What is a data breach?
A data breach occurs when unauthorized individuals gain access to confidential information, often held by companies or institutions. This can include personal data such as names, email addresses, social security numbers, and financial details.
How do data breaches happen?
Data breaches can occur due to various reasons, including weak passwords, malware or phishing attacks, unsecured networks, insider threats, or outdated security systems.
What information is typically exposed in a data breach?
The type of information exposed varies with each breach. Commonly compromised data includes passwords, credit card numbers, health records, social security numbers, personal addresses, and other sensitive details.
How can I find out if my data was part of a breach?
You can use tools like the one on dataleaks.us to check if your account has been compromised in recent breaches. Additionally, companies usually inform affected customers of a breach either through email or official announcements.