A data leak is sensitive information that is inadvertently exposed, typically due to negligence or oversight. It can threaten data at rest in databases and while in motion between data storage locations. Data leaks can also expose the information to malicious actors who exploit them for a variety of reasons, including ransomware attacks and identity theft.
Human error is the most common cause of data leaks. For example, employees may misplace USB flash drives or external hard drives containing confidential files. They could also inadvertently send emails to the wrong recipients or make unauthorized copies of proprietary files. In addition, system errors can leave networks vulnerable. For example, a misconfigured AWS S3 bucket can expose data to anyone who searches for it, as evidenced by the data dump of 530 million Facebook users in 2019.
When a company suffers from a data leak, there are several steps that must be taken to address it. First, the affected parties must be notified. This will ensure that people whose information was leaked can get help and have the ability to dispute inaccurate claims.
Next, the company must take forensic measures to identify the source of the leak and understand its scope. Then, it must take steps to prevent future incidents by improving its data security practices and policies. Finally, it should work with service providers to ensure that they are taking appropriate precautions. In addition, it should analyze backup or preserved data to determine what types of information were compromised and verify that all appropriate remedial measures are in place.
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