Millions of people’s personal information has been exposed to numerous data breaches in recent months and may be sold on the dark web. The dark web is where cybercriminals buy and sell information – such as names, passwords, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers – exposed by a data breach anonymously.
Monitoring that scans the dark web for information related to your identity can be part of credit and identity theft protection. However, what should you do if your information is found on the dark web?
Your identity is at risk if your personal information is found through a dark web scan. False loans or credit cards could be issued in your name as well as criminal acts, false employment, or fraudulent tax returns using your identity. Consider freezing your credit score if your identity has been compromised. By freezing your credit report, you prevent creditors, lenders, and other organizations from accessing your credit information, so identity thieves won’t be able to open loans or credit cards in your name. It is still possible to pull your own credit report.
You should also continue to use credit and identity theft monitoring and protection so you can monitor your credit report and receive alerts when there is suspicious activity, which enables you to take action quickly and protect your identity. You can find out if your information is still on the dark web by continuously monitoring and scanning.
Dark web users pose a threat to consumers everywhere. Stay vigilant with credit monitoring and identity theft protection.
Is your personal information on the dark web? Make sure your identity isn’t at risk!
