The Dark Web and Background Checks
Do you remember being afraid of the monster in the cupboard, sitting there quietly, waiting for the lights to be switched off at night, ready to attack!!
The Dark Web, to some extent, is like that imaginary monster in the cupboard. You can’t see it, detect it, or capture it, but you know it’s there. This hidden part of the internet influences our online reality and manipulates our data, making it essential to secure our information from any security breaches.
The question is, is there an impact of the dark web on the accuracy of background checks
Overview of background checks
For starters, a background check is a deep dive into a potential candidate’s complete history. Background checks use third-party resources or in-house employees to look into public records, law enforcement, credit bureaus, academic records, and previous work history.
Among other things, a background check can uncover information about an individual, such as employment history, criminal records, credit history, and more. The purpose of a check can be to confirm that an individual is who they say they are, uncover any potential conflicts, or a combination of both.
The primary intent of a background check is to assist employers in making informed hiring decisions. More than ever, business owners must trust employees with the keys to the kingdom. That might sound like hyperbole but think about it this way. An employer who hires someone to handle cash will want to know that the person doesn’t have a criminal history. Other scenarios include employees who are given access to trade secrets and proprietary data—you want to trust that the employees will properly handle themselves, given the nature of the information.
A background check is no guarantee you’ll get the right person, but it is a step in the right direction to better understand who you are hiring.
The dark web and its role in illegal activities
The dark web, also known as the dark net, deep web, or invisible web, was launched nearly 20 years ago with the release of Freenet. Freenet was a decentralized network designed to be less vulnerable to attacks and snooping by authorities.
Today, the dark web is an area of the internet, which requires specific browsers and configurations to connect to it. Websites on the dark web are more secure and private. It also prevents big search engines from indexing them, which makes finding them more difficult for the everyday user.
The four primary threats posed by the dark web are
- Account Hacking and Identity Theft
The dark web has a fair share of stolen accounts. The victims are people whose identities have been hacked by cybercriminals. The hacks are carried out by will or through someone else’s negligence. Sometimes, your account is hacked when you’re simply testing a new password you have just created for verification purposes. - Ransomware
The dark web is not always free of malware infections. Many websites operating there weren’t written for search engines or web crawlers. Instead, they are there to add value to the site’s aesthetics and stay in front of visitors. If you happen to visit such a page on the dark web, you can fall prey to hackers. - DDoS Attacks
The dark web hosts online businesses with malicious intent. These malicious actors attack the websites of unsuspecting victims with high frequency. They aim to take control of them for monetary gain or power.
These DDoS attacks are carried out at the most vulnerable times. For instance, they target bank sites when customers are making online transactions. They attack the sites of media organizations like newspapers and TV channels, as they release their latest reports to carry out fake campaigns against political leaders, or disrupt communication plans, or publicly defame them. - Attacks by Hackers
Hackers target websites on the dark web looking for vulnerabilities so they can do damage. Malware like ransomware is attributed to these attacks. Law enforcement agencies try to track down users of the dark web because of a hacker’s criminal intentions. This has led to arrests when cybercriminals are careless or in a hurry to complete a deal with their victims.
The dark web's impact on the accuracy of background checks
Just like the imaginary monster represents a potential threat, capable of causing harm if it were real, the dark web poses real threats, including identity theft, fraud, and the distribution of illegal goods and information. Employers can never be sure if their employee's data is safe and secure over the internet or if the information provided through background checks is fake.
The dark web significantly complicates the accuracy and reliability of background checks. Here’s how:
- Availability of Falsified Information:
The dark web is a marketplace for stolen identities and falsified documents. Candidates can purchase fake credentials, making it challenging for employers to verify the authenticity of academic qualifications, employment history, and even criminal records. - Data Breaches and Stolen Information:
Personal data stolen in data breaches often end up on the dark web. This data can be used to create false identities or manipulate existing records. A background check might inadvertently use compromised data, leading to inaccurate results. - Hidden Criminal Activity:
Some criminal activities are orchestrated and hidden within the dark web. A standard background check may not uncover involvement in these hidden activities unless the screening process includes checks for dark web-related activities.
How does one, in such a turbulent digital world, ensure that the background check they have conducted is accurate and has not been tampered with by users of the dark web?
How to mitigate the risks
Once we acknowledge the presence of the monster, we make sure to take precautions to mitigate any risks associated with it. Similarly, awareness of the dark web's existence and potential threats encourages individuals and organizations to take proactive measures to secure their data and protect against cyber threats.
To combat the challenges associated with the dark web’s influence on background checks, businesses should take additional steps to enhance the accuracy of background checks:
- Advanced Verification Techniques:
Utilize advanced verification services that specialize in detecting falsified documents and credentials. These services often have more sophisticated methods for identifying fake information. - Dark Web Monitoring:
Employ dark web monitoring services to check if a candidate’s personal information has been compromised or used fraudulently. This can provide insights into potential red flags that a standard background check might miss. - Continuous Monitoring:
Implementing continuous background check monitoring for employees ensures that any new information or changes in an employee’s background are detected promptly, allowing for timely action.
By incorporating these strategies, employers can improve the reliability of their background checks and protect their businesses from potential threats originating from the Dark Web.
Conclusion
Knowing about the dark web encourages us towards being vigilant to gain protection against unseen threats. For businesses, this means ensuring that their background checks are as thorough and reliable as possible and are conducted by partner organizations who know the ins and outs of background checks.
Check Xperts in Pakistan offers comprehensive background verification services designed to uncover the truth behind every candidate, even in the face of the hidden dangers posed by the dark web. By leveraging advanced techniques and continuous monitoring, Check Xperts helps businesses make informed hiring decisions to ultimately maintain a secure and trustworthy workforce.
F.A.Qs
- Can I check if my information is being sold on the dark web?
Some services and tools monitor the dark web for stolen personal information and can alert you if your data is found. - Is it legal to access the dark web?
Accessing the dark web is not illegal, however, engaging in illegal activities on the dark web is against the law and you face penalties for such crimes. - How long should a background check policy be in place?
A background check policy should be in place for as long as your organization requires to ensure ongoing compliance and security because hiring is a continuous process. - Can a standard background check access information from the dark web?
To access information from the dark web, specialized services are required that need to be harnessed by legitimate organizations like CheckXperts in Pakistan.
