Computer Data Breaches happen when a company suffers a security breach that exposes sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or credit card information. They are also known as data breaches or data losses. A data breach is usually announced to the public through news media or a company’s website. When a data breach occurs, the data exposed can be used by anyone who obtained it, which means that potentially millions of people have had their identifying information stolen by criminals.
It is also important to note that there are different types of data breaches. Each type of data breach is unique in execution. Yet, all types of data breaches share the same consequences and risks to all involved. Keeping these things in mind, here are the 3 different types of computer data breaches:
1. Physical Computer Data Breaches
Whenever a computer data breach Cyber Centaurs occurs, the hacker is normally involved in the physical theft of specific types of properties. Here is a list of things that this hacker is usually looking for physically.
- Company documents
- Equipment with cardholder files and receipts
- PCs, and POS systems
- Laptop and Desktop Computers.
2. Electronic Computer Data Breaches (ECB)
An electronic data breach can be described as a cyberattack that compromises sensitive data. The information that is compromised is the data that is stored on a company’s computer databases. For instance, whenever there is an ECB (Electonic Data Breach), the hacker is usually looking for the following:
- Social Security numbers
- Names of Account Holders
- credit/debit card information
- other related unique identifiable data
This type of computer data breach may be caused by a hacker who is looking to steal money from a company database from remote locations. So, the thieves are usually nowhere on the physical property of the company.
3. Skimming Computer Data Breaches (SCBD)
Skimming computer data breaches usually involve the act of capturing and recording data off of the back of a credit card or a magnetic stripe. In these situations, the data breach is actually done without the knowledge of a merchant. This is because a POS (point of sale) system is breached by someone installing malware on the system without the knowledge of the merchant.
