11 Biggest Data Breaches in the World

Are you aware of the biggest data breaches in the world?

Data breaches are an ever-growing concern in today’s digitally connected world. Every click, login, and transaction we make leaves behind data that can be weaponized in the wrong hands. 

Some of history’s biggest data breaches have exposed millions—sometimes billions—of people’s personal and financial information, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft, fraud, and even reputational damage. 

But how do such breaches occur, and who is responsible? Are they purely the result of malicious attacks, or do they also stem from human error and lax security measures? 

In this article, we’ll explore the 11 biggest data breaches in the world, uncovering the events that led to these colossal leaks, the lessons learned, and the actionable steps you can take to protect your data. 

Get ready to discover the shocking truths behind these incidents.

What is a Data Breach?

A data breach is a security incident where sensitive, confidential, or protected information is accessed, disclosed, or stolen by unauthorized individuals or systems. Some of the Biggest data breaches have compromised millions of records, causing widespread impact. 

Such breaches can compromise personal details like financial records, medical histories, or login credentials and expose critical business information. 

With cybercrime rising, data breaches, including the Biggest data breaches in history, have become more common, affecting individuals and organizations globally.

Types of Data Breaches

Not all data breaches are identical. They can occur through various means, and understanding these types is key to recognizing potential risks and preventing the next Biggest data breach.

• Hacking: This is one of the most common methods, where attackers exploit vulnerabilities in software or networks to gain access to systems. Hackers often use techniques like brute force attacks, SQL injections, and exploiting weak passwords.
• Insider Threats: Sometimes, breaches occur due to individuals within an organization. These can be malicious acts by disgruntled employees or accidental errors, such as sharing sensitive information with the wrong person.
• Physical Theft: Stolen laptops, hard drives, or USBs containing sensitive information can result in a data breach. Despite the digital focus, physical security remains crucial.
• Phishing: Cybercriminals often trick individuals into revealing sensitive data through deceptive emails or fake websites. This method has led to the biggest breaches worldwide.
• Misconfigured Systems: Poorly configured cloud storage, databases, or software can leave data exposed to the public, making it accessible without hacking.

Why Do Data Breaches Happen?

Data breaches don’t happen in a vacuum; they are usually the result of a combination of technical weaknesses and human errors. Some common reasons include:

• Weak Security Measures: Organizations that fail to update their security systems or use outdated technology are prime targets for cybercriminals. These vulnerabilities make it easier for attackers to exploit systems and orchestrate the biggest data breaches in history.
• Human Error: Mistakes such as sending sensitive information to the wrong recipient or falling victim to phishing scams often lead to breaches. For instance, poorly trained employees can inadvertently contribute to data breaching, exposing critical data to unauthorized access.
• Sophisticated Cyberattacks: Attackers continually evolve their methods, employing more advanced tools to breach even well-secured systems. The largest data breaches often occur because cybercriminals exploit zero-day vulnerabilities or use techniques like ransomware to infiltrate networks.
• Negligence in Compliance: Failing to adhere to industry regulations or best practices, such as GDPR or PCI DSS, increases the likelihood of a data breach. These compliance failures are common in many of the biggest data breaches.

What Happens During a Data Breach?

A data breach typically follows these stages:

• Infiltration: The attacker gains unauthorized access to a system, often through vulnerabilities, phishing, or brute force. This stage may involve months of preparation and reconnaissance in the largest data breach incidents.
• Data Access: Once inside, the attacker navigates the system to find sensitive data, such as personal or financial records. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are common in significant breaches, where attackers quietly explore the network.
• Data Extraction: After locating the data, the attacker copies or transfers it from the system. This can happen slowly over time to avoid detection. In the most significant data breaches, stolen data often includes millions of records, ranging from customer information to proprietary business details.
• Exploitation or Sale: The stolen data is used for malicious purposes, such as identity theft or fraud, or sold on the dark web to other criminals. This stage amplifies the damage, making data breaches a global concern.

Examples of Sensitive Data at Risk

Not all data carries the same risk level, but specific information types are more valuable to cybercriminals. These include:

• Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Names, addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers. These are often targeted in the biggest data breaches.
• Financial Information: Credit card numbers, bank account details, and transaction histories. Financial breaches account for a significant portion of global data breaching incidents.
• Health Records: Medical histories and insurance information, often targeted for fraud. Healthcare-related breaches are among the largest data breaches regarding sensitive records exposed.
• Login Credentials: Usernames, passwords, and security questions that can lead to account takeovers. Credential theft is a key component in many data-breaching attacks.

