Experian enables Kiwis to monitor dark web for stolen ID

Global information services company Experian has brought its dark web monitoring service, CyberAgent, to New Zealand, offering New Zealanders a means of detecting online theft of their personal information.

Experian says CyberAgent monitors thousands of websites and millions of data points on the dark web looking for personal information. It says CyberAgent analyses and monitor over 600,000 web pages and queries 24 hours a day.

The service is offered via companies such as financial services, telecommunications, retail, and enables a customer of a partner organisation to enter their personal information and receive an alert if CyberAgent has found this information on the dark web. Experian is yet to name any New Zealand partner.

Experian says the service has found more than 3.5 billion compromised records since launch.

It says CyberAgent is able to break language barriers and uncover identity theft by searching for more than 40 types of personal information, including:

•     national identity numbers

•     email addresses

•     telephone numbers

•     medical ID numbers

•     bank account and routing numbers

•     credit/debit card numbers

•     drivers licence numbers

•     passport numbers

•     retail credit numbers

Experian says implementation of CyberAgent is simple and efficient and the platform can be customised according to a company’s specific technical requirements. According to its website, CyberAgent can be up and running in 90 days, and implementation costs are little or none.

The service is already available in the UK, US, Brazil and across EMEA and APAC.