The 7 Biggest Data Breaches of 2021

Data is breached when information is compromised or removed from a database without the host’s knowledge or consent. For example, a security breach might happen to a small business or a huge corporation. Credit card details, client data, trademarks, and national security secrets are examples of confidential, proprietary, or private information that might be stolen.

The consequences of a security breach can include harm to the targeted company’s reputation as a result of a supposed “massive betrayal,” as well as financial damages for victims and their clients if relevant documents are taken.

Personally, identifiable information was perhaps the most compromised record category, followed by financial data, according to the total security breach events reported during January 2005 till April 2015.

How serious is a data breach?

Data breaches may very well be much more than a mere fright; they have the potential to alter the path of life. When sensitive information is revealed, it may cause significant problems for companies, governments, and individuals. Hackers can access you via the internet, Wireless, texts, or the web services you operate, either online or offline.

It is important to remember that you are extremely vulnerable while using public Wi-Fi. Hackers can easily access your personal data and in this case we recommend using a VPN with anonymous IP . In that case you will be protected and no one can steal your personal data.

A tiny flaw can lead to a large data leak if it is not appropriately addressed. Unfortunately, many people do not pay enough attention to contemporary security risks because they are uninformed of how they function.

Hence, depending upon the nature of info involved, the implications might include:

• Database deletion or corruption.
• Private information leakage.
• Theft of intellectual property.
• Regulatory obligations to notify and perhaps pay individuals impacted.

Seven record-breaking Data breaches 2021

1. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram

11 January 2021: An unprotected database at social arks, a Chinese digital marketing firm, disclosed account information and Personally Identifiable Information of at the minimum of 214 million LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram users. Users’ names, contact information, email addresses, account links, login details, Facebook profiles, profile descriptions, follower and interaction logistics, area, Messenger ID, website URL, job description, social media profile of LinkedIn, networked social media login names, and company names are among the data exposed by each platform.

2. Pixlr

A hacker obtained access to a database holding 1.9 million personal data of users belonging to Pixlr, which is a free web photo-editing app. The data was stolen at the exact moment as the 123RF hack, which resulted in the exposure of more than 83 million user data. Personal emails, usernames, password hashes, user nationality, when they subscribed for the magazine, and other confidential material were among the details stolen.

3. U.S. Cellular

28 January 2021: Hackers are reportedly capable of turning U.S. Cellular store personnel into installing malicious malware upon corporate devices through a planned attack upon this fourth-largest wireless provider in the United States. The malware gave wireless connectivity to the firm’s devices as well as the customer relationship management (CRM) program, which contained account information of 4.9 million clients after it was downloaded. According to the firm, 276 clients were affected and alerted of the breach of security. The hacker gained access to identities, locations, PINs, mobile numbers, service contracts, and invoicing statements while accessing accounts of the customers in the CRM.

4. Nebraska medicines

On Feb 10, 2021, a malware breach enabled hackers to obtain and duplicate files holding the medical and personal details of 219,000 patients. Identities, addresses, birth dates, healthcare record numbers, healthcare insurance information, health professional notes, laboratory test results, MRI, diagnosis details, treatment information, and prescription information, as well as a limited amount of Security Numbers and driver’s license numbers, were among the data accessed, according to the health network.

5. Microsoft Exchange

3 March 2021: Four security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Servers email software have been targeted by cybercriminals. The attackers gained access to user’s email accounts, including at least 30,000 entities across the U. S., including small companies, municipalities, cities, and state authorities, by exploiting vulnerabilities on the Database server. The attack grants hackers complete remote access over the systems in question, enabling security breaches and other penetration. Microsoft has published security fixes to address these issues, and consumers are urged to install them as early as possible.

6. Volkswagen and Audi

15th of June 2021: A third-party advertising services provider leaked private details of 3.3 million Volkswagen & Audi customers. Their name, postal address, email account, and telephone number were all revealed. Vehicle registration numbers make, model, year, color, and customization packages could also be included in the data, as well as details on an automobile that’s been sold, leased, or enquired about.

7. Microsoft Power Apps

24th of August 2021: At a minimum, 38 million data were exposed due to a misconfiguration in Microsoft Power Apps, a Microsoft software. American Airlines, J.B Hunt, Microsoft, and the gov’t of Maylands, New York City, and Indiana, were all affected by the data breaches. COVID-19 immunization statuses, security numbers, and personal emails are among the information made public.

How to protect yourself from security breaches?

There are far more areas for content to sneak through as our phones and computers gadgets become increasingly connected. New technologies have been developed at a quicker rate than we could safeguard them. IoT devices demonstrate how we are constantly prioritizing convenience over protection. Several “smart home” gadgets have significant weaknesses, such as an absence of encryption, which hackers exploit. We will likely see the problem develop as new digital goods, services, and technologies are being employed with less security testing.

Even though the underlying technology is flawless, some consumers will likely continue to have terrible digital habits.

A single person is all that it needs to breach a site or network. You’re almost surely at risk if you don’t have complete security at the user or business levels. Knowing how a security breach happens is the first step in protecting oneself and others.

Here are a few suggestions for you to stay protected from data breaches like recent ones.

1. Across all devices, install security software such as an anonymous IPaddress
2. Firefox is an excellent browser to use.
3. Change the password on your Wi-Fi router.
4. Encryption and a firewall should be enabled.
5. Instead of using passwords, use sentences.
6. Unless you’re using a VPN like VeePN, never utilize public Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
7. avoid using the debit card online

Data breaches are inevitable as the technology is pacing with a never-ending speed. It is vital to take extra precautions to stay safe with your confidential information. The key is getting a lesson from the recent data breaches that happened in 2021 and then focusing on how you can avoid the data breach.