How dark web monitoring can help protect your identity

The dark web. Sounds spooky, doesn’t it? Well, we can say with some confidence that it is. The dark web is a hidden network of unregulated websites that often provides anonymity as well as access to illegal goods and information.

But for a nice, law-abiding person, how does that affect you? If someone has stolen your personal information, they might try to sell it on the dark web to someone who wants to use it to commit fraud. One way to help prevent this nightmare: identity monitoring. This service can help to protect your information, and Chase Credit Journey® with dark web surveillance, as well as other features, can help to protect your identity if it winds up on the dark web.

How your identity can be used on the dark web

The identifying data most vulnerable on the dark web can include your name, address, social security number and birth date. These personal data points may then be used to open credit accounts or make purchases without your knowledge or permission. Naturally, this could make you wonder how dark web monitoring can help you protect yourself from these threats. Let’s investigate.

How dark web identity monitoring works

A dark web monitoring service usually works as scanner. It can search for your identifying information throughout the depths of the dark web, like the “find” function on a computer. A dark web monitoring service can plug in your personal, vulnerable data and run surveillance across dark web sites and pages to see if it’s being used or sold. A dark web monitoring service can then provide alerts for when your sensitive information appears on questionable websites.

Protection beyond the dark web

In addition to dark web surveillance, there are other ways that identity monitoring can help protect against identity theft.

• Identity monitoring tools: These resources can include Social Security number activity tracking, data breach monitoring and identity verification alerts (for when a creditor runs a credit. Each of these can help you know when your identifying information may have been stolen or used without your consent.
• Free credit score check: This option allows you to see your credit score without harming it, which can help you check for negative data points arising from unauthorized activity. You can also sign on for follow-up credit score monitoring that can check for activity and changes to your credit report and send you notifications directly.
• Fraud security: This feature helps you recover from fraud with suspicious account activity alerts, option for freezing your credit accounts and real time credit report monitoring around the clock.

Other practices to help protect your identity

In addition to the tech-forward features discussed above, there are basic but effective identity protection measures you can take anytime to help protect your personal information. For instance:

• Strengthen passwords. You've likely heard this one before, but the more complex and varied your passwords are, the better they can protect you. Two factor authentication may help assist you in this.
• Check privacy settings. Looking into privacy settings can help you uncover any vulnerabilities in the way you share data and browse the web.
• Update contact information. It can help to keep the communication lines open between you and your credit accounts and lenders. That way you can be alerted to any changes to your account status as quickly as possible.
• Choose paperless statements. Printed records can make your information more vulnerable, even when you throw them out. So, paperless statements may help you keep account information safer with password protection on your computer or even the privacy of your email account.

What to do if your identity is on the dark web

Whether you enlisted dark web identity monitoring, it’s possible to experience an identity breach. Luckily, you can find relevant and helpful tools within the Chase Credit Journey® set of credit restoration services, including identity theft insurance up to $1 million for expenses you incur while trying to solve the issue, for example, or postal costs from official mail you send throughout the rebuilding process. These restoration services may also provide insider insights tailored to your situation and lost wallet assistance that can help you even while traveling abroad.

Dark web monitoring and more

Dark web on your mind? There are identity protection tools you can use to quell these fears. From dark web monitoring to fraud security and free credit score checks, Chase Credit Journey® has tools like identity monitoring, credit account freezes, suspicious activity alerts and even insurance to help bring you peace of mind about protecting your identity.