In a recent Cowbell Academy webinar, Cowbell partnered with DarkOwl, a leading darknet data provider, to give agents an inside look into the darknet. The Cowbell and DarkOwl teams not only gave a rare glimpse of the darknet, but they also showed agents how Cowbell helps to protect policyholders by determining the level of risk associated with an organization’s exposure on the dark web.
Before we give a brief summary of what our agents saw during the webinar, let’s take a step back and unpack: what exactly is so dark about the dark web? While the dark web is not illegal, the use of TOR browsers, and the absence of IP addresses and cookies, allow users to remain anonymous and therefore very difficult to track. Simply accessing the darknet is not an easy task and can even be dangerous for users. As Alison Halland, CBO of DarkOwl stated, since dark websites are constantly in flux, either being taken down or reemerging under a different name, with different administrators, they are hard to locate and users are constantly in danger of exposing themselves or stumbling across unwanted and illegal content.
During the live tour, brokers saw numerous websites, platforms, and marketplaces used to buy, sell, and transact illegal information. Agents were shown where ransomware gangs post confidential content stolen from breached companies, and whether ransom demands have been paid, or if the stolen information is still available to the “market”. A quick look at the victims showed that they span industries, markets, and businesses of different sizes and that no one is safe!
Agents also learned that threat actors increasingly use AI to help conduct phishing attacks, using methods such as generating individuals’ voices, identities, or a convincing script to help extract critical information from victims.
Fortunately, Cowbell understands the importance of monitoring the exposures of our policyholders. This is why partnerships with companies like DarkOwl are crucial. With the help of DarkOwl data, Cowbell can create DarkWeb Reports, which examine an organization’s exposure to the dark web. The DarkWeb Report provides policyholders with a summary of findings, a list of affected employees’ leaked accounts and credentials, as well as recommended remediation steps.
Check out a recording of this webinar on Cowbell Academy to find out more!
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