endpoint protections. 83% have NO cyber insurance. 78% don’t have Dark Web Monitoring. 60% go out of business within six (6) months of an attack.

And that’s not all: 

• Ransomware and malware-as-a-service kits on the Dark Web are lowering the barrier to crime, so even scammers with few technical skills can deploy sophisticated attacks against your business. 

• Cryptors (special tools that hide malware from security tools) are increasingly being sold or rented on the Dark Web. Cryptor subscriptions are fetching between $100 to $20,000 in black marketplaces. 

The identity theft tsunami and the cost to your business 

The Dark Web is awash in stolen credentials – 15 billion and counting, up 82% since 2022.  

With scammers using this data to commit identity theft at scale, this is what your business is up against: 

• High financial losses: In 2025, the global cost of identity fraud is expected to exceed $50 billion. For businesses, costs associated with fraud prevention alone average $4.5 million. 

• Regulatory violations: If employee or customer data is found on the Dark Web, individuals can sue your business for a minimum of $107 and a maximum of $799 per violation under the CCPA. Meanwhile, willful neglect of HIPAA rules leaves your business liable for a minimum of $14,232 to a maximum of $2134,831 per violation, especially if no efforts were made to correct the violations. 

• Damaged brand reputation: The exposure of employee and customer data on the Dark Web erodes trust. Today, 77% of stolen credentials involve popular cloud-based apps and 40% of attacks involve employee PII. If your business fails to exercise reasonable due diligence, a highly publicized data leak could lead to extensive backlash against your brand. 

Answers to questions about the Dark Web you always wanted to know – but were too embarrassed to ask 

Is my info on the Dark Web?  

Most likely, yes. In March 2025, hackers stole 3.2 billion+ login credentials and compromised at least 23 million devices across six (6) continents. Many of those credentials have now been found in Dark Web marketplaces. 

Here’s one way to know if any of your workplace credentials are on the Dark Web: Dark Web Monitoring alerts.  

How did my SSN get on the Dark Web?  

Your SSN can end up on the Dark Web through several methods: 

• Cyber-attacks: Scammers gain unauthorized access to corporate databases and steal info like SSNs, which are then sold on the Dark Web. 

• Phishing: Hackers trick your employees into sharing their SSNs through fake emails and login portals. 

• Malware (such as infostealers and keyloggers): If any of your employees click on an email attachment containing a malicious payload, they could unknowingly install infostealers or keyloggers on their device, which will then transmit every keystroke to scammers. 

• Insider threats: Employees with access to your SSN may leak or sell your information on the Dark Web. Most malicious insider threats (89%) are motivated by financial gain, and personal data (including SSNs) are compromised in nearly 75% of malicious insider attacks. 

In a HIPAA class action lawsuit, six women accused pharmacist Matthew Bathula of installing keyloggers on about 400 laptops and workstations in clinics, treatment rooms, and labs at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).  

The keyloggers recorded and transmitted login credentials the women typed in – giving Bathula access to email accounts, banking accounts, dating apps, home surveillance systems, and webcams. If the Courts determine that UMMC failed to implement reasonable safeguards to protect employee and patient data, it will be held liable for damages relating to negligent security and invasion of privacy. 

What can I do if my SSN is on the Dark Web?  

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself if the unthinkable happens: 

• Freeze your credit: This prevents attackers from opening new lines of credit in your name. 

• Lock your SSN: By locking your SSN, you prevent scammers from using your SSN to collect any type of government benefit or commit employment-related fraud. You can lock your SSN either by calling the Social Security Administration or using the Self Lock feature in e-Verify. 

• File an FTC report: Report identity theft to the FTC to get a recovery plan. 

• Monitor your credit reports: Check for unfamiliar new accounts and transactions. 

• Get an IRS Identity Protection (IP) PIN: This IP Pin is a six-digit number that prevents attackers from using your SSN to file taxes. Note that an IP Pin is valid for one year; a new one is generated for your account each year. 

• Sign up for identity (ID) theft protection and credit monitoring services: The best ID theft services will track shifts in your credit score and provide coverage for losses stemming from legal fees and stolen funds. 

What happens if my email is on the Dark Web? 

