{"id":122635,"date":"2021-06-17T05:15:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T12:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=122635"},"modified":"2025-05-20T06:59:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:59:30","slug":"the-rise-of-the-dark-web-gig-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/the-rise-of-the-dark-web-gig-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of the Dark Web Gig Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The gig economy has become more prevalent in today\u2019s world with the appeal and necessity of flexible work opportunities. Many take advantage of short-term contracts, side jobs, and freelance work to retain more control over how they spend their day and earn their income. However, the proliferation of these flexible work opportunities has transcended into the dark web, allowing individuals to conduct nefarious activities. Rather than contracting handyman or moving services on the dark web, you can find hackers contracting their website hacking services or buyers placing ads looking for a hacker to hire. These acts pose significant risks to online users, given the amount of stolen personal information on dark websites. Take a look at the activities you can expect to find on the dark web and the steps you can take to safeguard your online privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch Out for These Dark Web Criminal Activities<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The dark web is part of the public internet that search engines do not index. In other words, what happens on the dark web, stays on the dark web with no traceable records. Most people don\u2019t realize that the\u00a0<\/span>dark web is not illegal<\/span><\/a> despite its association with criminal activities. However, the dark web has retained a criminal reputation since it is\u00a0challenging to track what goes on.\u00a0As a result,\u00a0criminals will often frequent the dark web to conduct a variety of\u00a0illegal\u00a0transactions, including\u00a0hacking\u00a0services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers are discovering an uptick in activity on dark web forums that includes buying and selling black hat hacking services.\u00a0<\/span>90% of the activity<\/span><\/a> on these forums is from people looking to hire hackers to infiltrate websites and steal databases. Additionally, 4% of the people frequenting dark web forums requested hacking services related to website hacking and malicious code injection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another 7% of people on the dark web are\u00a0<\/span>hackers contracting out their services<\/span><\/a> and tools. These services and tools include web shells, a file uploaded to a server that an attacker can use to execute operating system commands, as well as access to administrative website interfaces and ready-made exploits. Many of the services offered on these forums range in specialties such as site infiltration to data extraction. As a result, they often attract a variety of customers with numerous requests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Further, many of the ads seeking hacking services are aimed at\u00a0<\/span>database hacking<\/span><\/a>. Those targeting databases are often financially incentivized hackers and companies out to steal their competitor\u2019s information. Databases remain a popular target for hackers since they contain a significant amount of personal information ranging from first and last names to credit card numbers. Cybercriminals can then use this information to commit numerous crimes such as monetary theft, unemployment and tax relief fraud, and\u00a0<\/span>identity theft<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, the\u00a0<\/span>Canada Revenue Agency<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(CRA) had to suspend approximately\u00a0800,000\u00a0accounts after discovering matching credentials for sale on the dark web. In a previous data breach, hackers used login credentials to access taxpayer accounts, apply for\u00a0<\/span>COVID-19 relief\u00a0funds<\/span><\/a>, and\u00a0reroute the funds into their bank accounts. Taxpayers could not log in to their accounts without first taking the necessary steps to regain safe access.<\/span><\/p>\n

5 Steps to Take After a Data Breach<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Users must protect their online presence and information as these criminal activities continue to escalate in demand. Here are the five must-dos after discovering a data breach to retain your online security.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Leverage security software<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Be one of the first to know about a data breach by leveraging security software such as\u00a0<\/span>McAfee Total Protection<\/span><\/a>. A comprehensive security solution that includes dark web monitoring actively monitors the dark web for data breaches and exposed information. This information includes but is not limited to your date of birth, email addresses, credit card numbers, and personal identification numbers. Robust security software also provides steps for remediation after a data breach to guide the user to regain control and integrity of their data and privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Stay in the know<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Companies are required to notify their customers of a data breach under the\u00a0<\/span>PIPEDA legislature<\/span><\/a>. Be on the lookout for breach notices from relevant companies since they are often the first to know about a data breach impacting their online customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Create news alerts for companies that have access to your information to stay notified of the latest events. Additionally, create notifications for your bank and other financial accounts to monitor for suspicious activity such as unauthorized transactions or a drop in credit score.\u00a0You will be better prepared to mitigate\u00a0any\u00a0cybersecurity threats\u00a0with the right\u00a0security\u00a0software and knowledge of the latest risks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Change your credentials<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Looking back to the 800,00 taxpayers whose accounts were suspended, they could not regain access without first changing their login credentials. Changing your login credentials such as your usernames, passwords, and security questions is a critical first step to take after any data breach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing your credentials prevents hackers from accessing your personal information and ensures that you regain control over your account security. The chances of a hacker accessing your data are exceptionally high if you use the same credentials across different accounts.\u00a0Thus, it\u2019s essential to change your\u00a0<\/span>usernames and passwords<\/span><\/a> regularly to ensure your information remains secure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Update your passwords<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Just as important as changing your password regularly is changing your password following\u00a0<\/span>best practices<\/span><\/a>. Create stronger passwords by using a combination of the following:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n