Dark Web Monitor

Get alerts about accounts in danger
Enjoy continuous protection once switched on
Stay safe without interruptions — runs in the background

What is Dark Web Monitor?

NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring is a cybersecurity feature designed to prevent others from exploiting account information leaked to the dangerous dark web. It continuously scans dark web sites for your credentials, alerting you to each discovery so that you can take steps to protect the vulnerable account.

How Dark Web Monitor works

Dark Web Monitor tool scans web for leaked credentials_alt

Dark Web Monitor tool sends you alerts if finds leaked data_alt

protect your credentials with additional security steps_alt

One click to turn on 24/7 protection
Dark Web Monitor continuously scans dark web forums and sites for credentials associated with your NordVPN email address. This means that you don’t need to activate it every time you hear about a data breach — our dark web monitoring tool will continue to protect your accounts as long as you have it enabled.
Get notified about threats ASAP
Dark Web Monitor will immediately alert you if it detects credentials linked to your NordVPN email address. You’ll be able to see all the relevant information about the leak, including the service that was breached. When there’s nothing to report, Dark Web Monitor will quietly run in the background and let you go about your business.
Take appropriate security steps
Once you know you’re in danger, you can act before the criminals do. Often, this is as simple as changing a password or turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA). In some cases, you may need to contact others about the situation — for example, you can ask your bank to block a compromised credit card before any purchases are made.

How to turn on Dark Web Monitor

Open the NordVPN app

Launch the NordVPN app on your device and log in with your credentials.

Go to “Tools”

Tap the cogwheel icon to open “Settings” and select “Tools.”

Enable “Dark Web Monitor”

Switch the “Dark Web Monitor” toggle to start 24/7 protection. That’s it!

What is the dark web?

The dark web is a secret, heavily encrypted part of the internet that attracts those who prize anonymity above all else, including criminals and hackers. Dark web pages are cut off from search engines like Google and Bing, meaning that most people aren’t even aware of their existence.

The surface web

The part of the internet that is open to everyone and indexed by search engines. Many people believe that the surface web is the internet, when in reality it barely covers 10% of all existing web content.

The deep web

Legitimate but walled-off parts of the internet that are not indexed by search engines, such as email accounts and online banking pages. The deep web is several hundred times the size of the surface web.

The dark web

Encrypted anonymous websites within the deep web that can only be accessed using special tools, such as Tor (The Onion Router). The dark web has marketplaces for drugs, illicit services, and personal information.

Is your information on the dark web?

your personal information leaked on the dark web_alt

Here’s the hard truth — there’s a good chance that at least some of your personal information is already on dark web sites. Data breaches happen every year, some leaking hundreds of millions of user profiles. This includes information from social media, online banking, shopping sites, government institutions, healthcare clinics, and even internet forums.

Even snippets of sensitive data from large-scale breaches are valuable to criminals. Still, hackers often go a step further and compile all the personal information they can find into sets (known as “fullz”). These sets are especially dangerous since they may include names, addresses, bank accounts, phone numbers, social security numbers, and potentially even credit card numbers.

What are the risks?

risk of identity theft if leaked on the dark web_alt

Private individuals

Identity theft — to commit crimes or phishing attacks in your name
Phishing scams using stolen information to gain your trust
Account lock-out — hackers break in with your password and change it
Credential stuffing (breaking into other accounts with the same password)

Business

Regulatory fines for inadequate data protection measures
Lost brand reputation — data breaches bring unwelcome publicity
Litigation from customers for any breach damage
Loss of business due to downtime and post-breach auditing

Enjoy all-round security in your everyday digital life

Free yourself from worry. Additional Nord apps will keep your passwords and files secure.

Password manager

Keep your passwords in a secure vault. Available on all major platforms.

File encryption tool

Keep your data — your digital life — backed up, synced up, and protected.

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Powerful malware protection with NordVPN. More than just a VPN.

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Frequently asked questions

Is dark web monitoring safe?

Yes, there are generally no dangers associated with using a dark web monitoring service — dark web scans won’t tip off criminals that you’re onto them or make you a target for cyberattacks. In fact, using NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor feature is much safer and more efficient than trawling the malware-ridden dark web on your own.

Is dark web monitoring needed?

Yes, because it takes only one compromised account to penetrate even sophisticated digital security systems. New data breaches surface every day, sometimes years after the fact, and it can be too late to protect yourself by then. With NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor, you will be notified about stolen credentials as soon as they appear on the black market. Just enable it in the NordVPN app and let it quietly protect you while you work, browse, or play online.

What should I do if my information is on the dark web?

If you find your credentials for sale online, you should immediately change the affected account’s password. If you’ve reused passwords across multiple accounts, make sure to change them to avoid credential stuffing attacks. It’s also a good idea to enable MFA for extra protection.

If you find leaks with financial information, such as your credit card number, contact the relevant institutions to take appropriate measures — banks can block credit cards or mark your profile as compromised to prevent unauthorized transfers.

How do you protect your information from the dark web?

Rigorous digital hygiene is very effective in preventing unnecessary leaks to the dark web. Here are some ways to protect yourself:

Use strong passwords, preferably with a password manager like NordPass
Set up MFA for an additional layer of security
Use a VPN when online to prevent anyone from snooping on you
Only visit encrypted (HTTPS) websites
Use a trusted antivirus to root out trojans or other malware

Is the dark web illegal?

No — by itself, the dark web is not illegal. Anyone can legally access the dark web for privacy, provided they have the lawful means to do so. However, at the same time, the dark web’s virtual anonymity makes it a haven for hackers and criminals. It’s also dangerous to visit, as many dark web sites are rife with malware and viruses.