Different Types of Data Breaches

We all are playing with data these days. Data has become an integral part of our lives, from personal information like medical records and financial details to professional ones like client lists and employee files. Unfortunately, with the increase in data usage, the chances of data breaches have also increased manifold. 

A data breach can be defined as unauthorized access to data that compromises the information’s security, confidentiality, or integrity. In simple words, it is a theft of digital information. If you don’t want to be trapped in the headlines of data breaches, you must have proper security service Corpus Christi TX measures in place. 

But, before that, you must know about different types of data breaches to better understand how to protect your data.

Types of Data Breaches 

• Password Guessing

In this type of data breach, hackers use different techniques to guess victims’ passwords. First, they use publicly available information like birth dates, mother’s maiden name, etc., to guess the passwords. Hackers also use brute force attacks in which they try different combinations of characters until they get the correct password.

If one of the guessing techniques works, the hacker gains access to the victim’s account. From there, they can easily steal sensitive information like credit card details, email addresses, etc.

• Phishing

Phishing attacks are the most common types of data breaches. In these attacks, hackers send fake emails or text messages that look like they are from a legitimate source. The email or message contains a link that takes the victim to a fake website.

On the fake website, the victim is asked to enter sensitive information like credit card details, social security numbers, etc. Once the victim enters the data, it is sent to the hacker. These attacks are difficult to detect as the emails and messages look completely real.

• Malware Attacks

An umbrella term, malware, includes all the malicious software like viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc., that are designed to damage or gain access to a computer system. The primary way to prevent these attacks is to install anti-virus and anti-malware software on your devices.

Some businesses will request that clients or potential customers only send emails without attachments, placing them in the body of the message. It prevents any virus or malware from being unknowingly downloaded. You can protect your business from malware attacks with proper data security service.

• Denial-of-Service Attack

A DoS attack involves flooding the bandwidth or resources of a network so that it becomes unavailable for legitimate users. This attack forces the network to shut down as it cannot handle the traffic. 

The attacker can target networks like email servers, websites, or entire networks. These attacks are usually carried out using botnets, a network of infected computers that the attacker controls. A lot of times, these botnets are used to launch DDoS attacks.

• Recording Keystrokes

Cybercriminals can use malicious software to record the keystrokes of a victim. This type of data breach is known as keylogging. The data gets recorded when you type on the keyboard and then passed on to the attacker.

The recorded data can be used to access sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, etc. To prevent this type of data breach, you should install a keylogger detector on your computer.

• Ransomware 

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your computer files so you cannot access them. The attacker then claims a ransom from the victim so that they can decrypt the files.

This type of data breach is difficult to prevent as the attacker can easily gain access to your computer if you click on a malicious email attachment or visit a malicious website. The best way to protect your data is to keep a backup of all your important files so that you can easily recover them if they are encrypted by ransomware.

• Stolen Information

You think it’s ridiculous that anyone would want to steal your data, but it happens more often than you think. Humans are capable of making errors, and sometimes those errors can lead to data breaches and cost you thousands of dollars.

We all know how Apple had even fallen prey when a careless employee left one of Apple’s newest iPhones in an unlocked status, resulting in the public release of its prototype. Within a few hours, pictures and videos of the new device were being passed around online, and Apple was scrambling to do damage control.

Having an employee who is careless with the company’s information can be just as costly. It only takes one person to leave a laptop in a cab or download sensitive information to a personal email account to cause a data breach.

Conclusion

Data breaches can happen to any business, no matter how big or small. By being aware of the different types of data breaches, you can take steps to protect your business from them. You should contact a data security service provider if you think your business is at risk of a data breach. They can help you assess the risk and take steps to protect your data.