Consequences of a Data Breach 

The impact of a data breach can be devastating, affecting individuals, businesses, and even governments:

• For Individuals: Identity theft, leading to fraudulent credit card charges or unauthorized loans. Loss of privacy and potential embarrassment if sensitive information is exposed. Financial instability due to stolen personal data.
• For Businesses: Financial losses due to fines, lawsuits, and lost revenue. The largest data breaches have cost companies billions of dollars in damages. Reputational damage leads to decreased customer trust and loyalty. Recovering from a significant data breach often takes years. Operational disruptions, such as downtime or the need for extensive system overhauls.
• For Governments: Exposure to classified information can lead to national security risks. Loss of public trust due to poor handling of sensitive data.

How to Avoid a Data Breach 

Preventing data breaches requires a multi-faceted approach, including:

• Implementing robust security measures: Use firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems to safeguard sensitive information.
• Regular updates and patches: Ensure all systems and software are updated to address vulnerabilities.
• Employee training: Educate staff on recognizing phishing attempts and following cybersecurity best practices.
• Compliance adherence: Stay updated with industry regulations to avoid compliance-related risks that often contribute to data breaches.
• Monitoring and auditing: Conduct regular security audits and monitor systems for suspicious activity to mitigate risks before they escalate into the most significant data breaches.

How Common Are Data Breaches?

Data breaches are more frequent than ever before. According to studies:

A data breach occurs every 39 seconds. Many of these breaches involve minor incidents, but some escalate to the most significant data breaches on record. 

The average cost of a breach globally is $3.86 million, with some reaching billions. High-profile breaches have highlighted the financial and reputational stakes of data breaches. 

Over 22 billion records were exposed in 2022 alone, showcasing the growing scale of the problem. These figures underline the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities to avoid being part of the subsequent biggest data breach.

Most Significant Data Breaches in the World 

1. Aadhaar Data Breach- 1.1 billion Indian citizens

In 2018, there was a data leak involving the information of over 1.1 billion Indian citizens, highlighting significant security vulnerabilities.

Breach Details:

2018, a critical security flaw was discovered in Aadhaar, India’s national biometric identification system. This data breach compromised the sensitive personal and biometric data of over 1.1 billion Indian citizens. 

The leaked information included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, photographs, and sensitive biometric data such as fingerprints and iris scans.

This largest data breach originated from a vulnerability in the website of Indane, a state-owned utility company. The company’s website utilized an Application Programming Interface (API) that lacked proper security controls and was directly linked to the Aadhaar database. 

This exposed a significant security loophole that malicious actors exploited. Hackers could gain unauthorized access to the Aadhaar database and even sell this access to others through platforms like WhatsApp for minimal costs. Despite warnings from security researchers and technology groups, it took several months for Indian authorities to address and secure this vulnerable access point.

2. LinkedIn– 700 Million Citizen

In 2021, over 700 million data scraping incidents were recorded, and this type of data breach is called.

Breach Details:

In April 2021, hackers performed a massive data scrape of LinkedIn, exposing information on over 700 million users — more than 93% of LinkedIn’s user base. 

Although most of the scraped data was publicly available, the act violated LinkedIn’s terms of service because it involved exploiting the site’s API. 

The exposed data included full names, phone numbers, email addresses, usernames, geolocation records, genders, and details of linked social media accounts.

The hacker, known as “God User,” initially released a dataset of 500 million users and later claimed to have 700 million records for sale. This information was posted on a dark web forum in June 2021.

LinkedIn claimed that no sensitive, private personal data was exposed and categorized the incident as a violation of terms of service rather than a data breach. However, the data leak posed significant security and privacy risks.

3. Capital One – 100 Million

In 2019, there was unauthorized access to approximately 100 million user records.

Breach Details:

In July 2019, Capital One experienced a significant data breach orchestrated by former Amazon Web Services (AWS) employee Paige Thompson. 

Exploiting a misconfigured firewall in Capital One’s cloud infrastructure, Thompson accessed and extracted sensitive personal information from over 100 million customer accounts and credit card applications dating back to 2005. 

