Different types of data breaches will affect what type of protection you implement at your company. Understanding each can help you better prepare for an attack. What Are The Most Common Types of Data Breaches? The most common types of data breaches are: Ransomware Phishing Malware Keystroking Human Error Physical Theft Malicious Insiders What Is a Data Breach? A data breach is a security incident or cyberattack that results in a security violation. This usually encompasses identity theft, stolen data, unauthorized access or acquisition of data, ransomware, illegal exposure, or disclosure of confidential information. While data breaches are typically instigated with malicious intent, a data breach can also occur due to carelessness, negligence, or sheer incompetence. Data breaches are sensitive matters because, in addition to potentially involving espionage and the theft of intellectual property, they put peoples’ personally identifiable information (PII) in jeopardy. Moreover, data breaches exact both a reputational and material impact on the impacted organization. IBM reports that the already steep cost of a data breach rose from about $4.24 million in 2021 to $4.35 million in 2022, representing a 2.6% increase. In the past decade, there has been a never-ending epidemic of data breaches. As a result, state legislatures and government agencies have responded with various legal frameworks to check this rampant criminality. Laws & Regulations Against Data Breaches According to the National Council of State Legislators, all 50 states in the United States, including its territories and the District of Columbia have enacted security breach notification laws. This compendium of rules applies to both government and the private sector. Other entities that fall under the umbrella of these laws include businesses, especially data or information brokers. As a result, any enterprise conducting business in the United States must not only familiarize themselves with federal regulations (for example, the Data Breach Notification Act) as they pertain to data breach laws but also understand the patchwork of state legislations, including those relating to industry-specific regulations. Breaking Down the Different Types of Data Breaches Data breaches occur due to a variety of reasons or circumstances. Here is a breakdown of the most common methods, means, and vectors through which they typically occur. Ransomware Ransomware is one of the most pernicious types of data breaches around. It has become very pervasive very fast, with the US suffering approximately 7 ransomware attacks each hour. It is a particularly formidable attack because it stems from cryptovirology, which is an extortion-based attack based on combining cryptographic technology with malware. Ransomware encrypts the data of the target organization systems or victim’s computer(s) to block access to it until a ransom is paid for the release of its decryption key. Hackers normally target crucial files, rendering them unusable so that organizations are placed in a difficult position where paying the ransom is the easiest option to follow. Colonial Pipeline, the largest American oil pipeline system, was forced to pay hackers roughly $5 million to unlock its IT systems in 2021 because a ransomware attack resulted in the shutdown of its critical fuel pipeline. In addition to encryption, attackers typically use exfiltration tools as a double extortion tactic by threatening to publicly post sensitive, stolen data. Some of the best defenses against ransomware include: Maintaining proper and up-to-date backups. Staying up-to-date by immediately patching software vulnerabilities. Ensuring devices and applications are equipped with current, cutting-edge security features. Educating people against clicking on unsafe or unfamiliar links. Proactive preparation by having an actionable plan in place in the event of a ransomware attack. Phishing Phishing campaigns usually involve social engineering attacks meant to deceive people into giving up sensitive information like access credentials and credit card details. Phishing attacks typically use emails, purportedly from reputable organizations as a sleight of hand, to send fraudulent messages to unsuspecting targets. However, the deception can also be executed via phone or SMS. The general strategy is to trick the individual into clicking a malicious link or attachment embedded in the message. To entice people to click, attackers use several strategies like presenting fake invoices and free coupons, bogus mandates to change passwords, and sham requests to confirm personal information. In addition to email phishing, other types of phishing include spear, whaling, smishing, and vishing; they’re all designed to trick people into revealing personal information that can be used for fraudulent data purposes. Spear phishing is a highly targeted attack crafted for an individual or group of people in an organization. Because they are very tailored to the personal details of the victim or group, they appear legitimate, something which can make them successful. Whaling is a spear phishing attack that targets a large group of high-profile targets, such as the executives in the c-suite of an organization(s). To prevent phishing, do the following: Install anti-malware software Educate staff on recognizing fake requests and dubious links Apply free anti-phishing add-ons Protect corporate accounts by using multi-factor authentication Malware Malware, short for malicious software, is a general term to describe intrusive programs created with ill intent. Malware can cause harm in a variety of ways, but it mainly starts by first infecting a computer, network, or server. Depending on their signature and payload, they seek to propagate themselves throughout system infrastructure and devices. There are a variety of symptoms that can indicate that a computer has been infected with malware. For example, the system starts slowing down and experiences frequent crashes and/or an unexplained spike in internet traffic. Some users might encounter abrupt browser setting changes, loss of access to files, and antivirus products suddenly stopping. Malware comes in different forms, such as the following: Viruses Worms Trojan virus Spyware Ransomware Adware Fileless malware Emerging strains of malware have become more sophisticated. To evade detection, some advanced persistent threat (APT) actors employ obfuscation techniques, like using web proxies to hide their IP address, including the capacity to deceive signature-based detection tools. They typically use command and control techniques to coordinate attacks. In addition to installing anti-virus and vulnerability scanning to detect anomalous network behavior, organizations should adopt zero-trust security instead of the ineffective traditional IT architecture with their “castle-and-moat” approach. Keystroke Logging Keystroke logging is a cyber attack that uses a tool or malware called a keylogger to capture and record user activities; for instance, the keystrokes entered to log in or gain access to a system. Its name derives from the fact that the key presses or strokes are logged into a file. Alternatively, an attacker can use a command and control infrastructure that enables the attacker to see the keystrokes entered in real-time. This is a simple yet potent cyberattack for the straightforward reason that most computer interaction is mediated through the keyboard. As a result, keystroking can yield a treasure trove of information like username/password credentials, including credit card and banking information.