What Is the Dark Web and Should You Be Worried?
Quick Answer
The dark web is a portion of the internet not indexed by standard search engines, accessible through the Tor browser. It is not inherently criminal, but it does host markets where stolen data, including your personal information from data breaches, is bought and sold. Finding your information on the dark web does not mean you have been directly targeted; it typically means your data was part of a breach. The response is the same regardless: change affected passwords, place a credit freeze if sensitive data was exposed, and monitor your accounts.
The dark web generates significant anxiety partly because of how it is portrayed. The reality for most consumers is more mundane: it is a place where stolen data ends up after breaches, and the practical response to finding your information there is straightforward.
What the Dark Web Actually Is
The internet has three layers:
Surface web: Everything indexed by Google, Bing, and other search engines. Publicly accessible websites.
Deep web: Content not indexed by search engines, your email inbox, banking portal, medical records, password-protected content. This is the vast majority of internet content and is completely normal and legal.
Dark web: A small overlay network requiring specific software (primarily the Tor browser) to access. Not indexed by search engines. Used for privacy-focused communication, whistleblowing, journalism in authoritarian countries, and yes, also illegal marketplaces.
The dark web is a small fraction of the overall internet, not a vast criminal underworld. Most people have no reason to access it.
What Happens to Your Data on the Dark Web
When companies suffer data breaches, stolen credentials, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and other personal information are often sold or shared on dark web forums and marketplaces. This is the primary dark web concern for everyday consumers.
Your data appearing on the dark web means it was likely part of a breach at a company you have an account with. It does not mean someone is specifically targeting you, stolen data is typically sold in bulk to other actors who use automated tools to exploit it.
Should You Pay for Dark Web Monitoring?
Dark web monitoring services scan known dark web data dumps and alert you if your email address or other information appears. Several free tools offer this:
- HaveIBeenPwned.com: Free. Enter your email address to see which known breaches have included it.
- Google One / Google Account: Google offers free dark web monitoring for Gmail addresses.
- Credit card issuers: Many credit card companies now offer free dark web monitoring through their apps or websites.
Paid monitoring services offer broader scanning and more comprehensive alerts, but the free options cover the most important use cases for most consumers.
What to Do If Your Information Is on the Dark Web
The response depends on what type of information was found:
Email and password: Change the password on every site where you use it. Enable two-factor authentication on the affected accounts.
Social Security number: Place a credit freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Place a fraud alert. Monitor credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Payment card numbers: Contact your bank or card issuer for a new card number.
General personal information (name, address): Monitor for phishing attempts using your name and for signs of identity theft on your credit report.
What the Dark Web Is Not
The dark web is not:
- Something you need to access to protect yourself
- Viewable by authorities monitoring your internet use (just visiting it is not illegal, though some content on it is)
- A direct threat to people whose data ends up there, exposure is the risk, not being targeted