A data breach is where all your personal information gets exposed to people who don’t have authorization to it. It’s like you telling someone to keep a secret and they go and tell everyone!
Data breaches tend to occur due to weakness in:
How Does A Data Breach Work?
Research: attackers look for weaknesses in the company’s security measures
- People, Systems, Network
Attack: this is where the attacker utilizes their preferred technique to gain access to the data they want
Initial contact is made via:
- Network Attack: occurs when the attacker utilizes infrastructure weakness to obtain access to a company’s network
- Social Attack: an employee is either deceived into giving up credentials or baited with malicious software
- Exfiltration: if the hacker is able to successfully extract data once they have access, the breach is considered a success
Common Causes of Data Breach:
- Unpatched security vulnerabilities
- Human error [weak passwords, sensitive information spreading, taking phishing bait]
- Malware
- Insider misuse
- Physical theft of a device carrying sensitive data
Methods Used To Breach Data:
- Phishing
- Brute Force Attacks
- Malware
What Do Attackers Target In Data Breach Attacks?
- Weak credentials
- Stolen credentials
- Compromised assets
- Payment card fraud
Artifact: Data Breach Introduction and Protection
- Third party access
- Mobile devices
Practices To Avoid Data Breach:
- Patching + updating software
- High-grade encryption for sensitive data
- Enforcing BYOD security policies [ie: requiring devices to use business VPN or antivirus software]
- Utilize strong credential creation
- Lean towards MFA- multi-factor authentication
- Utilize a password manager
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