2018 was a year for some of the biggest data breaches of all time. The resulting identity theft, scams, phishing attacks, and ultimately fraud had a significant effect on consumers and businesses.
Thankfully there are organizations like the FTC and Identity Theft Resource Center that keep statistics on these events and the impact they have. The statistics they gather and report allow us to see clearly how large the impact of these events really are.
On Friday, November 30, 2018, Marriott announced its Starwood guest reservation database was breached. The database contains the personal information on over 500 million guests who made reservations at Starwood properties. Starwood properties include the posh W hotels, Sheraton, and Westin Hotels & Resorts.
As a predictable outcome of the 2017 Equifax data breach, identity thieves are coming up with new and creative ways of using the personal information that was exposed. The Equifax data breach and other recent data breaches have exposed over 179 million individuals’ personally identifiable information. Hackers can use this data along with other information to hack your frequent flyer account and steal your miles.
Approximately 179 million Americans’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) was exposed by the 2017 Equifax data breach. Everything enclosed in your credit file could have been exposed. Your name, birth dates, address, social security numbers, driver license numbers, phone numbers, etc. In short, everything a cyber thief needs to establish credit in your name or worse, take your identity over and stealing your house right out from under you. They go to the DMV and get your driver’s license with their picture on it, and off they go...
The AP News Wire reported on October 4th, it was revealed that more than 30,000 Pentagon workers’ personally identifiable information (PII), of both military and civilian personnel, including credit card numbers, had been compromised. According to a U.S. official familiar with the matter, although no classified information was compromised, the breach could have happened some months ago but was only recently discovered. “The department is continuing to assess the risk of harm and will ensure notifications are made to affected personnel,” said the DOD’s statement, adding that affected individuals will be informed in the coming days and fraud protection services will be provided to them.
