Data breaches are becoming more commonplace, and if you’ve been an active user of online services in the past year, you may have been affected by one. For example, Advance Auto Parts Infringement The personal information of over 2.3 million users has been exposed, and in the recent AT&T incident, hackers were able to access roughly six months’ worth of customers’ calls and texts. But what would bad actors do with all that data?
John from Jackson, Mississippi asked a similar question, which I wanted to bring up and address here because it can help us all.
“What does it mean when a company says they exposed 2.3 million records or whatever in a data breach? This is common, but there’s no follow-up. It’s like throwing an address label in the trash and letting it go straight to the landfill. So what actually happens in a data breach?”
I understand what you’re saying, John. Data breaches make the headlines, but we rarely hear about their impact. It’s hard to tie a specific breach to a specific problem after the fact. Here’s a detailed explanation of what a data breach actually means:
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Data breach description
A data breach occurs when an unauthorized person gains access to information that should be treated as confidential, private, protected, or sensitive. Think of it like this: you entrust your personal information to a friend, but while sharing it, an unknown party overhears it.
A practical example is: AT&T Data Breach As mentioned earlier, your supposedly private call logs and text messages that you trusted AT&T to protect ended up in the hands of hackers. These details can be used by bad actors to trick you.
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Data breaches can occur in a number of ways: Hackers may target a specific organization or launch a broad attack with the intent of stealing a specific type of data, or they may launch a targeted cyberattack aimed at a specific individual.
Sometimes data breaches occur due to employee carelessness or negligence. Weaknesses in an organization’s systems and infrastructure can also make it vulnerable to a data breach.
Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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Analysis of an intentional data breach
In a deliberately caused data breach, the following typically happens:
the study: Cybercriminals often start by identifying a target, such as a large corporation like AT&T, and then focus on the type of data they want to go after, such as personal customer information. They look for weaknesses in the company’s security by exploiting system flaws or targeting network infrastructure.
attack: Attackers make the initial move using either network or social attacks, common methods include phishing attacks to trick individuals into disclosing personal information. Malware attacks These tactics can put customers’ personal information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and even payment information, at risk, from malware that steals or encrypts data, to denial of service attacks that disrupt service.
Outflow: Once cybercriminals have penetrated a company’s systems, they can tunnel and access sensitive data. For individuals, this means their personal information can be extracted and sold on the dark web and used for identity theft and other malicious purposes. The impact on individuals can be severe, including financial loss, a drop in credit score, and psychological stress as their personal information is leaked and used for malicious purposes.
Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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What happens once hackers get hold of your data?
Once hackers have access to your protected sensitive data, they can profit from it in a variety of ways. Hackers can use the compromised data for illegal activities such as identity theft, financial fraud, spam, and blackmail. Information such as email addresses and phone numbers can be used in phishing scams.
Sometimes, this is The data has also been posted and offered for sale on dark web forums.Other criminals may also buy it and use it for a variety of illegal activities. Not all of these criminal acts are reported, just as not all thefts, murders, or assaults are reported.
It only makes headlines when something big happens, like when hackers scammed a Colorado woman out of $25,000, or when a man was arrested for scamming a Kalispell, Montana, woman out of $150,000.
Data breaches affect not only customers, but also the companies involved. These companies may face fines and lawsuits from the government. For example, AT&T is currently A security breach occurred in 2022, exposing several months’ worth of data from almost all of its customers.Similarly, T-Mobile is facing lawsuits related to a data breach that affected millions of people.
Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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How can you protect yourself from a data breach?
While it’s primarily the responsibility of companies and online services to keep data safe, if your data does get leaked, keep these tips in mind:
1. Change your password
If a hacker had recorded your password, they could access your online accounts and steal your data or money. On another device (laptop or desktop), you should change the passwords for all your important accounts, including email, banking, and social media. You should do this on a different device so that the hacker doesn’t record you setting a new password on the hacked device. You should also use strong, unique passwords that are difficult to guess or crack. Password Manager Generate and store your passwords securely.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
activation Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to all your important accounts, including email, banking, and social media. 2FA requires you to enter a second piece of information, like a code sent to your mobile phone, in addition to your password when logging in. This makes it significantly harder for a hacker to access your account, even if they get hold of your password. Enabling 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access and protects your sensitive data.
3. Monitor your accounts and transactions
Regularly check your online accounts and transactions for suspicious or fraudulent activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it immediately to your service provider or authorities. You should also check your credit report and credit score for signs of identity theft or fraud.
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4. Contact your bank or credit card company
If a hacker gets hold of your bank or credit card information, they could make purchases or withdrawals without your consent. Let your bank or credit card company know about the situation. They can help you freeze or cancel your card, dispute the fraudulent charges, or issue you a new card.
You should also contact any of the big three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and ask them to place a fraud alert on your credit file. This will make it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name without verification. You can also freeze your credit if necessary.
5. Use a personal data deletion service
Consider investing in a personal data removal service that specializes in continuously monitoring and removing personal information from various online databases and websites. These services use advanced tools and techniques to identify and remove data from people search sites, data brokers, and other platforms where your information may be leaked. Using a data removal service can help minimize the risk of identity theft and fraud, especially after a data breach. Additionally, these services often offer ongoing monitoring and alerts, informing you of new instances of your data appearing online and taking immediate action to remove it. Check out my recommended data deletion services here.
6. Sign up for identity theft protection services
Identity theft protection companies can monitor your personal information, such as your home ownership, social security number, phone numbers, and email addresses, and alert you if it is being used to open accounts. They can also help you freeze bank and credit card accounts to prevent further fraudulent use by criminals. Check out these tips and best choices for protecting yourself against identity theft.
7. Notify your contacts
If hackers gain access to your email or social media accounts, they may send spam or Phishing messages They may also pretend to be you and ask for money or personal information. You should warn your contacts and warn them not to open or reply to any suspicious or unusual messages from you.
Important points about the cart
The impact of a data breach may not be immediately visible, but once your data is exposed on the internet, it can be misused by bad actors. They can steal your hard-earned money, cause emotional and mental damage, and affect your loved ones. So, even if you don’t see the immediate impact of a data breach, take action. Make sure your devices are protected and keep a close eye on your bank accounts.
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