How to find out if your information is on the dark web: A guide

What is the dark web?

The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that isn’t accessible through normal browsers or search engines. It exists on encrypted networks (such as the Tor network) and requires specialized software (like the Tor browser) to access. In contrast, the deep web refers to all online content not indexed by search engines – things like private databases or password-protected sites. 

The dark web is actually a subset of the deep web, but with an important difference – it’s designed to keep users anonymous, masking IP addresses and locations. This anonymity creates a safe place for those seeking privacy or censorship-free communication, but it has also attracted cybercriminals and illicit activity.

Many illegal goods and services are bought and sold on the dark web’s hidden marketplaces. These include stolen sensitive information and financial data, counterfeit documents or money, hacking tools and malware, illicit drugs, weapons, and more. These marketplaces also move huge bundles of sensitive data, usually sought by identity thieves.

Transactions in these markets often use cryptocurrencies to further obscure identities. In other words, the dark web has become a hotbed of scams and internet fraud, where criminals trade sensitive information. For example, stolen credit card details might sell for just a few dollars, while complete identity bundles (your name or Social Security number) fetch higher prices. 

How does your information get on the dark web?

Your personal information can end up on the dark web in various ways – often without you ever knowing until it’s too late. Here are some common ways personal data gets exposed and ends up for sale on dark web sites.

• Data breaches. Large-scale data breaches are the number one source of stolen personal data. If a company you do business with suffers a data breach, your usernames, passwords, email, home address, payment card numbers, or even Social Security number could be among the data leaked. Hackers typically package these stolen records and sell them on dark web marketplaces in bulk.
• Phishing scams and social engineering. Phishing remains one of the most effective ways for criminals to steal sensitive information. In phishing scams, you might receive a fraudulent email or text that looks and even reads legitimate (such as a message from your bank or a popular service) but is designed to trick you into entering login credentials or other sensitive data on a fake website. Similarly, scammers may call pretending to be tech support or a government official to trick you into revealing personal data. All the stolen personal data is then sold or shared on the dark web almost immediately.
• Malware and keyloggers. If your device gets infected with malware (through unsafe downloads, email attachments, or malicious websites), it could secretly collect your personal data. Certain malware, such as spyware or keyloggers, can record everything you type – usernames, passwords, bank account numbers – and send it to hackers. Trojan viruses can give attackers backdoor access to your files. Once they’ve gathered your sensitive data, such as credit, mortgage, or auto loan information, it may be uploaded to dark web marketplaces. 
• Public Wi-Fi hacks. Using free public Wi-Fi at cafes, airports, or hotels might seem convenient, but it can put your data at serious risk. Unsecured public networks are the preferred hunting grounds for bad actors. Hackers can intercept the traffic on public Wi-Fi or set up fake “honeypot” hotspots to spy on users. If you log in to email, social media, or banking on a rogue Wi-Fi, attackers could steal those credentials quite easily. That stolen login information may then end up on the dark web.
• Reusing passwords. Reusing the same password on multiple accounts is a risky habit – and one cybercriminals actively exploit. How? When a website is breached, hackers obtain lists of email addresses and account passwords. Knowing that many people reuse the same password over and over again, bad actors will try those leaked credentials on other sites (a tactic called credential stuffing). Every year, billions of stolen passwords from past data breaches flood the dark web.
• Other leaks and hacks. There are plenty of additional avenues for data exposure. Sometimes employees or insiders with access to customer data might steal and sell it for financial gain or out of malice. Even physical documents thrown in the trash (bank statements, medical forms) can be stolen (often referred to as dumpster diving) and the info posted online. 

Signs your personal information might be on the dark web

Let’s take a look at some of the signs your personal information might be on the dark web:

• Unfamiliar or unauthorized charges on your accounts. Check your bank and credit card statements regularly. If you notice charges or withdrawals that you don’t recognize – even small “test” charges – it could mean your payment information (like your card number or PayPal) has been stolen and sold on the dark web. Cybercriminals often buy stolen card details and run up fraudulent charges quickly.
• Login alerts for unknown devices or locations. Many online services and platforms send notifications when a new login occurs on your account (for example, “New sign-in from Chrome on Windows in New York”). If you receive alerts about logins that weren’t yours, treat them as a red flag. Someone else may have obtained your password and logged in. In many cases, identity thieves try to exploit a victim’s computer science skills gap to gain access to accounts and devices that hold sensitive personal data. Likewise, if you suddenly get logged out of an account and can’t get back in, it might mean a cybercrook has not only logged in but also changed your password. 
• Password reset emails you didn’t request. Getting emails like “Your password reset code is…” or “Click here to reset your password” when you never initiated a reset is a sign someone is trying to break into your account. This often happens when hackers use your leaked email address on various sites to see if you have an account, then attempt a password reset. Multiple unsolicited reset emails across different services suggest that your email has surfaced on the dark web. Never ignore these notices – they indicate someone has enough of your information to attempt access.
• Increased spam or phishing messages. If your email address or phone number was leaked on the dark web, you might experience a spike in spam emails, robocalls, or phishing texts. For example, receiving emails mentioning your name or other personal details (which you never provided to the sender) could mean your data was part of a list sold to spammers. Phishers might also craft messages that reference information about you to appear more convincing. While spam alone isn’t proof that your data is on the dark web, targeted scam attempts using your personal info are a strong indicator of a leak.

