How Data Breaches Happen and What You Can Do About Them

Data breaches are now all around us, and it feels like every week there's a new headline about some company getting hacked and millions of people's personal information ending up in the wrong hands. 

The Dangers of Data Breaches 

Cybernews, a cybersecurity research organization, has a list of Aura identity theft protection discount codes that most people find helpful to follow what happens to their personal information once it gets compromised. Even with protection services, however, the damage can be huge.

If you're wondering how this still keeps on happening and what you can do to actually safeguard yourself, then you're not alone.

How Breaches Really Happen

The majority of data breaches aren't because of some Hollywood-esque high-octane hacker furiously pecking at a keyboard deep in an underground lair. The reality is a good deal duller and, yes, infuriating.

Human error is probably the biggest culprit. An employee opens a phishing email, has a weak password, or inadvertently sends confidential data to the wrong person. It happens to the best of us, but when it happens to someone who has access to customer databases, then things get ugly fast.

And then we have antiquated software. Companies will fall behind on security patches, leaving known vulnerabilities wide open for attackers to exploit. It's like leaving the front door unlocked because you haven't yet fixed the lock.

Insider threats are an issue – whether it's an upset employee intentionally stealing information or someone accidentally misconfiguring a server that exposes customer information to the internet.

What Happens to Your Data?

When your data is hacked, it doesn't just magically disappear. Cyberthieves operate a full-fledged economy built around this stuff. Your data can be sold on dark web communities, bartered for identity theft, or blended with other data to construct sophisticated profiles for scams.

Your Defense Strategy

There are some easy measures you can take to lower your risk and limit the damage should a breach come your way.

Strong Passwords

Start with your passwords. Have a strong, distinct password on every account that matters. It's annoying, yes, but password managers make it a heck of a lot easier than they did in the past. If a company gets hacked and your password is stolen, at least it won't be used to crack into your other accounts too.

Password Managers

• 1Password is probably the most user-friendly option out there. It's got a clean interface, works seamlessly across all your devices, and has some nice features, like travel mode which, temporarily hides sensitive vaults when you're crossing borders. It's a paid service, but most people find it worth the cost.
• Bitwarden is the go-to choice if you want something reliable without breaking the bank. They offer a generous free tier that covers most people's needs, and their premium version is pretty affordable. It's open-source too, which some folks appreciate from a security transparency standpoint.
• Apple's built-in Keychain is actually pretty decent if you're all-in on Apple devices. It's free, syncs across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and does the basic job well. The downside is it doesn't play nice with non-Apple devices.
• Google Password Manager is similar – if you're already living in Google's ecosystem, it's convenient and free, but not as feature-rich as dedicated password managers.

Most offer free trials, so you could test drive a couple and see which one clicks with you.

Two-Factor Authentication

Turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible. Even if a thief takes your password, they'll still need to enter that second factor in order to get into your accounts.

Check Statements

Watch your accounts. Go through your bank and credit card statements regularly and consider freezing your credit cards if you're not actively using them.

The Reality Check

This is what it comes down to – you can't prevent all data breaches from affecting you. Large breaches are generally completely out of your hands. But you do have control over the damage they do to your life.

It's similar to a seatbelt. You can't prevent every car accident, but you can significantly reduce your chances of being seriously harmed when one happens.

The solution lies in being proactive instead of reactive. Establish those safeguards now, when all's quiet, instead of running around trying to contain the damage after you've already fallen victim to an attack.

Data breaches aren't disappearing anytime soon, but by taking some simple precautions, you can at least sleep a little bit better knowing you've done everything in your power to look out for yourself.