Dark Web Monitoring is a feature of NordVPN's cybersecurity software that prevents others from using account information leaked to the dark web for malicious purposes. During continuous scanning, it alerts you whenever your credentials are discovered on dark websites, allowing you to take steps to secure them.
A brief explanation of how Dark Web Monitor works
Protect your home and business 24/7 with one click
In Dark Web Monitor, your NordVPN email address is continuously scanned for credentials associated with dark web forums and sites. The dark web monitoring tool will continue to protect your accounts even after you hear about a data breach as long as you have it turned on.
Be notified of threats as soon as possible
Your NordVPN email address will be immediately detected by Dark Web Monitor if it detects credentials associated with it. Including the service that was compromised, you can see all the relevant information about the leak. You can go about your business with Dark Web Monitor while it runs in the background quietly.
Protect yourself by taking appropriate security measures
You can take action before the criminal acts when you know you're in danger. The process can be as simple as setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) or changing your password. If you suspect that a credit card has been compromised, you can contact your bank to block the credit card. Dark Web Monitor Nord VPN "runs continuously" and provides real-time results, making it an exceptional dark-web scanner.
Cybercrime prevention
It is not uncommon for people to reuse passwords across multiple online accounts, which opens the doors for cybercriminals to gain access to “the entire ecosystem of accounts” if they determine a person's password. The reason for this is that you should never reuse a password for accounts containing sensitive personal or financial information, at least not for accounts involving sensitive data.
In addition to improving data security, Dark Web Monitor will take steps against credential stuffing, which occurs when automatic computer scripts send millions of stolen usernames and passwords to website login pages. Users can change their passwords right away by using Dark Web Monitor Nord VPN to prevent cyber criminals from trying to damage their systems or steal personal identification information.
What is the process for activating the feature?
On macOS:
- Click the three-line button located in the bottom left corner of the app window to open the app's menu. You will be able to access the settings menu by clicking this button.
- Turn on the Dark Web Monitor by going to the section and clicking the 'TURN ON' button.
On Android:
- You can access Profile Statistics & Settings by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner of the main screen.
- The Dark Web Monitor box can be turned on by tapping on it.
On iOS:
- You can access the settings menu by tapping on the gear icon at the top right corner of the screen.
- You can activate Dark Web Monitor by tapping on the Tools section.
On Windows:
- The settings menu can be accessed by clicking the gear icon in the bottom left corner.
- The Dark Web Monitor can be turned on by clicking 'Turn On' in the section.
Does the dark web contain any of your information?
Your personal information is likely to be on dark websites, at least some of the time. Thousands of user profiles are exposed each year due to data breaches, some of which leak hundreds of millions. As well as social media, online banking, shopping sites, government institutions, healthcare clinics, and even forum information could also include personal information gained from the internet.
Criminals need to be able to obtain even snippets of sensitive data from large-scale breaches. Still, hackers often go a step further and compile all the personal information they can find into sets (known as “fullz”). The information contained in these sets could include names, addresses, bank accounts, phone numbers, social security numbers, and even credit card numbers, which makes them particularly dangerous.
Private individuals
- Phishing attacks or crimes committed under your name by stealing your identity
- Scams that entice you to trust with stolen information
- Your account is locked out by hackers who change your password after breaking in with the password
- The use of the same password to access other accounts (password stuffing)
Business
- A fine for inadequate data protection measures is imposed by the regulator
- Unwelcome publicity caused by data breaches can damage a brand's reputation
- Any breach damage can result in a lawsuit from customers
- As a result of downtime and post-breach audits, business is lost
Conclusion
A NordVPN service gives you the ability to browse the internet in privacy without the risks or inconveniences associated with the dark web. A subscription is all that is needed to access the service. When your credentials are exposed, the Dark Web Monitor Nord VPN feature will send alerts. Another useful feature of NordVPN is its Threat Protection. This software allows you to navigate away from risky websites that may contain malware as well as block trackers and intrusive ads.
