Here’s a deep dive into some of the most significant cybersecurity breaches in history, how they happened, and their far-reaching impacts.
Yahoo Breach (2013-2014)
1.
Over 3 billion accounts were affected in two separate breaches. The attackers exposed names, emails, phone numbers, and more.
Marriott Breach (2014-2018)
2.
500 million guests’ data, including passport numbers, was compromised over 4 years. This breach was discovered after Marriott acquired Starwood Hotels.
Equifax Breach (2017)
3.
147 million people had their personal info stolen due to a missed software patch. This breach reminds us: always update your software!
Sony Pictures Hack (2014)
4.
A politically charged attack linked to North Korea. Hackers leaked unreleased films and private emails. It shows the geopolitical impact of cyberattacks.
Anthem Breach (2015)
5.
78.8 million individuals' info, including Social Security numbers, was exposed. The healthcare sector needs to ramp up cybersecurity measures.
Target Breach (2013)
6.
Hackers accessed 40 million credit/debit card accounts via a third-party vendor. This breach highlighted the need for strong vendor management.
Adobe Breach (2013)
7.
Affecting 38 million users, hackers stole Adobe IDs, passwords, and source code. It highlighted the importance of encrypting data and protecting intellectual property.