A data leak happens when sensitive information, such as personal identification numbers (PII) or trade secrets, is exposed to unauthorized parties. These unauthorized entities can use the leaked information for various malicious purposes, such as to commit identity theft or scams or to publish it on the dark web.
Data leaks are typically the result of human error. They can be caused by an employee misplacing a USB drive or desktop email application or accidentally sending confidential information to the wrong people. They can also be the result of poor data practices and systems, such as a misconfigured cloud storage server that makes sensitive information available to hackers.
Other causes of data leaks include third-party vulnerabilities, such as the one that allowed Marriott hackers to access more than 5 million guest records in 2020. Malicious insiders also cause a lot of data leaks, such as angry or laid-off employees seeking revenge or greedy ones who want to take their company’s secrets with them when they leave. Finally, social engineering attacks like phishing can trick insiders into disclosing sensitive information.
When it comes to data leaks, a good first step is to have a solid communications plan in place for your customers and other stakeholders. This should cover everything from the basics to the more complex issues. It should also help you anticipate questions that your audiences might have and include top-tier answers that you can put on your website. Additionally, you should search for any PII that may have been improperly posted on the Internet and contact search engines to have it removed.