Your Social Security Number and personal information may not be worth as much as you think.
Atlas Investigation recently completed a 2-year study of market prices for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on the Dark Web and found that the average price for your most protected information sells for an average of just $4
And it doesn’t stop there. Most dark web markets sell your Social Security Number along with other information about you to make it easier for the fraudsters to use your identity. Your social security number is often included in PII Packages which includes
- Your Social Security Number
- Your Full Name
- Your Drivers License
- Your Passport Number
- Your Email Address
That means that your PII is now worth less than most household items that you might find on Amazon or covenience stores in your neighborhood.
Prices Can Range from Very Low to Very High On The Dark Web
Another company, Flashpoint, found that services and goods sold on the Dark Web are divided into 4 categories – Stolen PII, Stolen Financial Information, Forged Documents, and Hacking Services. The prices of these services can vary widely.
Atlas found that forged physical passports are the most expensive items costing as much as $3,000, whole Social Security numbers were the cheapest items selling for only $4.
Prices Have Dropped Because So Much Information Has Been Breached
For 2019 approximately 6 billion records were breached by the end of the year – a 20% increase over 2018.
With that glut of information, it is no wonder that dark web sellers’ shelves are piled high with breached data. And the dark web is no different from the real world which is subject to the rules of supply and demand.
The increasing supply of SSN’s and PII on the Dark Web, means that the price must drop. And boy has it.
Thanks for Reading.