Over the past decade, numerous significant data breaches have underscored the vulnerabilities in digital security across various sectors. Here is an overview of ten of the most impactful breaches:
Equifax Data Breach (2017)
In 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies, suffered a breach compromising personal information of approximately 147.9 million Americans, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses. The breach was attributed to the exploitation of an unpatched vulnerability in the company’s web application framework. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted four members of China’s People’s Liberation Army in connection with the attack.
Yahoo Data Breaches (2013-2014)
Yahoo experienced two major data breaches, one in 2013 affecting all three billion user accounts and another in 2014 impacting 500 million accounts. Compromised data included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and hashed passwords. These incidents significantly affected Yahoo’s reputation and were disclosed during its acquisition by Verizon Communications.
Marriott International Data Breach (2018)
In 2018, Marriott International announced a data breach affecting approximately 500 million guests who made reservations at its Starwood properties. The breach, which began in 2014 prior to Marriott’s acquisition of Starwood, exposed information such as names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport numbers, and, in some cases, payment card details.
Target Data Breach (2013)
Retail giant Target faced a data breach in 2013 that compromised credit and debit card information of approximately 40 million customers. The attackers gained access through network credentials stolen from a third-party vendor, leading to the installation of malware on Target’s point-of-sale systems.
Anthem Inc. Data Breach (2015)
In 2015, health insurer Anthem Inc. disclosed a data breach that exposed personal information of approximately 78.8 million individuals. The compromised data included names, birthdays, medical IDs, Social Security numbers, street addresses, email addresses, and employment information. The breach did not involve medical or financial data.
Ashley Madison Data Breach (2015)
The infidelity dating site Ashley Madison suffered a data breach in 2015, leading to the exposure of personal information of approximately 37 million users. The attackers, known as “The Impact Team,” released data including names, email addresses, home addresses, and account details, leading to significant public and personal repercussions for the users involved.
JPMorgan Chase Data Breach (2014)
In 2014, JPMorgan Chase experienced a data breach compromising data associated with over 83 million accounts, including 76 million households and 7 million small businesses. The attackers obtained names, email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses, though no financial information was reported stolen. The breach highlighted vulnerabilities in the financial sector’s cybersecurity measures.
British Airways Data Breach (2018)
British Airways faced a data breach in 2018 that affected approximately 400,000 customers. The breach involved the theft of personal and financial details, including names, addresses, and payment card information. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office fined British Airways £20 million for failing to protect customer data adequately.
Facebook Data Breach (2019)
In 2019, Facebook announced that approximately 540 million user records were exposed publicly on Amazon’s cloud servers by third-party companies. The data included account names, Facebook IDs, and other personal details, raising concerns about Facebook’s data handling practices and third-party access to user information.
Capital One Data Breach (2019)
Capital One suffered a data breach in 2019, affecting approximately 100 million individuals in the United States and 6 million in Canada. The breach exposed personal information, including names, addresses, credit scores, and Social Security numbers. A former employee of a cloud hosting company was arrested in connection with the breach.
These incidents underscore the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the potential consequences of data vulnerabilities across various industries.