Top 5 Data Breaches Of 2024 And Key Takeaways

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Hodgson Consulting & Solutions

This year has been a turbulent one in cybersecurity, with several high-profile data breaches making headlines and costing companies millions. From healthcare providers to tech giants, no sector has been spared. But what does this wave of cyberattacks mean for small to midsize businesses? The reality is that you face many of the same vulnerabilities, and ignoring them could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Here’s a look at five of the most significant breaches of 2024 and how you can better protect your business.

Earlier this year, a hacking group announced that they had stolen 2.7 billion personal records from a public data-brokering and background-checking site. The stolen data included sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, addresses, and more. Although the data has started to appear on the dark web, experts are still working to verify the full scale of the breach, as the affected populations appear much smaller than the number of records claimed. However, it’s likely that many Social Security numbers have been compromised.

Since this breach affects so many people, everyone should take immediate steps to safeguard their identity. This includes monitoring your financial activity and freezing your credit to prevent identity theft. You can unfreeze your credit as needed when applying for loans or opening new accounts. Find out if you were exposed here!

Ticketmaster experienced a massive data breach between April and May, impacting over 560 million customers. Hackers gained access to personal and financial information, including names, emails, phone numbers, and payment details. The breach revealed major security flaws and raised questions about how customer data is handled. Many affected individuals have reported fraudulent transactions and identity theft, and Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, now faces even more legal challenges, alongside existing anticompetitive practices.

In February, Change Healthcare, a major healthcare technology company, suffered a devastating ransomware attack that exposed the personal information of over 145 million people. Compromised data included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical records, making this breach one of the most damaging in healthcare history. The incident forced many healthcare providers and insurers to reassess their cybersecurity strategies and invest in more stringent protections to prevent similar attacks in the future.

AT&T suffered a significant data breach in March, with hackers accessing personal information of approximately 73 million current and former customers. This giant breach included sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, account details, and passcodes. The breach was linked to data from as far back as 2019, which surfaced on the dark web in March 2024. This incident is part of a series of attacks on AT&T, following a 2023 breach that impacted 9 million users. In response, AT&T launched an investigation to contain the malware while maintaining services for current customers. The breach has also opened the company up to the possibility of multiple class action lawsuits.

While you may not manage millions of customers like AT&T, your business can still fall victim to cyberattacks. It’s crucial to protect your network by implementing robust security measures, training employees on password and phishing prevention, and maintaining an active cybersecurity strategy.

In May, Dell experienced a security breach when a hacker known as Menelik used a brute-force attack to infiltrate one of their resellers’ client portals. This breach exposed 49 million records containing sensitive data, including customer names, e-mail addresses, payment information, and account details. The incident sparked significant concerns about Dell’s cybersecurity practices, leading the company to issue a public apology and pledge to enhance its security protocols. In response to the breach, Dell has faced increased regulatory scrutiny and may encounter legal challenges as more details about the impact emerge.

We have several blogs on what to do if you’re affected by a data breach, but the most important action is to freeze your credit and check your bank account. Websites like www.haveIbeenpwnd.com can help you determine if your email or other information has been compromised in a breach.

While these breaches happened to major players, small to midsize businesses are far from off the radar. In fact, SMBs are increasingly targeted because they often lack the robust security measures that larger companies have. Cybercriminals know this, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: a single breach could cost your business thousands in downtime, lost data, and damaged reputation.

If these breaches have you thinking about your own vulnerabilities, that’s a good sign. Being proactive is the best defense. We’re offering a FREE Security Risk Assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities in your network. Our experts will assess your system’s vulnerabilities, help you patch the holes, and ensure your business is fortified against attacks.

Don’t wait until you’re the next headline – get your FREE Security Risk Assessment today! Click here to schedule or call our office at 847-906-5005.

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