With the rise of cybercrime and identity theft, protecting your personal information has never been more important. One piece of information that is highly sought after by criminals is your Social Security Number (SSN). Once this number falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to open fraudulent accounts, commit tax fraud, and even steal your identity.
Update your passwords, and enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
What is the Dark Web?
- For less than the cost of a candy bar, you can buy a Social Security number, general non-financial institution logins, or subscription service logins such as Netflix or Hulu.
- In addition to alerting you about your information appearing on the dark web, CreditWise also monitors your Experian® and TransUnion® credit reports for any meaningful changes.
- The service will update you with information like when the data breach occurred, what website or account was hacked, and what personal information about you was published without your consent.
- Many purchasers adopted the SSN as their own—5,755 people were using it in the peak year 1943, and 12 were still using it as late as 1977.
- There are limits to the abilities of automated tools—if you use a less popular service, or your data has been leaked recently, it might not be in the scanner’s database at the time of scanning.
For example, a person would pay more for a credit card that they can use multiple times, as compared to a gift card they could use only once. Beyond subscriptions to streaming services, hackers gain make real money off of your personal information. If you want credit card numbers with the CVV number, it will cost you only an additionally $5. One of the more surprising items is that the dark web wants are loyalty accounts. For the cost of a typical gym membership, you can have a person’s loyalty account number or their Driver’s License number.
Place a fraud alert and credit freeze on your file
The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines. It is often used for illegal activities such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, and cybercrime. It provides a cloak of anonymity for users, making it a popular marketplace for stolen information.
Why is Your SSN Valuable on the Dark Web?
The online security practices of end users affect the safety of the entire business. Weak and reused passwords can make it easier for hackers to get into a user’s work accounts just as easily as their personal accounts. Function4 web monitoring is available to all Function4 users, so they can ensure they are keeping themselves safe online. You see, some cyber criminals are great at stealing personal information with malware or through hacking, but they don’t want to get caught using it. They then post listings for this information on the dark web and allow other users to purchase it. A hacker is less likely to get caught if they are selling your information to other criminals rather than using the information for fraud.
Impact of child identity theft
Your SSN is a unique identifier that is used to track your earnings and benefits. It is also used by credit agencies to assess your financial history and determine your creditworthiness. Criminals can use this information to apply for loans, credit cards, and government benefits in your name, leaving you with the consequences.
In the case of children, it may be years before a victim realizes their identity has been compromised by which time there may be huge damage to undo. Recovering a stolen identity is time-consuming, stressful and comes with challenges. Victims may, in the meantime, be confronted with letters and calls from creditors chasing debts, bills for purchases they have not made or taxes they do not owe. They may be locked out of their accounts and have mail diverted to other addresses, making it even harder to recover their identity. Stolen SSNs are also repackaged and sold as Credit Profile Numbers (CPNs) – nine-digit identification numbers that look like social security numbers. CPNs are sold to unsuspecting consumers by credit repair companies as a way to ‘wipe the slate clean’ when they have a poor credit history.
cybersecurity resolutions to stay private in 2023
On the dark web, your SSN can be sold to the highest bidder, who may then use it for fraudulent purposes. This can lead to financial ruin, damaged credit, and years of trying to repair the damage caused by identity theft.
Protecting Your SSN
Dark web monitoring is the process of searching for, and tracking, your organization’s information on the dark web. Dark web monitoring tools are similar to a search engine (like Google) for the dark web. These tools help to find leaked or stolen information such as compromised passwords, breached credentials, intellectual property and other sensitive data that is being shared and sold among malicious actors operating on the dark web.
Change your passwords on all accounts
It is crucial to safeguard your SSN and only provide it to trusted entities when necessary. Be cautious of phishing attempts and never share sensitive information over unsecured networks. Regularly monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity and consider freezing your credit to prevent unauthorized access.
How did the SSN come to be, and why has it become an unofficial national identifier? This article explores the history and meaning of the SSN and the Social Security card, along with SSA’s SSN master data file, generally known as the Numident. The article also traces how use of the SSN has expanded since its introduction and the steps SSA has taken to enhance the integrity of the SSN process.
If you suspect that your SSN has been compromised or is being traded on the dark web, act quickly to mitigate the damage. Contact the major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your accounts and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission.
In conclusion, the dark web poses a significant threat to your personal information, especially your SSN. By taking proactive steps to protect your identity and monitoring for any signs of fraud, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to cybercriminals.
