In 2024, the boundary between data security and vulnerability has been precarious. This year has witnessed unprecedented cyberattacks that have exposed the fragile underbelly of corporate data protection, sending shockwaves through industries ranging from healthcare and telecommunications to entertainment and cloud services.Â
Data breaches this year have demonstrated how a single vulnerability can unravel years of customer relationships, trigger devastating legal consequences, and potentially obliterate a company’s reputation overnight.Â
This analysis of the most significant data breaches of 2024 offers crucial insights into their mechanics, consequences, and the urgent lessons every organization must learn to protect its most valuable asset: its data.
National Public Data breach
Summary:
- Records compromised: 2.7-3 billion
- Scope: Affected individuals in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
- Key details: Included social security numbers, names, addresses, and other personal information
On August 16, 2024, a catastrophic data breach was revealed that has potentially compromised the personal information of approximately 2.9 billion individuals, marking one of the most significant cybersecurity incidents in recent history. The breach, attributed to a hacking group known as USDoD, exposed sensitive personal data from the Florida-based background check company National Public Data (NPD).
The compromised data includes highly sensitive personal information such as full names, physical addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers of citizens of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Cybersecurity experts have described the breach as particularly alarming due to the comprehensive nature of the exposed data and its potential for widespread identity theft.
ConsequencesÂ
The breach triggered immediate legal action, with a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that the hacking group initially attempted to extort National Public Data for $3.5 million before releasing the stolen data on a dark web forum. The company’s response has been notable, with an internal email claiming to have “purged the entire database” and deleted non-public personal information.
The financial repercussions were severe. By October 2024, National Public Data filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing the overwhelming liability from class-action lawsuits and potential regulatory actions. The company’s business model, which previously allowed paying customers access to extensive personal databases, became untenable after the breach.
Ticketmaster data breach
Summary:
- Records compromised: 560 million
- Key details: Exposed personal and financial information, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, and payment details
On May 31, 2024, Ticketmaster confirmed a significant data breach that exposed the personal and financial information of over 560 million customers. This incident represents one of the most substantial cybersecurity breaches in recent corporate history, with far-reaching implications for both the company and its global customer base.
The breach was attributed to ShinyHunters, a notorious hacking group with a track record of targeting major corporations. Cybercriminals have accessed 1.3 terabytes of data through unauthorized activity in a third-party cloud database environment. The stolen information included sensitive personal details such as names, addresses, email addresses, and credit card information.
ConsequencesÂ
The company faces four class action lawsuits alleging failure to protect customer data. These legal proceedings compound existing challenges, including a separate antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice against Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company.
The most critical long-term impact is the potential erosion of customer confidence. With millions of personal records potentially compromised, customers face increased risks of identity theft, fraud, and phishing attacks.
Key cybersecurity lessons
- Third-party risk management. The breach originated in a third-party cloud database, highlighting the importance of rigorous vendor security assessments and continuous monitoring of external service providers.
- Incident response and transparency. Ticketmaster identified the breach on May 20 but did not publicly disclose it until May 31, demonstrating the critical need for prompt and transparent communication during cybersecurity incidents.
- Data protection strategies. The incident underscores the necessity of robust data encryption, limited data retention, and comprehensive security measures for sensitive customer information.
Change Healthcare ransomware attack
Summary:
- Records compromised: Approximately 145 million
- Scope: Potentially affecting one-third of Americans
- Key details: Exposed personal, medical, and billing information through a ransomware attack
In February 2024, Change Healthcare experienced a cyberattack that compromised sensitive personal information and disrupted critical healthcare operations nationwide. The ransomware attack targeted the healthcare technology company’s electronic data interchange (EDI) systems. The BlackCat threat group was identified as the primary perpetrator, exploiting vulnerabilities in the company’s security infrastructure, particularly a critical lack of multi-factor authentication.
The ransomware attack exposed critical cybersecurity weaknesses within Change Healthcare’s systems. Key security lapses included a notable absence of multi-factor authentication, which would have provided an additional layer of access protection. Compromised user credentials allowed unauthorized system entry while underlying vulnerabilities in the electronic data interchange systems created fundamental structural risks. These technical deficiencies enabled malicious actors to penetrate the organization’s digital infrastructure.
ConsequencesÂ
The Change Healthcare cyberattack created a cascading impact across the healthcare ecosystem. Nationwide pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens experienced significant operational disruptions, compromising their ability to process prescriptions and billing. Military healthcare services through Tricare were systematically impacted, potentially affecting healthcare access for service members and their families.Â
The attack also created a new discussion on cybersecurity in healthcare organizations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights launched an extensive investigation into the breach. HIPAA compliance became a critical focal point of the subsequent inquiry, with regulatory bodies examining the fundamental data protection practices within Change Healthcare’s systems.
