To better understand what is a data breach, let’s look at some examples:
Target data breach: In 2013, hackers gained access to Target’s payment system and stole the credit and debit card information of more than 40 million customers.
Equifax data breach: In 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the United States, suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people, including names, birth dates, social security numbers, and addresses.
Yahoo data breaches: In 2013 and 2014, Yahoo experienced two separate data breaches that affected all of its 3 billion user accounts. The breaches exposed users’ names, email addresses, birth dates, and phone numbers.
Marriott International data breach: In 2018, Marriott International announced a data breach that exposed the personal information of up to 500 million customers who had stayed at the hotel chain’s Starwood properties.
Uber data breach: In 2016, Uber suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 57 million customers and drivers, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Capital One data breach: In 2019, Capital One suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of over 100 million customers, including names, addresses, credit scores, and social security numbers.
These are just a few examples of data breaches, but they demonstrate the serious impact that data breaches can have on individuals and companies alike.