Types of Data Breaches in Cyber Security

Last Updated on 2 years by Touhid

Data breaches is a cyber security incident where data is accessed or stolen without user’s authorization. Every individuals or organizations should know what are the different types of data breaches and how data breaches happen. That’s why in this post, we are going to tell you different types of data breaches and how data breach happens in your computer system.

Types of Data Breaches

Data breaches is a cyber-attack which can occur anytime and in any organization from small to big organizations. There are different types of data breaches such as password breaches, ransomeware, phishing, malware and keylogger. The data can be sensitive such as login credentials, financial information’s, personal identification numbers and corporate information.

As we know that, data breaches can be either accidental or intentional. Data breaches can happen when hackers get unauthorized access your system or you have shared company information to others or on internet.

Now we will define each types of data breaches:

1. Password Breaches
2. Insider Threat
3. Keylogger Breach
4. Physical Data Breach
5. Phishing
6. Malware
7. Ransomware

1. Password Breaches

Password breach is a types of data breaches where the attackers guessing and stealing of insecure passwords in order to access the system. This type of data breach is called brute-force attack which is the very common method of hacking.

Your password can be breach if you use simple password such as your mobile no, personal identification number, date of birth which is acknowledged to cyber attackers.

Your password can also be breach if you save the password on a web browser or store your passwords on computer or mobile device. However, if your devices are ever lost then cyber attackers can easily get your password.

If your password is stolen or compromised by attackers then they can hack or damage your sensitive information. As a result, your data will breach without your acknowledgment.

So, create a strong password using the following combination to protect from data breach.

• The password length should at least 10 characters long.
• The password must have uppercase letters (A – Z), lowercase letters (a – z), numbers (0 – 9), and special character (such as @, #, $, %, ^, (,), &, *!).
• And change your password regularly (between 1 to 3 months)

2. Insider Threat

Insider threat is another type of data breaches where data is compromised by internal employees of an organization. For your kind information, employees are the security risk for any organization because they know all sensitive information of an organization.

They know where the information is stored and how to access the system. They can do illegal activities on your system such as steal data, can insert malicious software to hack the information or can give remote access to unauthorized user.

It is noted that data can also be breach because of careless employees of an organization. The careless employees are not aware about cyber security attack such as phishing, malware, dos attack, ransomeware and cross site scripting.

So, we can say that employees are the insider threats of an organization. That’s why every organization should prepare and implement a security protocol in order to protect from data breach by insider threat.

3. Keylogger Breach

Keylogger is a type of espionage technology of data security breaches that records user keystrokes to steal login username, passwords, credit card numbers and other sensitive data. This types of data breaches can record instant text, email, and any other information at any time using keyboard.

A Keylogger software need to installed on victim’s computer to perform data breach. This software has the ability to record everything you are typing made on that computer. Cyber attackers can insert or send you a email with malicious attachment file called Keylogger software.

If you think your computer has a keylogger software then your computer will perform slow, mouse will pause or don’t show up on computer screen.

You have to avoid downloading malicious attachments, programs, apps, files and avoid to clicking on vulnerable link to protect from keylogger attack. You should also use professional antivirus software such as:

• Bitdefender
• Norton
• Kaspersky
• Panda
• ESET
• Avast
• AVG

4. Physical Data Breach

Data can also breaches because of physical threat. In this data breaches, an attacker physically enter into an office or building to steal hard copy of data and computer files. The data can be documents, files, receipts and others sensitive hard copy of data.

The attackers can also take unauthorized access of desktop computers, laptops, hard drives and server. Basically, these types of devices are open and located in public areas so, the attackers can easily take access and steal the data. We know that, some organizations has secured or restricted their server room or data center to enter.

5. Phishing

Nowadays, phishing is the most common types of security breaches which attempt to gain sensitive data from you such as personal information, login credentials, corporate and financial information. This type of data breach can be happened in different ways such as email, text message, social media, websites or by phone.

The most common types of phishing attacks are as follows:

1. Email Phishing Attack
2. Spear Phishing
3. Whaling Attack
4. Vishing Attack
5. Pharming Attack

Email phishing is a common type cyber attack where attackers send a message to victims which appear to be trusted message. The email may contain a URL link and if you click on it then it will redirect to you a vulnerable website to hack your data.

Actually, the URL is seem to be valid link but if you hovering over the URL then it may redirect to you a malicious website to hack your sensitive data.

The email phishing can breach the following types data:

• Login credentials
• Social Security numbers
• Bank account numbers
• PINs (Personal Identification Numbers)
• Credit card numbers
• Your mother’s maiden name
• Your birthday etc.

You can consider the following tips to protect from phishing attack as well as data breaches.

• Delete suspicious email
• Use antivirus software
• Don’t download suspicious email attachments
• Don’t reply to Phishing Email
• Never click on suspicious email links
• Update your Software and
• Up to date Operating system

6. Malware

Malware or malicious software is a software program which is developed to extensive harm to data or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. Computer users are very familiar with this type of attack and data can breaches easily.

This type of malware is delivered via URL or attachment file over email and users need to click on the link or download file to execute the malware.

The malware is very dangerous to those organizations, who stores their sensitive data on computer and server. If your computer or server is infected by a malware then your data will breach without your acknowledgement.

You should follow the following tips to protect from malware and data breaches.

• Don’t download suspicious email attachments
• Never click on suspicious links
• Don’t download free software
• Up to date Operating system
• Use antivirus software

7. Ransomware

Ransomware is a types of data breaches where cyber attackers installed a malware to hack your data. This is a malicious software which main is to accessing your system in order to hacking or deleting your sensitive data.

After installing a malware on your computer, it blocks you to access your computer system and demands for money or bitcoin to get back access the system.

There are different types of ransomware attacks such as WannaCry, Petya, Cerber, Locky and CryptoLocker.

Ransomware can install on your computer through the following ways:

• When download and open a malicious file attachment
• Download and Install free software or application
• Visit a vulnerable website
• Click on malicious URL or image

Conclusion

Data breaches is a cyber security incident where data can be hacked without your acknowledgment. Every individuals or organizations should aware about data breaches and how to protect data breaches. In this post, we have shared out knowledge about different types of data breach in computer system. Hope the article “types of data breaches” will be helpful for you.