Subsequent Data Breaches
Why does each individual data breach matter?
The perspective that once personal identifiable information (PII) or personal health information (PHI) has been leaked, subsequent leaks are less significant is a common one. However, there are several reasons why each new data breach remains a significant concern, regardless of past breaches:
Not every breach exposes the same set of information. One breach might leak your email address and password, while another might reveal your social security number, medical records, or financial details. Each new breach potentially adds more pieces to the puzzle of your identity, increasing the risk of identity theft or fraud.
Even if the same information is leaked, it might be more current. For example, if your credit card information was stolen in a breach three years ago, those details might be out of date now. But if your current credit card details are leaked, that poses an immediate financial risk.
Cybercriminals often aggregate data from multiple breaches. This means that even if one piece of information was already known, adding more details from new breaches can make the information more valuable and the identity more convincingly replicable.
Each breach increases the cumulative risk of identity theft or fraud. Even if you weren't affected by a previous breach, a new breach could be the one that leads to actual harm.
Just because one set of attackers has your information doesn't mean all do. New breaches can expose your information to different criminals who may use it in different ways, potentially leading to fraud or identity theft you hadn't previously been at risk for.
New breaches, especially of high-profile organizations, erode public trust in digital and data security. They also raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity, potentially leading to improvements in how data is protected.
Organizations are often subject to regulatory requirements that mandate the protection of personal and health information. Breaches can lead to significant legal and financial consequences for these entities, which in turn affects their operations and, potentially, their customers or users.
When a new breach occurs, affected individuals usually receive notifications and advice on how to protect themselves. This might include changing passwords, monitoring credit reports, or taking advantage of offered credit monitoring services. Without these alerts, individuals might not realize the need to take protective actions.
For these reasons, it's essential to take every data breach seriously, regardless of past breaches. Adopting good cybersecurity practices, like using unique passwords for different accounts, enabling two-factor authentication, and monitoring financial and credit reports, can help mitigate the risks associated with data breaches.