Dark web: dangers and threats to your SME

What is dark web?

Google, Yahoo, Bing… You probably use these search engines or similar ones every day to find information and browse through hundreds of web pages. But did you know they only account for 4% of the entire internet? This small portion is known as the clear web, the part of the internet we commonly navigate, sharing our public IP address and accessing indexed pages or platforms like Facebook or X.

But what about the remaining 96%? This vast majority of content is called the deep web, an area inaccessible to regular search engines because it often consists of dynamic pages generated from a set of data, such as a company’s intranet or a virtual campus of an educational institution.

However, within this 96% that represents the deep web, there is a segment that occupies roughly 6%. This part contains content intentionally hidden from regular search engines, which can only be accessed through special browsers that use masked IP addresses. This is what we refer to as the dark web.

Dark web is a part of the internet that includes websites hosted on encrypted networks, allowing users to avoid being tracked and to protect their identity. It can contain entirely legal content, such as discussion forums, or content outside the law, such as statements from activists or journalists censored in their country, as well as other illegal activities like the sale of personal data or illegal products and services.

Are you ready to learn more about the dark web? Now, we’ll explain its main dangers if you’re self-employed or run an SME, and what you can do to prevent potential threats. Take note!

Main dangers of the dark web for SMEs and the self-employed

Accessing the dark web can pose a significant risk to your business. Here are some of the threats it presents:

1. Cyberattacks: dark web is a place where cybercriminals thrive, using it to conduct phishing campaigns, identity theft, malware, and ransomware attacks. These can infect your systems and grant them access to your data.
2. Online reputation: these cyberattacks may aim to overwhelm your servers with massive attacks that block your website or threaten to share your personal data or that of your clients, thereby damaging your business’s image.
3. Product theft: cybercriminals can not only access your website and software for malicious purposes but also gain access to designs or ideas within your company, such as those for launching a new product. They can sell these ideas on the dark web without your permission.
4. Fraud: additionally, the dark web offers many products that may turn out to be scams, leaving your purchases or investments without delivering the promised results.

Frase destacada:

Dark web is a part of the internet that includes websites hosted on encrypted networks, allowing users to avoid being tracked and to protect their identity.

Tips to prevent the dangers of the dark web

Now that you’re aware of the risks of navigating this part of the internet, it’s time to learn how to protect yourself and avoid falling victim to attacks:

1. Install updates: keep both your devices and software up to date, especially those related to cybersecurity.
2. Use strong cybersecurity measures: make use of secure passwords, two-factor authentication, and file encryption to keep your most confidential documents safe.
3. Back up your data: download the most sensitive files related to your business and store them in a secure location that cybercriminals cannot access.
4. Implement antivirus software: use software that helps identify potential attacks on your SME, such as firewalls or intrusion detection systems.
5. Train your employees: educate your staff about the dangers of not having proper security systems in place and teach them these measures to help prevent attacks.
6. Monitor what’s being said about you: use tools like Google Alerts or Mention to track what is being said about you or your business online.

As you can see, the internet is a fascinating place to find information. However, using it responsibly is essential to ensuring your safety, as well as that of your clients and your SME.

If you want to discover more ways to protect your business, don’t miss our cybersecurity section.