As data breaches surge, experts warn consumers to guard personal information before it reaches the dark web
With data breaches becoming almost routine, more consumers are being forced to confront the risks of having their personal information exposed online.
A recent US News survey found that 44 percent of respondents had received notices for multiple breaches involving their personal data. For many people, it now feels like another familiar company announces a breach every few days.
Once stolen, this information typically ends up on the dark web, where it becomes a valuable resource for hackers, scammers, and cybercriminals. Breaches are only one pathway for data to be leaked.
Clicking phishing links, entering details in viral social media quizzes, or having a device compromised by malware can all provide criminals with access to personal information that later circulates on underground forums.
Dr. Darren Williams, founder and CEO of data privacy and ransomware protection company BlackFog, says the presence of some personal data on the dark web does not mean consumers should surrender to the problem. According to him, there are steps that can reduce exposure and protect information that has not yet been compromised.
Williams explains that criminals increasingly rely on AI to pull together stolen data into detailed information bundles called “fullz.” These files can include banking credentials, addresses, medical data, and social security numbers. Scammers use them to impersonate relatives, romantic partners, or trusted contacts in targeted fraud attempts.
He notes that while highly individualized scams are less common, criminals tend to target groups of victims at scale using dark web data.
To understand their level of exposure, experts recommend that consumers start by scanning the dark web for leaked credentials.
Many password managers and personal data removal services now offer monitoring tools that track whether email addresses, usernames, or passwords have been posted online. Removing data once it appears on dark web marketplaces is extremely difficult, which is why privacy specialists advise minimizing personal information shared online. Williams says reducing digital footprints can make individuals less appealing to attackers.
Personal data removal services can help scrub information from commercial data broker sites, which can number in the hundreds.
Security specialists also emphasize the importance of preventing criminals from expanding access to personal devices or financial accounts.
Recommended practices include enabling multi-factor authentication, using strong and unique passwords stored in a password manager, installing antivirus software, avoiding links from unknown senders, updating operating systems regularly, and using a VPN on public Wi-Fi. Identity theft protection platforms and credit monitoring services can offer an extra layer of defense and provide real-time alerts if suspicious activity occurs.
