Have you ever heard of the dark web? Then you probably know that it can be just as ‘dark’ as it sounds. For both organizations and individuals, there is always a risk that confidential data ends up on this hidden part of the internet and is even sold by cybercriminals. Of course, you want to prevent this. In this blog, we explain what the dark web is exactly, why it can be dangerous and how you can effectively protect your company data.   What is the dark web? You can think of the Internet as an iceberg, which consists of three layers: Surface web This ‘top’ part of the internet is accessible to everyone and consists of websites that can be found via search engines. Almost everyone uses this part daily. Deep web This larger ‘lower’ part of the internet contains information that is not accessible to everyone and requires authentication. Think of medical or corporate information and intranets. Dark web The dark web is a part of the deep web. Anonymity is paramount here, which makes both legal and illegal practices possible. Many criminal activities take place on this hidden part of the internet, such as trading leaked company data, credit card details and hacking software. Although this part of the internet is known for these criminal activities, it is also used for legitimate purposes such as protecting privacy by journalists and activists to be able to communicate safely. What are the dangers of the dark web? On the dark web, criminals can communicate anonymously with each other, performing various illegal activities. These activities can have negative consequences for organizations. The following things are regularly leaked and sold on this part of the internet: Sensitive Company Data: Login credentials, credit card numbers, and other sensitive company information are sold for small amounts of money. This is how criminals can sometimes penetrate the most critical corporate systems. Phishing templates: Phishing templates are also traded. This allows cybercriminals to send convincing phishing attacks. Ransomware: Malicious software is easy to obtain here and can be deployed without the cybercriminal having any technical knowledge. Protect your data with dark web monitoring Our ‘dark web monitoring’ service searches the dark web for information that relates to your organization. For example, it checks whether stolen login details, credit card numbers and other company information have been leaked or sold on the dark web. Is something found? You will be warned immediately and receive a report with details about the leaked data, such as: Which accounts have had their login details leaked? When was this data found on the dark web? How did this data get there? This way you can take the right actions to prevent further damage such as identity theft and financial damage. For example, you can reset your passwords or increase the security of certain accounts. In this way, you can respond as quickly as possible to possible threats as an organization and increase your cyber security. Dark web monitoring proactively searches for sensitive data that has ended up in the wrong place, before it can be abused. Do you also want to protect your company data and take your cybersecurity to the next level? Then contact us without obligation!

Cybercriminals are getting smarter, but is your security getting smarter? With cyberthreats becoming increasingly sophisticated, traditional antivirus software is not enough as a security solution. Cyberattacks can strike very quickly and cause damage before you know it. That is why more and more organizations are opting for that extra bit of security: Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR). This security solution continuously monitors your devices (endpoints) for suspicious activity. But how exactly does EDR work and why does your organization need it? You can read it in this blog.    Antivirus software alone is not enough A virus scanner identifies viruses on your endpoints. The antivirus software does this by using a blacklist, which contains the malware that is known to the software. If a file is found during a scan that matches the list, the antivirus software will stop this file and delete it for you. During scanning, the virus scanner only compares files with known malware. The daily new cyber threats are not included here, because they must first be on the blacklist to be identified. A virus scanner is therefore not real-time and complete. What is EDR and how does it protect your endpoints? While traditional antivirus software only identifies known threats by using blacklists, EDR can also identify unknown and new threats. EDR is an automated security solution that continuously monitors the behavior on your devices. It recognizes various suspicious activities, which deviate from normal behavior, even if they have never occurred before. EDR provides detailed insights into the entire threat cycle, which helps you investigate and improve your endpoint security. In addition, the security solution can also intervene immediately if it recognizes something suspicious. If an attack is identified and prevented, EDR shares the details of the attack with your other endpoints. This way, all your other endpoints are protected against a similar attack. With EDR security, you are better prepared for advanced cyber threats and can respond quickly and effectively when something goes wrong. Why choose EDR? The benefits for your organization Why choose Endpoint Detection & Response, instead of just traditional antivirus software? Real-time monitoring: EDR continuously monitors your endpoints, identifying suspicious activity immediately, not during a scheduled scan. Unknown cyber threats: EDR uses behavioral analysis to identify not only known threats, but also unknown and emerging threats. Automated recovery actions: In the event of a cyberattack, EDR can intervene immediately by blocking processes or quarantining files. Insight and analysis: EDR provides detailed reports on how an attack occurred and what steps were taken, allowing you to improve your security. How can IT Synergy help you? Our EDR security solution protects all endpoints of your organization against both known and unknown cyber threats. In addition, we also provide awareness training so that you know how to deal with the notifications generated by EDR. Do you also want to improve the cybersecurity of your organization? Then contact us without obligation! Want to take your security to the next level? Read our blog about the dark web! Frequently Asked Questions What is an endpoint? What is the difference between EDR and traditional antivirus software? Should I replace my antivirus software with EDR?