Recent Data Breaches

1. MOVEit Data Breach (2023)

What was taken? Personal and sensitive data from multiple organizations, including financial information, social security numbers, and other personal identifiable information (PII).

Exploits Used: Attackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer file transfer tool. This allowed them to gain unauthorized access and exfiltrate data.

Preventative Actions:

• Regular Software Updates: Ensuring that all software is regularly updated to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
• Vulnerability Management: Conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Implementing robust IDS to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real-time.

2. MGM Resorts Data Breach (2023)

What was taken? Personal information of customers, including names, contact details, and hotel stay information.

Exploits Used: The attackers used social engineering techniques to gain access to MGM’s systems. They contacted help desks and impersonated employees to reset passwords and gain access.

Preventative Actions:

• Employee Training: Regular training for employees on recognizing and responding to social engineering attacks.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing MFA for all sensitive accounts to add an extra layer of security.
• Access Controls: Strict access controls and regular audits to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information.

3. Latitude Financial Data Breach (2023)

What was taken? Data including driver’s license numbers, financial statements, and other sensitive personal information.

Exploits Used: Attackers used a sophisticated phishing attack to gain initial access to the network, followed by lateral movement to exfiltrate data.

Preventative Actions:

• Email Filtering: Deploying advanced email filtering solutions to detect and block phishing emails.
• Security Awareness Training: Conducting ongoing security awareness programs to educate employees on identifying phishing attempts.
• Network Segmentation: Segmenting the network to limit lateral movement and containing breaches to smaller areas.

4. Capita Data Breach (2023)

What was taken? Information including customer data, financial records, and potentially sensitive internal communications.

Exploits Used: Attackers exploited unpatched software vulnerabilities and used malware to gain access to and exfiltrate data from Capita's systems.

Preventative Actions:

• Patch Management: Implementing a rigorous patch management process to ensure all software is up-to-date.
• Endpoint Protection: Utilizing advanced endpoint protection solutions to detect and prevent malware infections.
• Incident Response Plan: Developing and regularly testing a comprehensive incident response plan to quickly respond to and mitigate the effects of a breach.

5. SolarWinds Orion Breach (2020)

What was taken? Data from numerous government agencies and private companies, including sensitive and classified information.

Exploits Used: The attackers inserted a backdoor (SUNBURST) into the Orion software updates, which were then distributed to thousands of customers, giving attackers access to their networks.

Preventative Actions:

• Software Supply Chain Security: Implementing stringent security measures for software supply chains, including code reviews and third-party audits.
• Zero Trust Architecture: Adopting a zero trust security model to verify every attempt to access network resources regardless of where the request originates.
• Enhanced Monitoring: Deploying advanced monitoring solutions to detect unusual network activity and potential indicators of compromise.

Equifax Data Breach (2017)

What was taken? Sensitive personal information of approximately 147 million individuals, including names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some cases, driver's license numbers and credit card information.

Exploits Used: Attackers exploited a vulnerability in Apache Struts, an open-source web application framework which allowed attackers to execute remote commands on Equifax's servers, gaining access to sensitive data.

Preventative Actions:

• Regular Software Updates: Ensuring that all software and frameworks are regularly updated to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities. The Apache Struts vulnerability exploited in this breach had a patch available months before the breach.
• Vulnerability Management: Conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses. Implementing a robust vulnerability management program to track and remediate vulnerabilities promptly.
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Implementing advanced IDS and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real-time. These systems can help identify unusual behavior that might indicate a breach.
• Encryption of Sensitive Data: Encrypting sensitive data both in transit and at rest to protect it from being easily accessible if a breach occurs.
• Employee Training: Regular training for employees on recognizing and responding to potential security threats, including phishing attacks and social engineering tactics.
• Incident Response Plan: Developing and regularly testing a comprehensive incident response plan to quickly respond to and mitigate the effects of a breach. This includes having a clear protocol for communication and remediation efforts following a breach.