The compromised data included names, physical addresses, credit scores, account balances, Social Security numbers, and Canadian Social Insurance numbers.   

4. Adobe– 153 Million User

In 2013, approximately 153 million user records were accessed without authorization.

Breach Details:

In October 2013, Adobe experienced a significant data breach where hackers gained unauthorized access to sensitive details of approximately 153 million user records. 

This included Adobe user IDs, passwords, full names, and even credit and debit card information. The attackers also managed to steal source codes for applications like Acrobat and ColdFusion.

Initially, Adobe estimated the breach to affect around 3 million users, but later investigations revealed a far more significant impact.

This incident served as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures for companies handling vast amounts of user data.

5. First American Financial Corporation – 885 Million

In 2019, approximately 885 million records were affected by data leakage.

Breach Details:

In May 2019, First American Financial Corporation, a prominent real estate title insurance company, experienced a significant data leak due to poor security measures and faulty website design.

This incident was categorized as a data leakage because, unlike a typical data breach, it didn’t involve hacking. Instead, an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw allowed unrestricted access to private information without proper verification or authentication. 

This meant anyone with a link to the documents could view them, and users could easily change the number in the URL to access other customers’ data.

The exposed records, dating back to 2003, included sensitive documents such as bank account details, bank statements, mortgage payment documents, wire transfer receipts with Social Security numbers, and even driver’s licenses.

6. Facebook – 533 Million Users

In 2019 approximately 533 million users worldwide experienced unauthorized access and data scraping.

Breach Details:

In 2019, a security researcher discovered an unprotected server containing a database with information on more than 530 million Facebook users. 

This database, accessible to anyone, included phone numbers and Facebook IDs, locations, email addresses, and other user profile details, making it easier to find users’ names and other personal data. By April 2021, this data had been posted for free online on a hacking forum.   

Although the server’s owner was not identified, the database was swiftly removed after its discovery. Facebook suggested that the data might have been scraped before they disabled the feature that allowed users to search for others via phone numbers.

7. Yahoo– 3 Billion User

From 2013 to 2016, over 3 billion user accounts experienced unauthorized access.

Breach Details:

In 2016, Yahoo disclosed that a series of data breaches between 2013 and 2014 had compromised over 3 billion user accounts. Russian hackers infiltrated Yahoo’s database using various methods, including backdoors, stolen backups, and access cookies.   

The hackers accessed sensitive user information, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, hashed passwords, and even some answers to security questions.   

This incident remains one of the most significant data breaches in history, highlighting the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect user data from sophisticated attacks.

8. Equifax– 148 Million U.S. Citizens

In 2017, approximately 148 million U.S. citizens were affected, resulting in 163 million records being compromised worldwide due to unauthorized access.

Breach Details:

In 2017, Equifax, a central credit reporting agency, suffered a massive data breach. Hackers exploited a known vulnerability in a third-party web portal, Apache Struts, which Equifax had failed to patch. 

This allowed them to gain unauthorized access to sensitive personal information of approximately 148 million U.S. citizens and 163 million individuals worldwide.

The compromised data included Social Security numbers, birth dates, physical addresses, and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers.

9. MySpace – 360 Million Accounts

In 2013, over 360 million accounts were affected due to unauthorized access, making it one of the most significant data breaches in history.

Breach Details:

MySpace, a popular social networking platform, experienced a significant data breach in 2013. Hackers accessed sensitive information, including usernames, email addresses, and birth dates of over 360 million users. The compromised data was later sold on the dark web in 2016.

The breach was attributed to using an outdated encryption method, SHA-1, to secure user passwords. SHA-1 produces fixed-length encrypted strings, which are relatively easy to crack. Modern practices, such as salted hashing, provide much stronger protection by adding random characters to passwords before encryption.

10. JPMorgan – 76 Million Households and 7 Million Small Businesses

In 2014, over 76 million households and 7 million small businesses were affected by one of the largest data breaches in financial history.

Breach Details:

JPMorgan Chase, one of the leading financial institutions in the U.S., fell victim to a massive data breach between June and July 2014. Cybercriminals initially gained unauthorized access by stealing the identity of a bank employee, which allowed them to infiltrate the company’s servers.

The breach exposed sensitive customer information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of over 76 million households and 7 million small businesses. Fortunately, no financial data or account passwords were compromised.

