What is a data breach?
A data breach occurs when sensitive, confidential, or protected information is accessed, stolen, or exposed without authorization. This can involve personal data (names, addresses, passwords, credit card numbers), corporate data (trade secrets, contracts), or government records. Breaches can be intentional — caused by hackers or malicious insiders — or accidental, due to human error or misconfigured systems.
Can I prevent a data breach?
While you can’t control the security of every company holding your data, you can reduce your risk and impact:
- For Individuals: Use breach alert services (like “Have I Been Pwned”), change passwords immediately if a service is compromised, and avoid oversharing personal information online.
- For Organizations: Implement layered security (firewalls, intrusion detection, endpoint protection), train staff on phishing and social engineering, apply security patches quickly, and conduct regular penetration testing.