Many of these red flags overlap with common signs of identity theft. If you encounter one or more of these issues, act quickly. Don’t assume it’s a fluke – investigate the cause and run a free dark web scan for starters. It’s better to catch a data breach or fraud attempt early before more damage is done.

How to check if your information is on the dark web

Now, how do you find out if your personal information is on the dark web? Given that the dark web isn’t easily searchable, you’ll need to rely on specialized tools to know if your data is out there.

• Free dark web report sites can tell you if your email appears in known data breaches, but a one-off dark web scan only covers publicly reported breaches and won’t catch newer or private leaks (nor does it provide continuous monitoring). 
• For the most complete protection, a professional service like NordProtect offers a dark web monitoring feature, which continuously scans hacker forums, marketplaces, and breach databases 24/7 for any trace of your personal information. Alternatively, there are McAfee alternatives that include similar dark web monitoring features. However, NordProtect even taps into constantly updated threat intelligence and major credit bureau data (including daily-refreshed TransUnion records) to detect compromised account credentials or financial fraud early. Unlike free tools that require you to manually run dark web scans, NordProtect will automatically alert you if your email, passwords, or other details are found in a leak and even guide you on how to secure your accounts immediately.

It's true that no solution can check every corner of the dark web, but using NordProtect’s dark web monitoring service gives you the best chance to catch breaches and mitigate potentially serious risks such as identity theft – all without having to enter the dark web sites yourself. 

What to do if your personal information is found on the dark web

Let’s say you’ve received an alert (or have strong reasons to believe) that some of your personal information is on the dark web. Don’t panic – while you likely can’t remove the data from the dark web, you can take immediate steps to protect yourself and your identity to limit the damage. Here’s what to do.

• Change affected passwords immediately. If your login credentials were leaked, assume attackers will try them elsewhere. Changing your password cuts off their access. Ideally, use a reputable password manager such as NordPass to generate and securely store complex passwords going forward. 
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts. Two-factor authentication adds a one-time code or second verification step (for example, an SMS code or authentication app prompt) whenever you log in. With 2FA enabled, even if hackers have your password, they can’t access the account without that second factor. This is one of the best defenses against account takeover. 
• Monitor your financial accounts and credit reports closely. Check your bank accounts and credit card statements daily for a while. Report any suspicious transactions to your bank immediately and have the cards canceled and reissued if needed. It’s also wise to review your credit reports for any new accounts or inquiries you don’t recognize. In the U.S., you can get free weekly reports from all three major bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Consider a credit freeze or fraud alert. A credit freeze blocks anyone from running a credit check or opening new credit in your name until you lift the freeze, which can prevent criminals from using your identity to get loans, new bank accounts, or credit cards. You can freeze (and unfreeze) your credit for free by contacting any of the three major credit bureaus. At minimum, you could place a fraud alert on your credit file, which signals lenders to verify your identity thoroughly before issuing credit.
• Report identity theft and fraud to the relevant authorities. If you discover that your personal information has been stolen and misused — for example, to open new accounts in your name or commit fraud — it’s important to report the incident immediately. But how do you report identity theft? In the U.S., you can file a formal identity theft report with the FTC at identitytheft.gov, and you may also need to notify your local law enforcement agency. Many financial institutions and service providers will require this documentation when disputing fraudulent charges or accounts. As part of its protection suite, NordProtect offers an identity theft recovery feature to help you through this process. It includes expert support, guidance through necessary paperwork, dark web scans, and coverage of eligible expenses with up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. This kind of help can significantly reduce the stress and time involved in recovering your identity after a data breach.

How to get my information off the dark web

After discovering your data is on the dark web, a natural question is: “How can I get my information off the dark web?” The unfortunate reality is that once personal information is circulating on the dark web, it’s extremely difficult – almost impossible – to completely remove it. The dark web’s structure is decentralized and anonymous. There’s no “customer support” to contact for a marketplace run by criminals. Even if you manage to get one site to delete your stolen sensitive data, there’s no guarantee it hasn’t already been copied elsewhere. Stolen data is frequently duplicated and shared across multiple hacker forums and marketplaces, making takedown efforts futile in many cases.

