According to a report by the Identity Theft Resource Center, the government and education sectors accounted for 12.3% of all reported data breaches in 2020. Increased connectivity has benefitted state and local government and education (SLED) since its inception, increasing efficiency, information sharing, and more. As the internet has developed and threat actors become more savvy, it has introduced more risk to state and local organizations. The dark web, also known as the hidden internet, is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines. It is estimated that the dark web is 500 times larger than the surface web, making it a haven for illegal activities such as fraud and cyber crime.
The increasing prevalence of dark web fraud has become a significant concern for SLED institutions. These entities hold a vast amount of sensitive data, making them prime targets for cyber criminals on the dark web. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for these entities to take proactive measures to protect themselves from dark web threats.
To address this growing concern, Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS) offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring the dark web for potential threats. In this whitepaper, we will delve deeper into the issue of dark web fraud and the importance of implementing a proactive threat intelligence monitoring solution for state and local government agencies and education institutions.