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In light of these risks and consequences, it is strongly advised to avoid participating in the illegal trade of SSNs on the Dark Web. The potential short-term gains are not worth the long-term legal and ethical implications. In the next section, we will examine the potential risks and consequences that come with buying an SSN on the Dark Web.
With the rise of cybercrime and data breaches, it is more important than ever to protect your personal information. One piece of information that is particularly sensitive and valuable to hackers is your social security number. If your social security number ends up on the dark web, you could be at risk for identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities.
Don’t Panic
What is the Dark Web?
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The caller then requests the victim’s SSN to verify identity and to reactivate, or any other number of excuses. If your account numbers appear on the dark web, check your account statements carefully. If there is any questionable activity on your accounts, notifying the financial institution right away may absolve you of liability for fraudulent charges. Dark Web Report will be available on an opt-in basis, meaning users will have to manually enable it and provide Google with the information that they would like to monitor. In addition to the information in the users’ monitoring profile, Google will also show “other related info” that could also be found on the dark web during the monitoring process.
- This means that you can view one of your credit reports for free every four months.
- The dark web is a place with network encryption, requires specific software to enter.
- Norton 360 plans include Dark Web Monitoring which searches for your personal information on the dark web, and notifies you if we discover potential threats to your identity.
- You don’t need to access the dark web to determine if your SSN was stolen and published there.
The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and can only be accessed using special software. It is often used for illegal activities such as selling drugs, weapons, and stolen data. Your social security number can easily end up on the dark web if it is obtained through a data breach or phishing scam.
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The Consequences of Your Social Security Number Being on the Dark Web
If your social security number is on the dark web, hackers can use it to commit identity theft. They may open credit accounts in your name, file fraudulent tax returns, or even apply for government benefits using your information. This can have serious financial and legal consequences for you.
Learn More About the Dark Web and Identity Theft
The international operation to dismantle and seize this infrastructure is the result of close cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Cyprus and Latvia. On June 7, 2022, seizure orders were executed against the domain names of the SSNDOB Marketplace (ssndob.ws, ssndob.vip, ssndob.club, and blackjob.biz), effectively ceasing the website’s operation. With that glut of information, it is no wonder that dark web sellers’ shelves are piled high with breached data. And the dark web is no different from the real world which is subject to the rules of supply and demand.
Protecting Your Social Security Number
Or you get a call from a lender threatening repossession of a luxury car that you don’t own. As alarming as these scenarios may seem, they are signs of a surprisingly common crime — identity theft. Your personal information is nothing less than the key to your identity.
There are several steps you can take to protect your social security number from ending up on the dark web:
- Be cautious with your personal information: Do not share your social security number unless absolutely necessary, and only provide it to trusted sources.
- Monitor your credit report: Regularly check your credit report for any suspicious activity that may indicate your social security number has been compromised.
- Use strong passwords: Make sure to use unique and complex passwords for all your online accounts to prevent hackers from gaining access to your personal information.
- Consider freezing your credit: You can place a credit freeze on your accounts to prevent anyone from opening new lines of credit in your name without your permission.
The odds of someone using your Social Security number to conduct identity theft crimes are higher than you think. In 2015, a lead data scientist at Verizon estimated that up to 80% of Social Security numbers had already been stolen by cybercriminals. There are safe and effective ways to determine whether your SSN exists on the dark web, as well as steps you can take to mitigate the possible damage by using an identity theft protection service. ¹ The score you receive with Aura is provided for educational purposes to help you understand your credit. It is calculated using the information contained in your Equifax credit file.
By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of your social security number ending up on the dark web and protect yourself from potential identity theft and fraud.
