The digital era has witnessed some of the most significant data breaches, impacting millions of people and businesses worldwide. This blog delves into the ten biggest data breaches of the last decade, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.
1. Yahoo (2013-2014): Yahoo’s data breaches in 2013 and 2014 are among the largest in history, affecting over 3 billion user accounts. This massive breach exposed user names, email addresses, and passwords.
2. Facebook (2019): In 2019, Facebook suffered a major breach where 540 million user records, including account names and IDs, were exposed on unprotected servers.
3. Equifax (2017): The Equifax breach compromised the personal information of 147 million people, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses.
4. Marriott International (2018): Approximately 500 million guests were affected by the Marriott data breach, exposing personal details like passport numbers and credit card information.
5. Adult Friend Finder (2016): This adult dating site breach impacted more than 412 million accounts, exposing personal information and sexual preferences.
6. eBay (2014): eBay’s 2014 breach affected 145 million users. Hackers accessed names, addresses, dates of birth, and encrypted passwords.
7. Heartland Payment Systems (2009): Over 130 million credit and debit card numbers were stolen from Heartland Payment Systems, making it one of the largest breaches targeting payment card data.
8. Target Corporation (2013): Target’s breach affected 110 million customers, with hackers gaining access to credit card information and personal data.
9. Uber (2016): In 2016, hackers stole the information of 57 million Uber users and drivers, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers.
10. Capital One (2019): The Capital One breach in 2019 exposed the data of over 100 million customers, including Social Security and bank account numbers.
These data breaches serve as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity. Both individuals and organizations must prioritize protecting personal and sensitive data to prevent such incidents in the future.