Croatia is one of the EU countries most interested in the dark web in 2022

According to Reboot SEO, Croatia is the country most interested in the dark web in 2022, with a dark web interest score of 97.1 out of 100. Dark Web crime in Croatia has increased by 31 percent in recent years, with 30,450 online searches so far this year, which equates to 1,083 Internet users querying the dark Web for every 100,000 people in Croatia in 2022.

The Czech Republic came in second place with a dark web interest score of 94.1 out of 100. There are more than 8 million active Internet users in the Czech Republic, with 1,027 users per 100,000 people searching the dark web on a monthly basis.

Ireland is the third most interested country in the dark web, with an interest score of 91.2 out of 100. So far this year, Ireland has had 38,360 online searches for the dark web, which equates to 953 searches per 100,000 Internet users.

In fourth place is Hungary with a dark web interest score of 88.2 out of 100, and in the top five is Romania with a score of 85.3.

5 ways to protect yourself from dark web attacks

1. Use a VPN

A VPN can protect your online activities from companies, governments and other snoopers. By connecting to an external server and taking its IP address, you can appear to be located in the same country/region as the server you are using. For example, if you are in the US and connect to a server in the UK, the site will assume you are in the UK. While a VPN will not make your online activity untraceable, having an extra layer of protection gives you the best chance of keeping your data safe.

2. Use a free dark web scan

If you suspect that one of your accounts (whether it's a personal account, an email account or a bank account) has been compromised, the first thing you should do is run a free dark web scan. The dark web scan will search the dark web for all personal information in the list of stolen data. The web scan will not reveal all the information stolen on the dark web, but it will notify you immediately if it finds any information about you.

3. Use a password manager

Another way to give yourself the best chance of protecting your personal information is to change your password and use a password manager. Many of us make the mistake of using the same password for all of our accounts, but this can lead to your information being more easily accessible. Passwords for your online accounts should all be different, strong, and unique. Your Instagram password, for example, should not be the same as your Amazon or online banking password. Using a password manager is an easy way to avoid this. Password managers generate secure passwords for you, so you never have to worry about forgetting another password.

4. Enable two-factor authentication

One of the best ways you can try to protect your online accounts from dark web attacks is to use two-factor authentication. The second authentication step makes it harder for hackers to access your account because it combines two factors as a way to confirm authorization, either your username or password followed by your phone number or possibly a physical object such as a fingerprint. This additional layer of security will further protect you if your username or email address is compromised.

5. Close accounts and report evidence of identity theft

Identity theft is one of the most common crimes in the world, with more and more victims each year. If you find any suspicious transactions in your financial statements, or if you receive an email about a login attempt that was not made by you, it is critical that you act quickly. By closing your account, reporting it to your bank, and filing an identity theft report with your appropriate government agency, you can prevent further financial loss.

"There is no single solution to data security. True security comes from the right combination of software tools, increasing your knowledge of cyber threats, and establishing secure online practices. Hackers are constantly devising new and innovative ways to access your data, which can then be uploaded to the dark web and sold. If you want to give yourself the best chance of preventing your information from ending up on the dark web, or if you want to explore the dark web out of curiosity, you should use a VPN because it will hide your IP address and protect your identity and location."