Hackers May Be Selling Private Data Of Indians On The Dark Web For A Mere ₹3,500!

We like to tell ourselves (and others as well) that we’re honest and transparent in front of everyone. But that’s not really the truth, is it? Because we’re always restraining certain aspects of personality to appear sociable. And we only act freely when we’re completely alone and on our own.

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And the only place we’re alone nowadays is on the internet. That’s because, while browsing on the internet, it’s just us and the computer screen, thereby giving us the liberty to watch any kind of videos, articles, games etc. However, a recent revelation shows that even that personal space is not sacred anymore.

According to Economic Times, cyber security firm Kaspersky Lab has investigated Dark Web markets to find out that our personal data may be up for sale. The report said that,

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“This can include data from stolen social media accounts, banking details, remote access to servers or desktops, and even data from popular services like Uber, Netflix, and Spotify, as well as gaming websites, dating apps, and porn websites which might store credit card information.”

Now all this data is priceless for us and we wouldn’t give it away to anyone even if we’re offered a truck-load of money, right? But here’s the kicker. The people who are accessing it is ready to give it up for a mere $50 (Rs. 3,500 approximately).

For those who are unaware of the Dark Web (or the Dark Net), it’s a part of the internet that can be accessed only through special software, thereby allowing the websites (and users) to remain anonymous & almost untraceable to enforcement agencies and the police. David Jacoby, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab, says that,

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“It is clear that data hacking is a major threat to us all, and this applies at both an individual and societal level, because stolen data funds many social evils.”

According to the researchers, the price paid for a single hacked account is very low, with most selling for about $1 per account. And there are even discounts for bulk-buying. Now, data stolen due to lack of internet security has limited resale value, but it can used in different ways. A researcher noted that,

“This can cause huge problems for an individual victim, who may lose money and their reputation, find themselves being chased for debt that somebody else has incurred in their name, or even suspected of a crime that somebody else has committed using their identity as a cover.

The most common question after seeing all this “how do they do it?” and “how can it be stopped?”. And the Kaspersky Lab has answers for both of those questions. The researchers said that,

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“With many people using the same password for several accounts, attackers might be able to use this information to access accounts on other platforms too.”

So, usually cyber-criminals conduct spear phishing campaigns or exploit a web-related security vulnerability in an application’s software. And once that’s done, they get password dumps that contain a combo of emails and passwords.

While talking about how to protect all this data, Jacoby said that,

“There are steps we can take to prevent it, including by using cybersecurity software, and being aware of how much data we are giving away for free – particularly on publicly available social media profiles, or to organisations.”

In conclusion, don’t share your personal information on social media or use your credit card on untrustworthy websites, and don’t use the same password everywhere, use two-factor authentication wherever available. And, most importantly, be safe.

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