A data leak occurs when confidential or sensitive information (for example, personal data, PII, or trade secrets) is exposed. Data leaks usually happen because of companies’ poor data security and data protection strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common causes of data leaks include misconfigured databases, vulnerable software, accidental publication of sensitive data, email misdelivery (i.e., sending an email with confidential\/sensitive data to the wrong person), and misplaced devices (such as laptops and hard drives). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When stolen data is published on the dark web, that\u2019s also classified as a data leak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Data leaks can expose personal, financial, and other sensitive and confidential information, leading to reputational damage, identity theft, and other adverse outcomes for organizations and individuals affected by the leak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The unauthorized transmission of information from an organization to some external recipient. The recipients are normally unauthorized to receive the data leaked to them. – Cyberwire<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The two terms are often used interchangeably despite having different meanings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Data breaches are cyber security incidents where hackers gain unauthorized access to protected data. They\u2019re typically the result of a cyberattack and are intentional and malicious in nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Common causes of security breaches include malware (like ransomware attacks), social engineering (including phishing attacks), and human errors like weak password use. Malicious insiders can also cause data breaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, data leaks tend to be accidental, like when companies accidentally expose internal servers to the internet. In cases like these, it can be difficult to know how severe a data leak is and if cybercriminals\/other bad actors gained access to exposed information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, data leaks can also happen as a result of bad actors. Ransomware attackers are increasingly threatening companies they breach to leak the data they stole<\/a> as a way to put pressure on them to pay a ransom.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of the biggest data leaks of the 21st century (note that this is by no means a comprehensive list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the kind of information that is exposed (general user data, credit card numbers, etc.), a data leak can have severe consequences for individuals, including identity theft, financial loss, and emotional distress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If leaked information ends up on the dark web, it can also be used to carry out cyber breaches against companies and attacks against individuals, like targeted phishing scams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizations involved in a data leak might notify those affected. However, you can\u2019t count on that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you should periodically check the HaveIBeenPwned<\/a> website to see if you were part of any data leaks. You can also subscribe to HaveIBeenPwned breach notifications to get alerts when your information is involved in leaks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you were part of a data leak, you should ensure all your accounts have strong passwords (consider also using a password manager) and multi-factor authentication. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDifference Between a Data Leak and a Data Breach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Biggest Data Leaks of the 21st Century\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Impact of Data Leaks On Individuals\u2019 Privacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to See If Your Data Was Involved In a Data Leak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n