Data leak occurs when sensitive information gets exposed to an unintended audience. This can be a cyberattack or simply a misconfiguration. It can expose personal details, financial records, and trade secrets. It can also lead to future data breaches and damage a company’s reputation.
The most dangerous part of data leaks is identity theft. Criminals can use stolen information to open accounts, buy goods, and even commit tax fraud. It’s an ongoing, highly destructive problem that can have a long-term effect on people’s lives. For companies, it can mean steep fines and legal fees.
A common cause of data leaks is insider threats, including disgruntled employees or former employees who still have access to systems. They may be motivated by financial gain, commercially valuable information, or revenge. But human error also plays a significant role. For example, a team member might accidentally send a confidential document to the wrong person or mistakenly share a folder with a wider audience than intended. Neglect and misconfiguration are other common causes.
When a company experiences a data leak, it needs to have a plan to assess the situation and respond quickly. Work with forensic experts to determine the scope of the breach. Analyze backup or preserved data, and review logs to identify who had access at the time of the breach. Depending on the outcome, it might make sense to limit their access going forward or to revoke it entirely. It’s also important to communicate with consumers and affected individuals as soon as possible.
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