What is a Compromised Account? Protect Your Data Against Breaches

Imagine this. You're a business owner, and one of your employees' accounts gets hacked. It's not just a tiny bump in the road. You're now 87% more likely to deal with a phishing attack. This is a trick hackers use to get more sensitive information, like passwords or credit card numbers.

Compromised accounts pose significant cybersecurity risks, leading to financial loss, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

Between June 2016 and July 2019, business email compromise (BEC) attacks, a form of account compromise, resulted in global losses exceeding $26 billion.

In July 2024, a faulty update in CrowdStrike's security software caused a global outage, leading to an estimated $5.4 billion in losses for U.S. Fortune 500 companies, with Delta Air Lines alone potentially incurring up to $500 million in losses due to flight delays and cancellations.

In 2018, British Airways suffered a data breach affecting approximately 380,000 customers, leading to a £20 million fine by the Information Commissioner's Office and significant reputational harm.

These examples underscore the critical importance of safeguarding accounts to protect against substantial financial, operational, and reputational repercussions.

Also, a study by the University of Maryland suggests that a hacking attempt happens every 39 seconds. That means hackers are relentless in their quest to breach accounts.

Looking at the financial side of things, a report by Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that by 2023, cybercrime will cost the world $6 trillion each year, up from $3 trillion in 2015. This staggering number shows how much compromised accounts can impact a business's bottom line.

These numbers show how important it is for businesses to be prepared and take steps to protect their accounts. In 2024, even one minor breach can create a domino effect of problems. This is why we must always stay vigilant and proactive in our approach to cybersecurity.

What is a breached account?

A breached account means someone got into your online data such as your email, passwords and many more personal information without permission, putting your personal and private information at risk in the internet. It's important to know how to spot if your or your organization's email accounts has been breached and what steps to take to protect it. Keeping your email accounts, passwords or other personal information safe is very important in cyber security, where we share and store so much information online. Using Threat Intelligence tools and using good security practices can help keep your data safe from hackers.

The Hidden Dangers of Breached Accounts

Today, cybercriminals are always on the lookout for easy prey. One of their favorite targets? Online accounts, especially the ones used by employees in companies. When these crooks sneak into these accounts without permission, we call these accounts 'breached' or 'hacked.' This can cause problems for the company, like stolen information, money loss, and work interruptions.

Think about this - if just one account in a company gets hacked, the whole organization can be in hot water. Companies in this tricky situation are 87% more likely to face a 'phishing attack.'

So, what do these stats mean? Let's put them into perspective. Research from the University of Maryland says a cyberattack happens every 39 seconds. That's a lot of attempted break-ins in just one day!

The risks posed by breached accounts are substantial and multi-dimensional. Direct risks primarily involve data theft and financial loss, while indirect risks could damage reputation and customer trust. Cases like the Target breach in 2013 and the Yahoo data breach in 2013-2014 illustrate the potential dangers and costs of breached accounts. These incidents highlight the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

When it comes to keeping business data safe, it's evident that hacked accounts are more than just a minor inconvenience. They're a big deal that can cause serious harm to a company. That's why it's so important for companies to understand these risks and to have strong safety measures in place to prevent these hacks.

High-Profile Cases of Account Breaches: Lessons from History

• Yahoo Data Breach (2013-2014): One of the most significant data breaches in history, Yahoo revealed in 2016 that all of its 3 billion user accounts were compromised in 2013 and 2014. The breached data included names, email addresses, dates of birth, telephone numbers, hashed passwords, and security questions and answers.
• Equifax Data Breach (2017): Equifax, one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies in the United States, experienced a cybersecurity breach in 2017. This breach compromised the personal information of nearly 147 million people, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and in some cases, driver's license numbers.
• Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal (2018): A severe data breach where Cambridge Analytica harvested the personal data of approximately 87 million Facebook users to influence the U.S. presidential elections 2016. The information included the private details of Facebook users, their direct messages, and information about friends and connections.
• Marriott International Breach (2018): This massive data breach exposed the personal information of approximately 500 million guests. The compromised data included names, passport numbers, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and email addresses. The breach occurred over four years, highlighting how breaches can remain undetected for a significant amount of time.
• Capital One Breach (2019): A software engineer at a cloud computing company exploited a misconfigured web application firewall to gain access to Capital One's data. This breach affected approximately 106 million people, exposing credit scores, credit card transaction data, and Social Security numbers.

Signs that Your Data is Breached, and What Can You Do About It?

You're enjoying a coffee, scrolling through your emails, and suddenly, you see a notification that your account might have been hacked. Sounds like a nightmare, right? The big question is, how do you even know if your data has been compromised? And, if it has, what can you do about it?

Here's where Keepnet's Threat Intelligence comes in to save the day. This product helps you determine if your information has been in the wrong hands.

Let's analyze this further. There are several critical signs indicating that your data may be at risk:

• You're getting weird or unexpected emails.
• You're suddenly locked out of your accounts, or your passwords no longer work.
• You see strange activity on your accounts, like messages you didn't send or changes you didn't make.
• Your computer or phone is running slowly, crashing, or behaving oddly.
• You notice unauthorized transactions on your bank or credit card statements.

These signs might mean that a cybercriminal has their hands on your data. It's scary, but don't panic. Keepnet's Threat Intelligence is here to help you figure out what's going on.

Keepnet's Threat Intelligence works by scanning the internet's dark corners, including underground forums and black markets where stolen data often ends up. It's like a detective, always searching for any traces of your information.

If it finds a match, it'll show you straight away. You can then take action to secure your accounts, like changing your passwords or contacting your bank.

Keepnet's Threat Intelligence is like your personal bodyguard in 2024. It helps you stay one step ahead of the bad guys, keeping your data safe and sound.

Use Keepnet Labs' Threat Intelligence to Learn If Your Data is Breached

Don't leave the safety of your data up to chance. Take control today. Start your free trial with Keepnet's Threat Intelligence and enter a safer, more secure digital future. The protection your business needs is just a click away.

In 2024, staying one step ahead of cyber threats is significant. This is why we invite you to try Keepnet's Threat Intelligence platform - FREE!

Keepnet's Threat Intelligence is designed to be your guardian. It tirelessly scans the far reaches of the internet, including the hidden depths of the dark and deep web. It's always on the lookout for any signs of your company's or your employees' data that may have fallen into the wrong hands.

What if you could preemptively spot breaches before they escalate into more significant problems? That's precisely the advantage Keepnet's Threat Intelligence offers. We're dedicated to spotting the danger signs, alerting you, and giving you the power to take action promptly.

Try Keepnet's Threat Intelligence for free today because when it comes to data security, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Watch the video below and learn how you can find the breached or compromised email accounts using our Threat Intelligence product.

Editor's Note: This blog was updated on December 3, 2024.