21 of the Biggest Data Breaches so Far [Infographic]

From the notorious PlayStation hack of 2011 to the scandalous leak of iCloud celebrity photos in 2014, the 21st century has experienced some of the biggest data breaches in cyber history. Although the victims were huge multinational corporations, this doesn’t mean smaller businesses are immune to similar attacks. 

When cybercriminals infiltrate a data source and steal sensitive information, businesses are often left scrambling as they try to close their network vulnerabilities and reassure customers not to panic. 

Many organizations are vulnerable to a data breach, especially if cybersecurity is not a top priority. Poorly designed software, weak passwords and the loss or theft of a corporate asset can all trigger cyberattacks. And with the rising prevalence of mobile devices, it’s not just desktops and laptops that are affected. According to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report 2018, the number of new malware variants for mobile increased in 2017 by 54%.

Protecting your business from data breaches often begins with internal training. For example, hiring a dedicated security firm can help you to teach employees how to identify suspicious activity and identify whether your systems are up-to-date with the latest software.

The infographic below shows a timeline of the most sophisticated cyberattacks in recent history. It also identifies what type of data cybercriminals are targeting most, and how businesses can protect themselves in the future.