2017 was a big year for data breaches. In total, there were 1,579 breaches that exposed more than 172 million records. That’s a lot of people who had their personal information exposed! In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the biggest data breaches of 2017 and what we can learn from them.
227 data breaches occurred in 2017
In 2017, there were 1,579 data breaches which exposed over 174 million records. This is a 45% increase in the number of data breaches from 2016.
The healthcare industry was the most affected by data breaches in 2017, with 43% of all data breaches occurring in this sector. The second most affected sector was business, with 19% of all data breaches occurring in this sector.
The top three causes of data breaches in 2017 were hacking (48%), malware (24%), and human error (18%).
Hacking was the most common cause of data breaches in 2017, with 48% of all data breaches being caused by hackers. Malware was the second most common cause of data breaches, accounting for 24% of all incidents. Human error was the third most common cause of data breaches, accounting for 18% of all incidents.
The average cost of a data breach in 2017 was $3.62 million. The largest data breach on record occurred in 2017, when Equifax announced that hackers had stolen the personal information of over 143 million people.
Data breaches can have a significant financial impact on organizations. In addition to the direct costs associated with investigating and cleaning up a breach, organizations can also suffer from
4.1 billion records were exposed in 2017
Data breaches are becoming more and more common, with over 1 billion records being exposed in 2017 alone. This is a huge problem for companies and individuals alike, as it puts their personal information at risk.
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from data breaches. First, you should make sure that all of your passwords are strong and unique. You should also avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
Second, you should keep an eye on your credit report and monitor for any suspicious activity. If you see anything that looks odd, you should report it to the credit bureau immediately.
Lastly, you should always be careful about what information you share online. Be careful about clicking on links from unknown sources, and never give out personal information unless you are absolutely sure that it is safe to do so.
Data breaches are becoming more and more common, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself. By being vigilant and taking precautions, you can decrease your chances of becoming a victim of one of these attacks.
The healthcare sector had the most data breaches in 2017
According to a report from the Identity Theft Resource Center, the healthcare sector had the most data breaches in 2017. This is not surprising, given the large amount of sensitive personal data that healthcare organizations collect and store.
There were a total of 1,579 data breaches in 2017, and healthcare accounted for 43% of those breaches. The next most common industries for data breaches were business (15%), education (9%), and government (8%).
The majority of data breaches in the healthcare sector were due to hacking or malware (64%), followed by employee error (19%) and physical theft (5%).
These numbers show that healthcare organizations need to be extra vigilant when it comes to protecting their patients’ data. They should invest in robust security measures, train their employees on best practices, and have a plan in place for responding to breaches.
The retail sector had the second most data breaches in 2017
The retail sector had the second most data breaches in 2017, with a total of 1,632 incidents. This is an increase of 16% from 2016.
The top three industries that experienced the most data breaches in 2017 were:
- Retail: 1,632 (16% increase from 2016)
- Healthcare: 1,527 (21% increase from 2016)
- Financial services: 1,244 (14% increase from 2016)
These industries accounted for more than half of all data breaches last year.
The total number of data breaches in 2017 was 2,207, which is a 43% increase from 2016. The total number of records breached was also up, from 4.2 billion in 2016 to 7.1 billion in 2017.
The largest data breach of 2017 was the Equifax breach, which exposed the personal information of 145 million people. Other notable breaches included the Yahoo breach, which affected 3 billion people, and the Uber breach, which affected 57 million people.
The education sector had the third most data breaches in 2017
The education sector had the third most data breaches in 2017, behind only the business and government sectors. This is according to a report from the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC).
There were a total of 1,172 data breaches reported in the education sector last year. This is an increase of 16% from the previous year.
The majority of data breaches in the education sector were due to hacking. Other causes included employee error, insider theft, and physical theft.
One of the largest data breaches in the education sector last year was at the University of Maryland. A hacker gained access to over 300,000 student and staff records. The records included Social Security numbers, birthdates, and addresses.
The ITRC recommends that educational institutions take steps to protect their data, such as encrypting sensitive information and implementing strong authentication methods.
Conclusion
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there were 1,579 data breaches in 2017. This is a staggering number, and it’s only increasing as we become more reliant on technology. The best way to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a data breach is to be aware of the risks and take steps to minimize your exposure. Stay informed about the latest security threats and make sure you are using strong passwords and up-to-date antivirus software. By taking these precautions, you can help ensure that your personal information stays safe.
