6 of the Biggest Data Breaches of 2017

Last year, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center hackers accessed over 171 million records. The report also noted there were nearly 1,120 breaches in the US. Unfortunately, many reputable companies were hacked. In this article, we share a list of six of the most notable data breaches of 2017.

1)Equifax
Equifax, credit report agency, had a massive data breach in 2017. The agency exposed the information of an estimated 145.5 million people. The hack took place during May through July of 2017. The hackers accessed people’s names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and driver’s license numbers. In some cases, they stole credit card information. Equifax’s Canadian and British customers were also affected by the breach.

2)Experian
Another credit reporting agency, Experian was also a victim of a data breach. Alteryx, a marketing analytics firm was at the core of the incident. Unfortunately, the firm left an online database vulnerable. The breach exposed information from 123 million households.

3)Uber
Uber was hacked in 2016 but did not tell regulators or users until 2017. Uber hid the problem by secretly paying hackers $100,000. Hackers stole personal data including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and driver’s license numbers. Uber has agreed to pay the FTC $20 million to settle charges.

4)Deloitte
Consulting giant, Deloitte, fell victim to a hack. For months, the accountancy firm suffered a breach that was unnoticed. According to the Guardian, the hackers accessed emails and plans from some of their high profile clients. The hackers attacked Deloitte’s email server to access the private files. Hackers may have also accessed IP addresses, architectural diagrams, passwords, usernames, and health information.

5)Verizon
In a bizarre turn of events, hackers stole information from Verizon’s anti-hacker unit. Hackers accessed the records of 1.5 million enterprise customers. The stolen records and Verizon vulnerabilities were then sold on the dark web. The criminals sold files at a price tag of $10,000 a piece.

6)Virgin America/ Alaska Airlines
Early last year, Virgin America faced a data breach that possibly affected 3,100 employees. Also, hackers may have accessed 110 employee’s personal records. After suspicious online activity, the airline notified authorities and hired a cybersecurity expert.

How does your organization secure your data? The best way to stay safe is to develop a detailed strategic plan. Also, keep your decommissioned technology secure by partnering with a trusted ITAD provider. Liquid Technology provides auditable and secure data destruction services.