Data leaks are often crimes of opportunity, and there is no actual attack intended, although your data is exposed all the same. Data leaks and breaches sound very similar and usually have the same result — someone gaining access to information they weren't supposed to see. For example, a hacker may stumble across a vulnerability in a system, or a software program might accidentally let unauthorized users view secure information due to a glitch or malfunction. On the other hand, a data breach is a deliberate attack against a web service, company, or organization and is intended to steal data. Even though the method is different, the threat to your private information is the same, and you should protect yourself against data breaches and data leaks.