With that said, you can take a few steps to limit the exposure of your information.

• Remove data from public websites. While the dark web itself is hard to police, sometimes stolen data or leaks end up on more public-facing sites (like text-sharing sites, forums, or social media). If you find your information posted on any surface web platform, you can report it to the site admins to request removal. You might need to file DMCA takedown requests or abuse reports to get the content removed from those sites. This won’t scrub it from the dark web, but at least it won’t be openly visible to anyone googling your name or email.
• Work with an identity protection or reputation service. Some identity theft protection services, in addition to their dark web monitoring features, also offer help with removing personal information from data broker lists. While this is more about the surface web, it can reduce your overall exposure.
• Update and secure accounts linked to the leaked data. The most effective “removal” in practice is to make the stolen data outdated or useless. For instance, if your leaked info includes account credentials, change those credentials. If it’s a credit card number, cancel that card and get a new one issued. If it’s your phone number and you’re receiving harassment, change your number. Essentially, you’re invalidating the data that was leaked. You can’t remove the copies out there, but you can reduce their value to anyone who might look to abuse them.
• Focus on containment and monitoring. Rather than chasing the deletion of the data, put your energy into damage control. This means continuing to monitor for signs of misuse (such as watching your accounts for a while). It might also mean proactively informing financial institutions or government agencies of the exposure. For example, if your Social Security number was found on the dark web, you can contact the Social Security Administration and the IRS to flag your identity for potential fraud, and as mentioned, set up fraud alerts with credit bureaus. 

How can you prevent your personal information from ending up on the dark web? 

By now, it should be crystal clear that dealing with exposed information is a hassle. Prevention is far better than cure. While you can’t control every company’s security, you can take steps to greatly reduce the chances of your data being leaked – and to limit the damage if it ever does. Here are some essential tips on keeping your personal information safe.

• Use a comprehensive security and identity protection service. Consider using a service like NordProtect as a preventative measure. NordProtect is an all-in-one identity theft protection solution that bundles dark web scans, credit monitoring, instant security alerts, and identity theft recovery support. It will keep watch over your key personal details (such as emails, phone records, or SSN) and alert you of any breaches, often before the news becomes public. It also provides guidance on protecting accounts if a leak occurs and tips on preventing identity theft. Having this kind of early warning system and safety net can stop a single leak from spiraling into full-blown identity theft. 
• Use a password manager and unique passwords for all accounts. Weak or reused passwords are a leading cause of account breaches – over 80% of hacking-related breaches involve compromised or reused passwords. To prevent credential leaks, use passwords that are long, complex, and unique to each account. Never reuse the same password on multiple sites. A password manager is invaluable here because it can generate random passwords and remember them for you. With unique credentials, even if one website gets breached, your other accounts remain safe.
• Be cautious with emails and links. Most malware infections and many data thefts start with a phishing email or scam message. Stay vigilant and think before you click. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders. Even if an email looks legit, double-check if something feels off – phishing scams often have urgent language or slight spelling mistakes in addresses. When in doubt, go directly to the official website or call the company using a verified number.
• Avoid oversharing personal information online. The less of your data is out there, the less of it can be leaked. Be mindful of what you post on social media – for instance, never publicly share things like your full birthdate, home address, phone number, or vacation plans (which can invite both digital and physical theft). Consider making your profiles private. Likewise, limit the information you share with companies when possible.
• Regularly monitor your financial statements and credit reports. Keeping a close eye on your financial activity can give you early warning of any misuse of your data. Check bank accounts and credit card statements every few days (or set alerts for transactions) so you can catch unauthorized charges quickly. Review your credit report at least a few times a year.
• Reduce your data footprint with data brokers. Data brokers are companies that collect and sell personal information (like addresses, phone numbers, or interests) and are another source that could leak data. It’s a good idea to periodically request the removal of your info from data broker databases. You can do this by contacting them directly or using services that automate the opt-out requests.
• Set up security alerts on your accounts. Many services allow you to receive an email or text alert for certain events – take advantage of these. For example, get alerts for logins from new devices (so you know if someone else accesses your account), alerts for large transactions on your bank cards, and alerts for changes to account settings or passwords.
• Use a VPN on public networks. As mentioned earlier, public Wi-Fi is risky. If you often connect to it while traveling or browsing in cafes, use a VPN (virtual private network) such as NordVPN on your devices. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, so even if a hacker intercepts data on a public network, it will be gibberish to them. NordVPN (which comes with NordProtect’s bundle) is a superb option. Using a VPN effectively closes one common door through which attackers snatch personal info.