Major Data Breaches: 2024’s Security Failures

23andMe: Blaming Users for a Massive Data Breach

In 2024, genetic testing company 23andMe faced a data breach that compromised genetic and ancestry data for nearly 7 million customers. Hackers used brute-force techniques to access thousands of accounts, scraping sensitive data on millions more. While the company eventually implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA), this critical feature came too late to prevent the attack.

Instead of taking full responsibility, 23andMe blamed users for failing to secure their accounts adequately. This response drew backlash, with legal representatives for affected users labeling the claims “nonsensical.” Authorities in the U.K. and Canada launched investigations into the breach. Later in the year, 23andMe laid off 40% of its workforce, raising concerns about the future of its operations and the security of its vast genetic database.

Change Healthcare: Delayed Transparency on Stolen Health Data

Change Healthcare, a key player in U.S. healthcare transactions, experienced a devastating cyberattack in February. The attack caused nationwide outages and disrupted medical services. Hackers exploited a single account without MFA, leading to the theft of over 100 million health records—one of the largest breaches in healthcare history.

The company’s response was widely criticized. It paid $22 million in ransom, a move experts argue only incentivizes cybercriminals. Despite this, another group of hackers demanded a separate ransom to delete the stolen data. Change Healthcare waited until October to disclose the full extent of the breach, leaving patients and providers in the dark for months.

Synnovis: U.K. Healthcare Hit by Ransomware

In June, Synnovis, a pathology services provider for the U.K. NHS, suffered a ransomware attack by the Qilin group. The attack disrupted blood tests, outpatient appointments, and surgeries across southeast London for months. Experts noted that basic security measures like two-factor authentication could have prevented the breach.

Check Out similar Article of Ransomware cyberattack Freezes London Healthcare  Published on June 5, 2024 – SquaredTech

The attack left staff overwhelmed, working extra hours without essential systems. Unite, the U.K.’s largest trade union, announced strikes in December, citing poor working conditions following the breach. While Synnovis has not disclosed the number of affected patients, Qilin claimed to have leaked 400 GB of sensitive data, including patient names and test details.

Snowflake: A Series of Customer Data Breaches

Cloud computing giant Snowflake faced multiple security breaches in 2024. Hackers targeted its corporate customers, including AT&T and Santander Bank, using login credentials stolen from employee devices. Snowflake’s reliance on single-factor authentication enabled these attacks.

Although the company later enforced MFA by default, it faced criticism for its initial inaction. The breaches exposed vast amounts of sensitive customer data, underscoring the importance of robust security protocols for cloud services.

Check Out similar Article of Snowflake Account Hacks Linked to Santander and Ticketmaster Breaches  Published on June 2, 2024 – SquaredTech

Columbus, Ohio: Silencing a Security Researcher

After a ransomware attack exposed data on half a million residents, including Social Security numbers and arrest records, Columbus city officials reassured the public that the stolen data was unusable. However, a security researcher discovered evidence to the contrary and shared it with journalists. The city sued the researcher to suppress their findings instead of addressing the breach, eventually dropping the lawsuit amid public criticism.

Check Out similar Article of The Columbus Ransomware attack exposes data of 500,000 Ohioans  Published on June 2, 2024 – SquaredTech

Salt Typhoon: Exploiting Telecom Backdoors

China-backed hacking group Salt Typhoon exploited vulnerabilities in U.S. telecom systems, accessing real-time communications of high-profile targets. These breaches were enabled by backdoor laws requiring telecom companies to store user data. The U.S. government has since urged citizens to use encrypted messaging apps to safeguard their communications.

Check Out similar Article of Chinese Hackers Exploit U.S. Telecom Backdoor Law – How Safe Is Your Data?  Published on October 8, 2024 – SquaredTech

MoneyGram: Concealing a Major Data Breach

In September, MoneyGram suffered a cyberattack that exposed customer data, including Social Security numbers, transaction details, and criminal investigation records. Despite initial denials, the company eventually confirmed the breach. MoneyGram has yet to reveal the number of affected customers, drawing criticism for its lack of transparency.

Hot Topic: Silence After a Massive Retail Breach

Retailer Hot Topic experienced a breach affecting 57 million customers in October. Stolen data included email addresses, phone numbers, and partial credit card details. Despite the breach’s scale, Hot Topic has not publicly acknowledged the incident or alerted customers. Breach notification site “Have I Been Pwned” took the initiative to inform affected users.

Conclusion

These 2024 data breaches reveal a troubling pattern of inadequate security measures and delayed responses. Basic protections like MFA could have prevented many of these incidents. Transparency and proactive measures are essential to rebuild trust and protect sensitive data.

Check Out similar Article of 11 Million Android Users Targeted by Necro Trojan – Find Out How to Stay Safe  Published on September 25, 2024 – SquaredTech

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