The dark web operates as a digital black market where stolen personal data is sold, often sourced from compromised web servers, which account for 56 percent of breaches. With fewer people using faxes or mail, sensitive information is increasingly stored in online verification services, creating targets for hackers. Once obtained, identities can be sold for as little as $10, with values ranging from $100 to $3000 depending on wealth, location, account balance, and account types. Buyers can then exploit this information to access bank accounts, government benefits, credit, and more, turning identity theft into a thriving criminal business.

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