Secure or Breached?
As technology is becoming more prevalent the manner in which we store information is changing. Gone are the days of information being stored into file cabinets. Instead information is stored in databases, a system of hard drives that stores information electronically normally accessible remotely. With this comes a rise in hackers and correspondingly a rise in security breaches, where hackers have access to sensitive information. Vulnerabilities are the root of all hacks. For businesses, they result in a decline in reliability. If an individual or a group wants to breach information, they will almost always find a way. With the increasing need for information databases, businesses have to weigh the risks of hacks. When an individual allows their information to be stored in a database, with or without their knowledge they are at risk. When this information enters the database, it becomes the business's responsibility to protect this information. With the amount of sensitive data being stored in databases, current cyber security measures and laws are not up to par.
Infamous Data Breaches
In 2015, there were 781 data breaches according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). One of these infamous breaches being with Anthem, otherwise known as BlueCross BlueShield insurance company. In this breach, hackers stole over 80 million social security numbers and other sensitive information of customers was obtained by the hackers. Similar to Anthem, Target experienced a breach. However, this breach was considerably worse. From November 27 until approximately December 15, hackers stole nearly 70 million credit card numbers from Target’s database. This security breach is widely known, as it happened during prime retail season for Target. This breach opened the public's eye to the cyber flaws. However, not all hackers involve the theft of financial