The American Medical Association estimated that one-third of Americans might have been affected. The financial impact extended beyond immediate breach costs to include:
- Revenue losses due to operational disruptions
- Potential legal expenses
- Regulatory investigation costs
- Reputational damage
AT&T data breach
Summary:
- Records compromised: 73 million
- Key details: Exposed customer data, including Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passcodes
In March 2024, AT&T disclosed a significant data breach that compromised the personal information of approximately 73 million current and former customers. This cybersecurity incident exposed sensitive data dating back to 2019, marking a critical vulnerability in the telecommunications giant’s data protection infrastructure.
The compromised data included critical personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passcodes. Cybersecurity experts discovered the breached information on the dark web, revealing a complex infiltration of AT&T’s systems that potentially exposed customer data over an extended period.
The breach specifically impacted AT&T cellular customers, Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) using AT&T’s network, and landline customers interacting with cellular numbers. The exposed records covered interactions between May 1, 2022, and October 31, 2022, creating a substantial window of potential data exposure.
Notably, the breach did not include the actual content of calls or texts, nor did it expose complete personal identifiable information like dates of birth or call timestamps.Â
ConsequencesÂ
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) comprehensively investigated AT&T’s data management practices. As a result of the probe, AT&T agreed to pay $13 million to settle the federal investigation. The settlement required the company to enhance its data governance practices, improve supply chain integrity, and develop more robust procedures for handling sensitive customer information.
The company committed to notifying affected customers and providing resources to help protect their information. They established a dedicated information portal (att.com/DataIncident) to offer transparency and guidance to impacted individuals.
Snowflake Cloud data breaches
Summary:
- Total records: Over 165 customer environments were compromised
- Notable victims:
- Ticketmaster: Up to 560 million customer records exposed
- Santander Bank: 30 million customer records compromised
- AT&T: Call and text records spanning multiple months
- Advance Auto Parts: Over 2.3 million individuals were affected, with sensitive job application data exposed
In the spring of 2024, Snowflake, a leading cloud data platform, experienced a cybersecurity incident that impacted many business communities. The breach was not a singular event but a coordinated campaign targeting multiple organizations using Snowflake’s cloud storage services, with at least 165 organizations potentially affected by unauthorized access to their customer instances.
The cybersecurity breach was attributed to UNC5537, a financially motivated threat actor group whose sophisticated attack methodology centered on exploiting compromised login credentials obtained through infostealer malware. The group strategically targeted Snowflake accounts, particularly those lacking multi-factor authentication (MFA), which created a critical security vulnerability.
The attackers utilized a custom tool reportedly called “rapeflake” (or FROSTBITE) to conduct reconnaissance within compromised Snowflake instances. This tool allowed them to perform detailed investigations, including listing users, identifying current roles, and discovering critical system information like IP addresses and session IDs.
The threat group’s attack process involved a meticulous series of steps:
- Acquiring stolen credentials from dark web marketplaces
- Bypassing security measures by exploiting accounts without MFA
- Conducting reconnaissance using specialized tools
- Exfiltrating data through sophisticated SQL commands
ConsequencesÂ
The Snowflake data breach created substantial and far-reaching consequences for multiple organizations across various industries. Organizations faced significant financial challenges directly stemming from the breach. These included:
- Potential massive costs associated with forensic investigations
- Expenses related to implementing enhanced cybersecurity measures
- Potential legal fees from anticipated class-action lawsuits
- Potential regulatory fines for inadequate data protection
- Substantial resources required for customer notification and support
The breach exposure of sensitive customer data eroded trust and potentially damaged long-standing customer relationships. Companies found themselves forced to demonstrate transparency about their security vulnerabilities while simultaneously reassuring customers about future protection mechanisms.
The widespread nature of the breach is likely to trigger multiple legal actions:
- Potential class-action lawsuits from affected customers
- Regulatory investigations into data protection practices
- Potential compliance hearings with federal and state regulatory bodies
- Increased scrutiny from cybersecurity oversight committees
What to do if your business suffers a cyberattack
When a business experiences a cyberattack, the immediate response can significantly determine the extent of potential harm and the organization’s ability to recover. Understanding a systematic, strategic approach to managing such incidents is crucial for minimizing disruption and protecting the company’s assets.
Assess the damage
Immediately identify the scope and nature of the attack by determining which systems and data have been compromised. Evaluate the type of cyberattack (ransomware, data breach, etc.) and the potential extent of the damage to your organization’s digital infrastructure.
Activate your incident response plan
Implement the pre-established cybersecurity incident response plan, which should outline specific steps, roles, and communication protocols. Ensure that key stakeholders are notified and know their responsibilities during the crisis.
Preserve evidence
Create a detailed log of all actions taken and preserve digital evidence for potential forensic investigation. This documentation can be critical for understanding the attack’s origins and supporting potential legal or insurance claims.
Contact law enforcement
Report the cyberattack to appropriate law enforcement agencies, such as local cybercrime units or federal authorities like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This can help in potential investigations and tracking of cybercriminals.
Contact professional ransomware removal
Engage cybersecurity experts or digital forensics professionals who can provide specialized support in investigating the attack, recovering data, and developing robust future prevention strategies.
