The Top 12 Cloud Security Breaches in History and How to Prevent Them

Zoltan Fehervari

January 28, 2023

Follow us:

We will take a look at the top 12 cloud security breaches in history and the lessons that can be learned from them to prevent future attacks.

More...

We will examine the top twelve cloud security breaches in history and the lessons that can be drawn from them in order to prevent future assaults.

Why?
The reason for this is that the cloud has become an essential component of modern company operations, offering organizations flexible and cost-effective storage solutions for their critical data. However, as the usage of cloud technology has increased, so have the security threats that businesses must deal with.

Let's get started.

cloud security breaches - bluebird

The Top cases of Cloud Security Breaches

Yahoo (2013-2014)

In 2013 and 2014, Yahoo experienced a massive data breach that made public the personal information of three billion user accounts. The hack, believed to be carried out by a state-sponsored actor, included sensitive information such as email addresses, phone numbers, and security questions and answers. This incident was particularly severe due to the sheer number of people affected and the sensitive nature of the exposed data.

Microsoft (2013)

In 2013, Microsoft fell victim to a data breach that revealed the personal information of some of its customers. The attack, attributed to a state-sponsored actor, included email addresses, phone numbers, and account login passwords. The incident damaged Microsoft's reputation and prompted the company to implement stricter security measures.

Target (2013)

In 2013, Target suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 40 million consumers, including credit and debit card information. The cause of the breach was traced back to a third-party vendor that had been hacked. The incident resulted in financial losses and damage to Target's reputation, ultimately leading to a $18.5 million settlement.

Twitter (2019)

In 2019, Twitter experienced a data breach that uncovered the personal information of  330 million users. The hack, carried out by a group of hackers who gained access to Twitter's internal servers, exposed email addresses, phone numbers, and direct messages. The incident resulted in damage to Twitter's credibility.

Facebook (2019)

In 2019, Facebook faced a data breach that revealed the personal information of 29 million users. The event was caused by a flaw in Facebook's system, which allowed hackers to obtain access tokens and take over user accounts. The hack severely damaged Facebook's reputation, leading to a $5 billion fine.

LinkedIn (2012)

LinkedIn head to deal with a data breach in 2012 that exposing the personal information of 167 million member accounts. The cause of the breach was traced back to a third-party vendor that had been hacked. The incident resulted in damage to LinkedIn's reputation, as email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords were exposed.

Dropbox (2012)

In 2012, Dropbox experienced a data breach that opened up the personal information of 68 million user accounts to the world. The cause of the breach was traced back to a third-party vendor that had been hacked. The incident resulted in damage to Dropbox's reputation, as email addresses and passwords were made public.

Uber (2016)

In 2016, Uber suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 57 million consumers and 600,000 drivers. The hack, carried out by a group of hackers who gained access to Uber's cloud-based storage system, had a significant impact on Uber's reputation and led to the resignation of the CEO.

Marriott International (2018)

In 2018, Marriott International suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 500 million customers. The incident, linked to a state-sponsored actor, included sensitive information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, passport numbers, and more. The breach resulted in damage to Marriott's reputation and a $124 million fine.

Equifax (2017)

In 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting companies in the United States, faced a data breach that exposed the personal information of 145 million consumers. The incident was caused by a flaw in Equifax's website software, which allowed hackers to access personal data such as social security numbers, birth dates, and addresses. The breach resulted in damage to Equifax's reputation and a $575 million fine.

Capital One (2019)

Capital One experienced a data breach in 2019 that compromised the personal information of 100 million clients. A former employee was blamed for gaining illegal access to Capital One's cloud-based storage system. The hack exposed sensitive information such as social security numbers and bank account details, and it damaged Capital One's reputation.

iCloud (2014)

In 2014, a group of hackers gained access to the iCloud accounts of several high-profile celebrities, exposing sensitive images and videos. The incident was blamed on a phishing scam in which the hackers obtained the celebrity' login credentials. This event highlighted the need of cloud security and the use of strong passwords and two-factor authentication to protect against hacking attempts.

cloud security breached - bluebird

Preventing Cloud Security Breaches

Companies must create stringent security processes, monitor for suspicious activities on a regular basis, and provide employee training on security best practices to prevent cloud security breaches. Furthermore, businesses should consider hiring a third-party vendor for cloud services because these firms often have more rigorous security processes in place.

  • Implement strict security protocols: To protect sensitive information, use strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and encryption. A strong password is one that is difficult to guess and includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of protection that requires users to present two forms of identity before they can access their accounts. Encryption is a data protection technique that converts data into a secret code that only authorized users may read.

  • Regularly monitor for suspicious activity: This includes analyzing system logs on a regular basis and keeping an eye out for unexpected login attempts or other suspicious activities. This will aid in the detection of any unauthorized system access or attempted intrusions.

  • Provide employee training on security best practices: This involves informing employees about the importance of security and the steps they can take to safeguard company data. This can include subjects like proper password management, detecting phishing efforts, and comprehending the dangers of providing private information online.

  • Use a third-party vendor for cloud services: This assures that your data is secure thanks to the vendor's stringent security protocols. Third-party contractors often have more security resources and knowledge than individual enterprises.

  • Conduct regular security assessments: Regular security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments are all part of this. These evaluations will assist you in identifying any flaws in your security posture and allowing you to take corrective action.

  • Keep your software updated: This is necessary to ensure that you have the most up-to-date security updates and fixes. Software companies release updates on a regular basis to address known vulnerabilities and improve security.

By taking these steps, companies can reduce their risk of a cloud security breach and protect their sensitive data.

Summarizing

Finally, cloud security breaches have resulted in significant financial losses for businesses. It is critical to be aware of the most prevalent security breaches and to take the required precautions to avoid them. Implementing rigorous security measures, routinely monitoring for suspicious behavior, offering employee training on security best practices, using a third-party vendor for cloud services, keeping software updated, and conducting regular security assessments are all part of a multi-layered approach. Companies may lessen the danger of a cloud security breach and protect their sensitive data by following these suggestions.


More Content In This Topic