This Is How Much You're Worth On The Dark Web

Granted, there aren't peddlers roaming around your local business district selling your stolen information, but the above patter could apply in hidden and unregulated areas of the Internet — a.k.a. the Dark Web. According to the Dark Web Market Price Index released by the independent VPN review site Top10VPN, a thief could purchase your entire online identity for approximately $1,170 if enough of your relevant information were there.

The full $1,170 package would include basic proof of identity, credit and debit accounts, online banking information, and logins for everything from your bank and social media accounts to your store rewards cars and contact information.

You might think credit card information would be the most valuable, but at $50, it's a relative bargain compared to debit card details, online banking details, and PayPal Holdings Inc PYPL logins. Perhaps it's a supply and demand issue, given the large amount of credit card information available — or perhaps thieves find it easier to drain a bank account and make PayPal purchases without being detected.

Passport information sells for $62.61 on the dark web according to the Dark Web Index, while other proof-of-identity documents are running just under $30. A separate Experian estimate from 2017 has driver's licenses selling for $20 while, surprisingly, Social Security numbers can sell for as little as $1.

Shopping logins range from $15.34 for Macy's Inc M to $1.56 for Wayfair Inc W and FreshDirect. Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN and Walmart Inc WMT logins each go for $9.00. Best Buy Co Inc BBY and eBay Inc EBAY logins go for $12.00 and $12.48 respectively.

Social media account logins range from $1.28 for Instagram to $5.20 for Facebook, Inc. FB. Email accounts are less valuable, as they are plentiful, access can be easily revoked, and it is more work to turn an e-mail account into cash as compared to stolen banking/credit data or PayPal and eBay account information.

Ready for more depressing news? The recently-released Dark Web Market Price Index for Hacking Tools shows how easy it is for novices to embark on their own life of crime. Password hacking tools and fake pages for major entities like Facebook, Walmart and Amazon sell for around $2 each — less than the value meals at most fast food restaurants. Complete cybercrime hacking kits are available for as little as $125.

You can't prevent all breaches, but you can take steps for sources you do control. Use strong passwords and change them regularly, keep anti-virus software updated, avoid phishing scams or unsolicited e-mail links and limit the use of unsecure wireless connections. Hacking tools are cheap, and that means more attacks over time.

Check your credit report regularly for any fraudulent charges or accounts, and consider applying a credit freeze to keep thieves from opening new accounts in your name. In addition, check other financial and shopping accounts periodically for any unusual activity.

If thieves are going to steal your identity, make them spend as much money as possible in the effort and limit their gains if they do. They are likely to move on to easier targets. While you're worth far more than $1,170, you should aim to make your value zero to a thief.

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Related Links:

Phishing Isn't Just By Email Anymore: What You Need To Know About SMiShing

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