NEWS & UPDATES

Data breaches continue to happen more and more often, and there still doesn’t seem to be all that much being done to stop them.

We don’t need to remind companies about the worst data breaches; we’re sure they’re fresh in peoples’ minds having been splashed all over the news for so long.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest data breaches as ranked by cybersecurity journalist, Anas Baig.
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The Kansas Department of Commerce’s employment service has reportedly been hacked with almost a total of 6.5 million records stolen.

The agency’s job-seeking division Job Link Alliance-TS was breached and its databases were illegally accessed. As the organisation’s nature is to help people find and apply for jobs, they hold a wealth of information including individuals’ personal contact information, résumés (CVs) and social security numbers. In the U.S, the social security number is one of the most sensitive types of information that can be stolen. With a social security number, criminals can steal a person’s identity.
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According to Help Net Security, the cost of data breaches has declined by 10% from 2016 to 2017.

It’s bizarre given that all we ever read about and hear is the increasing costs of data breaches to businesses! We should also consider the fact that 2017 isn’t over yet!

The Ponemon Institute study (sponsored by IMB Security) conducts independent research on privacy, data protection and information security policy. They aim to inform companies and organisations on how to improve their data protection initiatives and therefore enhance their reputation as a trusted organisation who are being proactive in data protection.
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In what could be the country’s largest ever data breach incident, Jio Reliance may have compromised 100 million users’ records after information was allegedly stolen and put online.

The data in question was put on an independent website called Magicapk, but has since been removed.  The information reportedly included: Full names; Mobile contact numbers; Email addresses; Aadhaar numbers; and SIM card activation dates & times.

This is one huge data breach incident; if its authenticity is to be established…
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Hard Rock Hotels & Casino has been hit by a cyber-attack that occurred through a third-party hotel reservation system.

A cyber-attack is thought to have happened on 10^th August 2016 where a hotel reservation system, run by Sabre Hospitality Solutions SynXis, was breached. When the breach was discovered, Sabre informed Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos of the breach; but this wasn’t until June 2017.

That’s a long time to pass before a breach is identified…
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According to a new study led by a researcher at a U.S. business school, large teaching hospitals are more susceptible to data breaches.

The study, led by John Hopkins Carey Business School, unsurprisingly found that 30 of the hospitals in the study had experienced data breaches at least twice since 2009. The study published in the Jama Internal Medicine Journal found that in at least one of those healthcare institutions, over four million patients’ data was compromised.
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Although data breaches have been rife for decades, the number of incidents in the U.S. increased by 40% from 2015 to 2016, according to Bloomberg Technology. This figure may be reflective of U.K. trends as well.

Eva Casey Velasquez, Chief Executive Officer of the Identity Theft Resource Centre, highlighted the crux of data breaches:

“…we are extremely confident that breaches are undiscovered and under-reported, and we don’t know the full scope.”

However, she goes onto say that it isn’t the worst-case scenario they’re looking at; it’s the best-case.
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The healthcare industry has suffered massive breaches in both the U.K. and the U.S.; and it’s a growing problem.

Data breaches are happening all the time both here and across the pond in the U.S. In this story (which is based on figures from the U.S. but can be reflective of the U.K. too) the Breach Barometer found that nearly 1.5 million patient records were leaked in March of 2017.

The number of incidents in March reportedly rose by 2.5 times in comparison to January and February combined, with the largest incident involving nearly 700,000 patient records.
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In 2014, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) launched a mobile app for users to discreetly and conveniently report suspicious or illegal activity to the BART police. The ingenious app meant the police force’s watchful eye in monitoring illegal activity could be extended through helpful civilians.

The app was made by software developer ELERTS Corp. However, it seems the co-operative app may be used in reverse, as it has been alleged that the BART police can track and monitor users of the app…
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Can you trust anyone with your data nowadays?

The simple answer seems to be no when even the law enforcers don’t follow the rules. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) recently revealed that officers within the national agency were reportedly found to have accessed telecommunications data without a warrant.

According to the Guardian Australia, the AFP conducted 6 internal investigations in the past 18 months for allegations of professional misconduct against the officers who had access to telephone data.

Very worrying.
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Although there are multiple lawsuits being made against Yahoo, the technology company may face a worldwide class action.

Back in August 2013, Yahoo reportedly compromised more than 1 billion accounts making it “one of the biggest data breaches in digital history”. It was reported that an “unauthorised party” hacked into the email accounts. Yahoo have since theorised that the hacks were “state-sponsored”.
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The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) has called for a full inquiry after they were alerted to a data breach that may have put lives at risk.

The inquiry was prompted after a former investigating officer who worked at the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) was arrested for allegedly stealing sensitive information. The information is believed to have security details and identification of service police officers.

Needless to say, this data in the wrong hands could put lives in danger…
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