As I mentioned previously, we live large portions of our lives online.
Whether it’s on our favorite social media platform, making purchases online, or completing an online application… the bottom line is, our personal information is at risk.
Read Our Online Safety & Security Post Here
The argument can be made that personal information is more precious than gold in our society.
Given that, a logical assumption would be that the websites, social media, and other platforms would take our security seriously.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case…
Data breaches which leak your personal information happen almost daily.
We often hear of major data breaches from large companies and governments.
These databases that store our most vital information are the target of hackers, and because of these breaches, millions of people’s personal, most sensitive data is affected.
So right now you may be wondering if YOUR information has been compromised…
The likelihood is high if you have been involved with any of these major data breaches that have taken place in recent years.
4 Largest & Most Recent Online Security Breaches
Equifax
Equifax was hacked back in 2017.
If you’ve tried to get a line of credit or checked your credit score, you know that Equifax is one of the major personal data aggregators of people’s private information.
Talk about irony…
Here is a group that is allowed to collect information on all of us… then provide that personal financial information to others… and here THEY are, putting OUR most sensitive data at risk.
It might be funny… if it didn’t ruin the lives of millions of people.
The Equifax security breach exposed the private information from over 100 million Americans to the hands of hackers.
As if that wasn’t bad enough… we, as consumers, still have very little control over the information that companies such as Equifax are allowed to collect about us.
Both of these issues are addressed by the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
National Public Data
While some breaches target a specific company, others are so vast they defy comprehension.
In 2024, a background check company called National Public Data suffered a monumental breach.
Hackers accessed and leaked a database containing the personal information of a staggering 2.9 billion people.
This wasn’t just names and emails; it included Social Security numbers, addresses, and detailed family histories.
This breach is a terrifying reminder of how much data is aggregated by data brokers [LINK: DATA BROKERS] you may have never even heard of, and how a single point of failure can impact nearly every adult in a country.
AT&T – The Supply Chain Attack
You might think a telecom giant like AT&T would have impenetrable security.
In 2024, they suffered a massive breach affecting over 100 million customers.
But here’s the crucial point: AT&T wasn’t directly hacked… the breach originated from a third-party cloud platform they used.
This is a modern-day supply chain attack.
Hackers found a vulnerability in a smaller vendor to gain access to a massive target.
It proves that your data isn’t only as safe as the company you trust, but as safe as the weakest link in their entire network of partners.
The stolen data included phone numbers, call records, and sensitive personal information.
These types of attacks continue… as I update this post… the crypto space is currently reeling from another supply chain attack with Ledger hardware wallets… you can learn more about that in this Matrix Money episode
Poshmark
Poshmark is a popular website many use to buy and sell clothing… it was also the target of hackers attempting to steal customer information.
Unlike the other breaches, Poshmark did not lose its customers’ billing information… rather, the stolen information included customers’ full names, social media accounts, and most dangerously, their passwords.
Why is a data breach that includes customer’s passwords so serious?
Quite frankly, because as a whole, we are lazy… when it comes to passwords, we don’t want to or just simply can’t remember 100’s of different passwords.
So what do we do?
We reuse a few different passwords all the time… so a breach of one of those passwords, along with the digital footprint we leave online, becomes a treasure trove for hackers.
Read About Passwords & Password Management Here [LINK: PASSWORDS]
Ransomware – The Modern Extortion
Right now you are probably thinking… ransomware is not a ‘company’ that was breached… and you would be right.
Although not a single attack, all levels of government throughout the United States and across the globe, as well as major companies, have been victims of ransomware.
In a nutshell, ransomware is a particular type of cyber attack that encrypts and holds a user’s critical files until a monetary ransom is paid.
In recent years, these attacks have become incredibly sophisticated, targeting critical infrastructure, hospitals, and major corporations.
These attacks cost companies and governments millions, not only in ransom payments but in the total cost of overhauling their infrastructure.
Read About Your Options If You’ve Been a Victim of a Breach Here [LINK: VICTIM]
Future Hacks
Even with everything we’ve listed here, we have barely scratched the surface of the data breaches that have taken place in recent years.
So, the question becomes… what does the future hold?
While no one has a crystal ball, it’s safe to say that breaches to personal data online will only continue, especially as more data moves to the cloud and AI systems create new attack surfaces.
In this case, the old adage… ‘the best offense is a good defense’ seems apt.
The time is now to take proactive steps…
Consider using a service to monitor if your data has been exposed on the dark web. Run a digital footprint scan to see what’s out there… and most importantly… adapt the needed changes to your online activity and employ the best online security measures you can afford.
To help you get started, I’ve compiled the tools I use for monitoring and protection on the My Toolbox Page.
Proactive Defense
Understanding the reality of these breaches is the first step.
The second is taking action.
You cannot rely on corporations to protect your data… your security is your responsibility.
By implementing strong, unique passwords, using a VPN, and being vigilant about where your information goes, you can build a digital fortress that protects you from the inevitable next breach.
Don’t wait for the headline to find out you’ve been compromised.
