It has been a common thing for protecting databases for companies. If you want to enrich your knowledge in data security, this article might suit your needs. Let’s begin with one of the worst cases of Cybercrimes that have happened before.
Yahoo Breach (2013 – 2014)
In 2013 – 2014, Yahoo experienced a massive breach resulting in the theft of personal data from over 3 billion user accounts. By the time Yahoo data breach is one of the largest and most significant cybersecurity incidents in history. The breach occurred over multiple incidents between 2013 and 2014 but was not disclosed by Yahoo until 2016. In August 2013, hackers reportedly gained access to Yahoo’s systems and stole data associated with over 1 billion user accounts. This included usernames, email addresses, encrypted passwords, birth dates and phone numbers. Then, in September 2014, another breach occurred, affecting at least 500 million user accounts. This breach involved similar types of data being compromised.
Those messes impact a bunch of things. The breaches compromised the personal information of a staggering number of Yahoo users, totaling over 3 billion accounts when both incidents are combined. The stolen data could be used for various malicious purposes, including identity theft, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access to other online accounts associated with the compromised email addresses.
By the time, Yahoo faced criticism for its delayed response in breaches. The company only acknowledged the incidents in 2016, years after they occurred. Following the disclosure, Yahoo took steps to enhance its security measures, including invalidating unencrypted security questions and answers, prompting users to change their passwords, and improving its cybersecurity infrastructure. The data breaches significantly impacted Yahoo’s reputation and resulted in financial consequences. It led to a decrease in user trust and had implications for the company’s acquisition by Verizon Communications. Verizon eventually acquired Yahoo’s internet assets in 2017 at a reduced price due to the breaches. The incident also sparked increased scrutiny and awareness of cybersecurity issues, prompting other companies to reassess and bolster their own security practices.
The Lessons;
- Yahoo breach underscores the critical importance of proactive cybersecurity measures, including robust threat detection, timely incident response, and transparent communication with users and stakeholders.
- It highlights the need for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity as a fundamental aspect of their operations and invest in robust security infrastructure to protect user data effectively.
- Furthermore, the incident emphasizes the significance of regulatory compliance and the legal obligations of companies to disclose security breaches promptly and transparently.
From that case, it highlights the importance of proactive database security management, including investment in robust security infrastructure, strict policies and procedures and readiness to respond to security incidents promptly and effectively.
It’s time to get to know more what things to do for avoiding cybercrime, namely;
- Homomorphic Encryption: Utilizing homomorphic encryption technology allows computations to be securely performed on encrypted data without needing to decrypt it first. This can enhance privacy and security when conducting analysis or processing sensitive data.
- Database Forensics: The practice of collecting, analyzing and understanding audit data and digital traces from databases to detect attacks, security breaches, or suspicious activities. This aids in investigating security incidents and rectifying identified vulnerabilities.
- Blockchain for Data Integrity: Implementation blockchain technology within database systems record and verify every change to data, thus creating an immutable and transparent audit trail.
- Database Sandboxing: The practice of isolating database environments within virtual or physical containers to mitigate the risk of spreading attacks or malware throughout broader systems.
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Utilizing principles of quantum physics to distribute encryption keys that are practically impervious to classical computer hacking. This can be employed to secure communications and database access in a quantum security context.
- Secure Multi-Party Computation (SMPC): A concept enabling multiple parties to collaboratively perform computations on their data simultaneously without needing to trust each other. In the database context, this can be used to maintain data confidentiality while conducting cross-organizational analyses.
- Format Preserving Encryption (FPE): An encryption technique that retains the format or structure of original data when encrypting, allowing applications to continue operating without modifying existing data structures.
Incorporating these concepts into a company’s database security strategy can help enhance protection against sensitive data and stay ahead of increasingly complex security threats.
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