According to Norton, 72% of adults in the UK don’t know how exactly the dark web works. This means that many internet users in the country don’t have protection against the dark web’s dangers.
When it comes to how the dark web is being used, Intelliagg found in a report that the most illegal activities that take place on the dark web are:
- File sharing, being 29% of activity on the dark web
- Leaked data closely behind at 28%
- Financial fraud at 12%
- News at 10% taking 4th position
Surprisingly, illegal substances only account for 4% of dark web activity, making it the 7th most frequent activity, right below discussion forums. The Norton study also shows that 40% of UK adults do not even know what a dark web monitoring service is, which leaves many at risk.
What Is Dark Web Monitoring?
Dark web monitoring involves verifying and tracking your data, as a way to make sure sensitive information, either from businesses or individuals, isn’t being used by scammers and hackers. There are different tools available for people to keep their information safe, all with different fees, features and offerings.
A lot of identity theft incidents are as a result of details ending up on the dark web, including phone calls. EE shares on a news release, “Research has shown that 40% of crimes committed across the UK are fraud based and almost all phone users (96%) are affected by nuisance calls on a regular basis.”
These numbers call for a solution, and with this, EE recently announced that they will be launching ScamGuard. This is a subscription that helps its users fight fraud and threats. Helen Burrows, Policy Director for BT Group, the parent of EE: “We have always prioritised the protection of our customers and our investment in Scam Guard is something we are all incredibly proud of. We truly believe it will make a significant contribution to the prevention of scams and fraudsters.”
More from News
- UK’s NayaOne Enters Saudi Market With AstroLabs, Launching First Fully Saudi-Hosted Fintech Platform
- How Is Google Dealing With Fraud In India?
- What Are The Main Sources Google’s AI Overview Uses?
- New Drone Flights Approved to Help Monitor Railways
- How The UK Government Is Helping With Employment Reform
- What Are The Data-Related Risks Of Period Tracker Apps?
- Investment in UK Businesses Up 3% This Year
- How Much Water Does ChatGPT Actually Use?
How Does ScamGuard Protect Users?
Scam Guard helps keep its users safe from scams with a few simple but powerful tools, starting at just £1 a month. It works in three main ways: managing calls, protecting online info, and securing devices.
First, Scam Guard uses smart AI to label and alert users about spam and scam calls. This tech, powered by Hiya, checks each call in real-time, so users are able to identify when a call is dodgy, before answering.
Next, it watches the dark web for any signs of personal details, like bank info or email logins. If a user’s info pops up, they get an alert right away, along with tips on how to lock things down.
Scam Guard also has a three-month trial of Cyber Security Duo from Norton. This service shields up to two devices from viruses, malware, and other online threats. It also helps users create strong passwords, and keep social media accounts safe.
EE has brought a first of its kind to the UK, and with their reputation, this tool will be very useful, especially for startups who are looking for affordable yet feature rich services that protect information. The company confirmed on a news release, “EE has blocked more than 84 million scam attempts in the first six months of 2024, twice the number in the comparable period of 2023.”
