BotNet News

Whether it’s hackers impacting critical infrastructure like the Colonial Pipeline or breaching healthcare records at UC San Diego Health, data breaches have dominated the tech news cycle in recent years. While many individuals might think that being one of millions of people whose data is leaked doesn’t make them a target, they may be surprised to learn just how much damage a single breach can cause.

A data breach is when someone hacks into a system, steals sensitive information and/or takes control of an individual’s or business’ device. In the past, breaches were attributed to human error, but now, the vast majority are due to cyberattacks.

Breaches can range from a simple hack of a company’s system to a massive ransomware attack like the 2017 WannaCry virus that affected nearly 150 million customers. Regardless of the cause, the resulting data can include anything from personal information like social security numbers and credit card information to business information like financial reports and confidential client files.

Despite the best efforts of cybersecurity professionals, many data breaches are caused by cybercriminals who use different tactics to access sensitive information. For example, phishing attacks (when cybercriminals send fake links and content to trick users into sharing their PII) are the most common reason for data breaches, followed by malware and SQL injection attacks (when hackers exploit weaknesses in system coding).

For consumers, the most important thing is to stay vigilant against cyberattacks. This means keeping software updated, only opening email attachments from trusted sources and using secure file storage for work documents. In addition, monitoring your credit through the three major credit-reporting bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) or setting up automatic credit monitoring is an excellent way to keep your identity safe.