In this article on breaches, we\u2019ll be covering the following topics:<\/p>\n
- \n
- What is a Data Breach (and its cause and effects)?<\/a><\/li>\n
- What are the biggest Data Breaches to date?<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to protect against Data Breaches<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is a Data Breach?<\/h2>\n
A data breach happens when personal or sensitive information is shared or accessed by an unauthorized person. In many cases, this isn\u2019t done intentionally.<\/p>\n
![\"data](\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/data-breaches-cause-effect-prevention\/data-breach.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nHowever, there are certain situations where a malicious attack causes a data breach. The files are then viewed, shared, or sold without permission.<\/p>\n
These leaks pose serious threats that can affect anyone. In 2021 alone, 212.4 million US users were affected by breaches.<\/p>\n
Causes of Data Breaches<\/h3>\n
There are a few different causes of data breaches. An employee might make a mistake and accidentally send an email with sensitive information to the wrong person.<\/p>\n
They can also occur because of carefully crafted attacks such as malware, phishing, and system hacking.<\/p>\n
Here are eight of the most common causes of breaches<\/a>:<\/p>\n
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- Weak or stolen credentials,<\/li>\n
- Backdoors and application vulnerabilities,<\/li>\n
- Malware,<\/li>\n
- Social engineering attacks,<\/li>\n
- Permissions given,<\/li>\n
- Insider threats,<\/li>\n
- Physical attacks, and<\/li>\n
- Improper configuration or user error.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Effects of a Data Breach<\/h3>\n
Data breaches can have numerous negative effects on a business. Not only will the brand\u2019s reputation suffer, but there\u2019s also a risk that it\u2019ll lose its intellectual property. However, the biggest effect of a data breach is the financial implications.<\/p>\n
Information leaks can cause millions of dollars in damages to individuals and businesses. The data collected from these breaches can be used in ransomware attacks, forcing businesses to pay a large sum of money to have the data released.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, it can also be used for identity theft, ruining an individual\u2019s financial health and credit.<\/p>\n
Breaches are such a serious threat that many governments are holding businesses responsible if it turns out that they don\u2019t have the proper security measures in place to combat such a breach.<\/p>\n
Businesses involved in a leak can face penalties of up to 2% of their annual turnover. This amount can cripple many businesses.<\/p>\n
![\"data](\"https:\/\/assets.hongkiat.com\/uploads\/data-breaches-cause-effect-prevention\/data-security-breach.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhat are the biggest Data Breaches to date?<\/h2>\n
Data breaches have a massive effect on many different users. Although businesses are often the targets, especially healthcare and financial sectors, the individuals whose data is leaked are affected the most.<\/p>\n
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- June 2022, Shields Healthcare Group breach<\/a> \u2013 2 million affected<\/li>\n
- June 2022, Flagstar Bank breach<\/a> \u2013 1.5 million affected<\/li>\n
- June 2022, Former Amazon employee convicted of leak<\/a> \u2013 affected 100 million<\/li>\n
- May 2022, Texas Insurance leak<\/a> \u2013 affected 1.8 million<\/li>\n
- April 2022, Cash App breach<\/a> \u2013 affected 8 million<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to protect against Data Breaches<\/h2>\n
Businesses and individuals can take a few simple measures to protect their valuable data. However, a multifaceted approach yields the best results when it comes to cybersecurity.<\/p>\n
Therefore, we recommend simultaneously using as many of these measures (and other security protocols).<\/p>\n
Limit access to data<\/h3>\n
In many businesses, especially smaller or start-ups, most employees have access to all the data \u2013 even if they don\u2019t need it for work purposes.<\/p>\n
This is a mistake as it could lead to accidental leaks. Businesses should limit access to sensitive data to only the employees who work with it. Access control measures should also be in place to ensure that only authorized employees can gain access.<\/p>\n
Use proxy services<\/h3>\n
Getting proxy services from a reliable provider is also a great way to protect your data. Proxies will hide your IP address behind one of its own.<\/p>\n
- June 2022, Flagstar Bank breach<\/a> \u2013 1.5 million affected<\/li>\n
- June 2022, Shields Healthcare Group breach<\/a> \u2013 2 million affected<\/li>\n
- What are the biggest Data Breaches to date?<\/a><\/li>\n