The FBI’s investigation linked the breach to a Russian-based operation. The hackers intended to use the stolen data for a fraudulent “pump and dump” stock scheme. This breach was part of a larger criminal enterprise involving hacking other financial institutions, running illegal online casinos, laundering money, and operating an unauthorized Bitcoin exchange.

11. Marriott International– 383 Million Guest Records

Between 2014 and 2018, approximately 383 million guest records were compromised in one of the largest data breaches in the hospitality industry. 

Breach Details:

Marriott International revealed 2018 that its Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) reservation database had been the target of an extensive data breach. The unauthorized access spanned four years, exposing the sensitive information of approximately 383 million guests.

The breached data included names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport numbers, SPG account details, birth dates, gender, reservation information, and even encrypted payment card details. Although the payment card numbers were encrypted, the possibility of decryption added to the severity of the breach.

This long-running data breaching incident compromised personal information and raised significant concerns about the security measures at one of the world’s largest hotel chains.

How to Prevent a Data Breach

Data breaches have become a growing concern for individuals and organizations alike. Preventing the most significant data breaches requires proactive measures and robust security practices. 

Here are essential steps to safeguard sensitive information and avoid a data breach:

1. Implement Strong Password Policies:- Use complex, unique passwords for each account. Modern password protocols like salted hashing offer better protection against unauthorized access than outdated methods.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):- MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring additional verification, such as a one-time code, alongside the password. This helps prevent unauthorized access even if a password is compromised.

3. Regularly Update Software:- Outdated software and systems are prime cyberattack targets. Ensure all software, plugins, and systems are updated to the latest versions to patch vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of a data breach.

4. Encrypt Sensitive Data:- Utilize advanced encryption techniques to protect data in transit and at rest. Encrypted data is more complex for hackers to exploit, even if they gain access.

5. Conduct Security Audits:- Regular security assessments help identify potential vulnerabilities in your systems. Addressing these weak points promptly can prevent data breaching attempts.

6. Educate Employees and Users:- Human error is a common cause of data breaches. Train employees and users to recognize phishing attempts, use secure passwords, and follow best practices to avoid data breaches.

7. Limit Data Access:- Restrict access to sensitive information only to those needing it. Implement role-based access controls to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

8. Monitor and Detect Threats:- Employ intrusion detection systems and regularly monitor networks for unusual activities. Early detection can help prevent a minor breach from becoming one of the most significant data breaches.

By adopting these measures, organizations and individuals can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to a data breach and ensure the safety of their sensitive information.

Preventing Compliance With The WPLP Compliance Platform 

In addition to the above preventive measures, organizations and website owners can further enhance their data protection efforts by leveraging compliance tools like WP Legal Pages and WP Cookie Consent. These tools ensure that your website adheres to global privacy regulations, reducing the risk of data breaching incidents.

WP Legal Pages 

WP Legal Pages simplifies the creation of essential legal documents such as privacy policies, terms and conditions, and disclaimers. These pages are critical for maintaining transparency and building user trust while ensuring compliance with laws like GDPR, CCPA, etc.

WP Cookie Consent

WP Cookie Consent ensures that your website meets cookie compliance requirements by offering customizable cookie banners. It allows users to manage their cookie preferences, vital for building trust and avoiding legal penalties related to data breaches and non-compliance.

Integrating WP Legal Pages and WP Cookie Consent into your website demonstrates a commitment to protecting user data and complying with global privacy standards. These tools and the security practices outlined above provide a comprehensive approach to preventing data breaches and safeguarding sensitive information.

FAQ

Conclusion

Data breaches, like those at Marriott, JPMorgan Chase, and Equifax, highlight the severe impact of data breaches on individuals and organizations. These incidents result in financial loss, identity theft, and damaged trust.  

Preventing such breaches requires proactive measures like advanced encryption, regular security audits, and user education on phishing and password security. While no system is immune, staying vigilant and adopting layered security approaches can significantly reduce risks. 

Learning from past breaches can better protect sensitive information and create a safer digital environment. We recommend using the WPLP compliance platform to prevent Data Breaches.

If you like reading these articles, then you will love reading these as well;

• How to Create a Privacy Policy For Landing Pages
• Best Practices for Implementing a Cookie Consent Solution
• The Benefits of Using a Whitelist Approach for Cookies