Readers concerned about security are probably already using the data breach notification website Have I Been Pwned, but a new website from Proton aims to alert you at an early stage, with what the company says will be near-real-time reports. The company behind ProtonMail has launched the Data Breach Observatory because it can sometimes take a long time to find out when your personal data has become available for sale on the Dark Web.
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Relying on large companies to disclose that they have suffered a data breach and that your personal data has been compromised is a very unreliable approach, as many fail to disclose data breaches until weeks or sometimes even months later. This is the main reason for websites like Have I Been Pwned, which aim to notify you of stolen data as soon as there is a reasonable basis to believe it has happened.
Because false claims from alleged attackers are not uncommon, Have I Been Pwned takes a somewhat conservative approach, seeking supporting evidence for any claim before reporting. Proton’s new Data Breach Observatory takes a more aggressive approach, reporting as soon as personal data is offered for sale on the Dark Web. Proton’s solution is to monitor the Dark Web itself, tracking sites where data thieves go to advertise stolen information.
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By monitoring these exchanges, Proton believes the Data Breach Observatory will be able to warn victims as early as possible, including before the targets themselves are aware of the breach. Making breach reports available in one place is also intended to educate the public about the true size and scope of cybercrime, while making it harder for companies to keep quiet about having been breached. Proton plans to update the Observatory in “near real-time,” partnering with a threat detection company called Constella Intelligence.
See also: Indian court orders Proton Mail to be blocked
For now, the website appears to be available only in German, but it is likely to be available in English soon. While the Proton website may contain a few false positives, it is also likely to alert you at an early stage to real breaches. Hackers sometimes make false claims of authority, but if they are really offering the data for sale, then it is likely that the majority of the examples will be genuine.
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