Top 10 cyber security breaches in the last 10 years
Cyber security breaches are becoming increasingly common, and it's important to be aware of the biggest ones so that you can protect yourself. Here's a look at the top 10 cyber security breaches in the last 10 years, with a focus on those that have affected the UK.
Dixons Carphone 2017-2018
In 2017, hackers gained access to the systems of Dixons Carphone, a major UK electronics retailer. The breach affected over 14 million customers, and exposed a wide range of personal information, including names, addresses, email addresses, and credit card numbers.
British Airways 2018
In 2018, British Airways was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 500,000 customers. The breach exposed names, addresses, email addresses, and payment card information.
Electoral Commission 2019
In 2019, the Electoral Commission, the UK's independent elections watchdog, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 40 million voters. The breach exposed names, addresses, dates of birth, and email addresses.
TalkTalk 2015
In 2015, TalkTalk, a major UK telecoms provider, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 150,000 customers. The breach exposed people’s names, wireless account numbers, phone numbers and email addresses.
Tesco Bank 2016
In 2016, Tesco Bank, a subsidiary of Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 2 million customers. The breach exposed names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Sainsbury's 2016
In 2016, Sainsbury's, another major UK supermarket chain, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 100,000 customers. The breach exposed names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Marriott International 2018
In 2018, Marriott International, a major hotel chain, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 500 million customers. The breach exposed names, addresses, email addresses, passport numbers, and credit card numbers.
Capital One 2019
In 2019, Capital One, a major credit card issuer, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 100 million customers. The breach exposed names, addresses, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and credit card numbers.
Equifax 2017
In 2017, Equifax, a major credit reporting agency, was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 147 million people worldwide, including over 15 million people in the UK. The breach exposed names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and dates of birth.
Yahoo 2013-2016
In 2013, Yahoo was hit by a cyber attack that affected over 3 billion users worldwide, including over 500 million users in the UK. The breach exposed names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, passwords, and security questions.
These are just a few of the many cyber security breaches that have occurred in the last 10 years. It's important to be aware of these breaches so that you can take steps to protect yourself. Here are a few tips.
Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for all of your online accounts.
Be careful about what links you click on and what attachments you open in emails.
Keep your software up to date, especially your operating system and web browser.
Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from cyber security breaches.
How to stay informed about cyber security breaches
There are a few things you can do to stay informed about cyber security breaches:
Follow cyber security experts on social media.
Subscribe to cyber security newsletters and blogs.
Visit the websites of government agencies and organizations that track cyber security breaches, such as the UK's National Cyber Security Centre.
By staying informed about cyber security breaches, you can be better prepared to protect yourself.
Regardless of how strong you think your protection is, there can always be more done to strengthen it. The cyber security landscape is changing every day, which is why it requires a dedicated amount of time and effort to keep your data safe.
Our team of experts are ready to chat about your cyber security strategy today. Reach out to use here.
Dixons Carphone breach
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/ncsc-advice-dixons-carphone-plc-customers#:~:text=On%2031%20July%202018%20Dixons,statement%20can%20be%20read%20here.
https://news.sky.com/story/dixons-carphone-fined-after-hackers-targeted-14-million-customers-11904695#:~:text=The%20Information%20Commissioner's%20Office%20
British Airways
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-48905907#:~:text=The%20ICO%20said%20the%20incident,data%20is%20just%20that%20%2D%20personal.
Electoral Commission
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/aug/08/uk-electoral-commission-registers-targeted-by-hostile-hackers#:~:text=Confidence%20in%20the%20UK's%20electoral,told%20for%20another%2010%20months.
Marriot International
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/business/marriott-data-breach.html#:~:text=On%20Friday%2C%20consumers%20learned%20the,up%20to%20500%20million%20guests.
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