If your email is on the Dark Web, attackers can: 

• Build an “attack profile” of you. Scammers can combine your leaked email address and any other data about you from the Dark Web to create a fuller profile of you. 

• Target you with advanced phishing emails. Your email address can be a point of contact for advanced phishing attacks. With your full profile, they can create irresistible scams that get you to act against your best interests. 

• Gain access to your workplace network. If hackers have BOTH your email address and password, they can sell that data or extort you for millions of dollars. 

• Spoof your email to scam your colleagues. Scammers can also use your email to find out where you work and then spoof your email address to manipulate your coworkers. 

• Hack into your email account and blackmail you. If your passwords have been leaked, hackers could gain access to your email account and mine it for sensitive info and photos they can use to extort you for money. 

• Steal your identity. Your leaked email address can be the last piece of the puzzle scammers need to steal your identity, empty your accounts, and take out loans in your name. 

How do I get my email off the Dark Web/ How do I remove my information from the Dark Web? 

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to remove your information once it’s been posted. But you can lower your risk of unauthorized access by: 

• Updating passwords according to NIST and CISA guidelines across all business accounts, including email 

• Implementing phishing-resistant MFA (multi-factor authentication) for all employees 

• Using a reputable Dark Web Monitoring service to identify compromised corporate credentials 

• Implementing continuous awareness training that incorporates phishing simulations 

According to Keepnet Research, just several 90-second microlearning sessions weekly led to: 

• 73% fewer phishing clicks, significantly reducing the risk of credential theft 

• 58% faster incident reporting, allowing IT teams to contain threats before they escalate 

• 89% reduction in phishing-related incidents within 12 months, which dramatically enhanced operational resilience 

How do I search for my name on the Dark Web? 

Reputable ID protection tools like Aura Identity Theft Protection comes with Dark Web Monitoring services, which will scan the Dark Web for your: 

• Name and address 

• SSN  

• PHI (protected health information) 

• PII (personally identifiable information). 

What a Secure by Design password manager with Dark Web Monitoring Service can do for your business 

Imagine this: You’re using strong passwords for every account, but a cyber-attack leaks your email and password to the Dark Web. 

Without real-time alerts, you won’t know until it’s too late. 

That’s where an advanced password manager with built-in Dark Web and SaaS app Monitoring comes in. 

As a top-tier provider of Dark Web and SaaS Monitoring services for business, LastPass protects both corporate email and SaaS accounts from unauthorized access. 

First, what exactly is LastPass Dark Web Monitoring? 

Here’s what you get with this service: 

• 24/7 surveillance to maintain customer trust: Our threat intelligence platform is at work, scanning Dark Web marketplaces for corporate email addresses and passwords – even while you sleep. 

• Advanced threat detection to ensure regulatory compliance: If any corporate logins are compromised, you get real-time alerts. This allows you to act fast and reset passwords - before attackers can use the leaked credentials to access your payment systems and banking accounts. 

• Secure autofill to bypass keyloggers: With secure autofill, your credentials never touch the keyboard, so keyloggers won’t be able to capture passwords to any corporate accounts. 

• Comprehensive protection to ensure business continuity: When you get a Dark Web Monitoring alert, LastPass lets you instantly generate and save a new, secure password for the affected account, without delay.  Best of all: Passwords and sensitive documents like passports, insurance documents, SSN cards, credit card info, and driver’s licenses are protected with military-grade AES-256 encryption.  

So, is Dark Web Monitoring worth it? 

With cyber-attacks and compliance penalties rising, proactive defense can mean the difference between early detection and a full-scale data leak. 

As G2’s Spring 2025 Global Leader in password management, MFA, and Dark Web Monitoring, we’re trusted by millions across the world.  

And as a Platinum winner of the 2025 Business Titan award, we’re leading innovation and excellence in credential security like never before. 

Today, you can empower your business with our advanced Dark Web Monitoring and SaaS Monitoring solutions.  

This layered approach perfectly complements services like Aura ID Theft Monitoring by extending proactive defense beyond personal identity to your entire digital ecosystem. 

So, don’t wait for attackers to destroy what you’ve worked so hard to build. Upgrade to LastPass Dark Web and SaaS Monitoring with a free Business Max trial today (no credit card required).