2024 has been a wild ride for cybercriminals, with some major data breaches making waves and costing companies big bucks. From healthcare giants to project management platforms, no industry is safe from these threats. So, what does this mean for small to midsize businesses like yours? The same vulnerabilities are lurking, and the fallout from ignoring them can be catastrophic.
Let’s take a look at five of the most significant breaches of 2024 and share some tips on how your business can stay safe.
1. National Public Data
A few months back, a hacking group claimed to have snatched a staggering 2.7 billion personal records from a background checking site. This data includes sensitive info like Social Security numbers and addresses.
While some of this data is now floating around on the dark web, experts are still figuring out its accuracy since the total population of the countries involved is only about half a billion. But one thing’s clear: many Social Security numbers are likely compromised.
With so many people affected, everyone should be keeping a close eye on their financial and online identities—starting now! A smart move is to freeze your credit to guard against identity theft and only unfreeze it, when necessary, like when applying for loans or credit cards. Find out if you were exposed here!
2. Ticketmaster
A significant data breach at Ticketmaster exposed the personal and financial information of over 560 million customers. Hackers accessed the company’s database during April and May, stealing sensitive details such as names, e-mails, phone numbers and payment information. This breach exposed serious flaws in Ticketmaster’s security, raising concerns among consumers. Many victims reported unauthorized transactions and identity theft following the incident. Additionally, this breach added to the legal troubles of Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which was already facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice for anticompetitive practices.
2024 has been a wild ride for cybercriminals, with some major data breaches making waves and costing companies big bucks. From healthcare giants to project management platforms, no industry is safe from these threats. So, what does this mean for small to midsize businesses like yours? The same vulnerabilities are lurking, and the fallout from ignoring them can be catastrophic.
3. Change Healthcare
In February 2024, Change Healthcare was hit by a massive ransomware attack that exposed the personal information of over 145 million people. This breach, one of the largest in health care history, compromised sensitive data, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers and medical records. The incident had far-reaching effects on patients, health care providers and insurance companies, prompting many in the health care industry to reconsider their cybersecurity strategies to prevent similar attacks in the future.
4. AT&T
In March, AT&T was the victim of a data breach that compromised the 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 cyber-attacks. 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.
5. Dell
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.
What Does This Mean For You Personally?
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 tell you if your e-mail has been exposed in a breach.
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
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.