What is a Breach?
In cybersecurity, a breach refers to any unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. This can happen when a hacker gains access to confidential information through various methods, such as phishing, malware, or exploiting vulnerabilities in a system.
Types of Breaches
- Data breach – when sensitive data is accessed or stolen
- Network breach – when a hacker gains unauthorized access to a network
- Phishing breach – when attackers trick individuals into providing confidential information
Examples of Breaches
An example of a breach is the Equifax data breach in 2017, where hackers gained access to the personal information of over 147 million people. Another example is the WannaCry ransomware attack, which infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide by exploiting a vulnerability in the Windows operating system.
Case Studies
In 2020, the Marriott International hotel chain experienced a breach that exposed the personal information of 5.2 million guests. This breach was a result of unauthorized access to the company’s Starwood reservation database.
Statistics
According to a report by IBM, the average cost of a data breach was $3.86 million in 2020. This cost includes expenses related to investigation, notification, and recovery from the breach.
