Corporate Account Breaches on the Dark Web Surge by 429% Since March

In recent years, researchers have observed a decline in widely known data breaches. However, data collected over the past six months indicates a reversal of this trend. According to a report by Arctic Wolf, the number of leaked corporate credentials (including plain-text passwords) found on the dark web has increased by 429% since March 2020.

On average, there may be as many as 17 compromised credentials per organization available on the dark web, putting them at risk of falling into the hands of cybercriminals. With access to just one corporate account, attackers can attempt to breach additional accounts, allowing them to move laterally within an organization’s network. The typical goal of such attacks is to gain access to internal information and intellectual property.

Experts report that 35% of the most dangerous cyber incidents occurred between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM, and 14% took place on weekends. Attackers often count on the absence of security teams during these times.

“The only way to eliminate cyber risks such as ransomware, account breaches, and cloud misconfigurations is to fully integrate people, processes, and technology,” says Mark Manglicmot of Arctic Wolf.