Do YOU Know The Different Types of Data Breaches?

We all know what a data breach is, but do you know how many ways a breach can happen? Here are some of the most popular techniques currently being used.

• Physical Breach -The name says it all, a physical breach involves the loss or theft of items that contain sensitive information. The most common types of physical threats are:
  – Natural Events – Floods, earthquakes, and tornados etc.
  – Environmental Conditions – Such as lightning, extreme temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rains.
  – Intentional Acts – Vandalism, arson, theft, internal bad actors etc.
• Digital Breach – These breaches involve theft by technology without the knowledge or authorization of the system’s owner. The most common way is through malware or viruses that compromise your hardware and/or software.
• Skimming – Skimming allows criminals to quickly read your data without even realizing it has happened, commonly used at the ATM or point of sale terminal. The most common skimming methods are:
  – Devices installed inside payment terminals to capture chip data.
  – External device designed to copy data from the card’s magnetic stripe.
  – Fraudulent card reader or keyboard overlaid on terminals to capture data.
• Recording Keystrokes – This happens when your system has been infected by keyloggers which record everything you type on your computer. This let’s the hacker access your passwords witch in turn lets them access everything!
• Password Guessing – This type of breach is called a brute-force attack and is the most common method used by hackers. Don’t use passwords that contain your street address, kids/pet’s name or birthday.
• Phishing – Phishing attacks come from third-party hackers who create sites that look incredibly genuine. This is done by mirroring a familiar company and through email. A couple common schemes are:
   – An email stating your password has “expired” and asks you to log in and update it through a bogus link that has been provided. This seems to have amped up in the last few weeks.
   – An email from someone you work with asking for money. This has become very common in the workplace. The scammer will state that you are to wire or deposit money ASAP and then provide a bogus link.  Always check with the person or institution that is named in these emails before transferring any funds.