In 2024, the world witnessed a series of devastating data breaches, highlighting the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by companies across various industries. Cybercriminal groups such as Alphv/BlackCat, Qilin, and Rhysida were behind some of the largest and most impactful attacks, exposing millions of sensitive records and causing significant financial and reputational damage.
One of the most significant breaches of the year involved a ransomware attack that impacted a third of the US population. An affiliate of Alphv/BlackCat targeted Change Healthcare, gaining access through compromised credentials and exfiltrating data before encrypting systems and stealing personal, health, and financial information. The total financial and reputational damage from this attack reached nearly $2.5 billion. Arctic Wolf Labs found that a high percentage of non-BEC attacks stem from compromised credentials, highlighting the importance of implementing modern multi-factor authentication measures.
Another notable incident in 2024 was the accidental insider breach involving National Public Data (NPD), where up to 2.9 billion records were exposed, affecting millions of individuals, including US lawmakers. The breach resulted from an NPD-affiliated broker accidentally exposing database passwords, leading to a series of lawsuits and the eventual bankruptcy of the parent company. This incident underscored the risk posed by careless employees and the importance of robust security awareness programs to prevent accidental insider threats.
A third-party cloud data breach affected over 160 organizations, highlighting the risks associated with compromised credentials and the exploitation of weak passwords. Cybercriminals launched infostealer malware on a cloud service provider, accessing data from multiple entities, including AT&T, Santander Bank, and Ticketmaster. The breach underscored the need for strong multi-factor authentication measures, secure Active Directory configurations, employee training, and continuous monitoring to mitigate such risks.
The year also saw ransomware gangs causing significant damage, such as the Blacksuit gang targeting CDK Global, a cloud-based provider for US car dealerships. The attack resulted in widespread disruption, with damages exceeding $1 billion. The incident highlighted the importance of timely incident response to reduce costs and minimize downtime.
Additionally, mortgage giant loanDepot fell victim to an attack by Alphv/BlackCat, exposing millions of customer records and leading to costly litigation. The breach emphasized the need for robust security frameworks and compliance measures to enhance resilience against cyber threats.
Moreover, critical infrastructure, including the Seattle-Tacoma airport and its overseeing port, became targets of ransomware attacks, disrupting operations and causing delays for thousands of travelers. The incidents highlighted the importance of adopting 24/7 security monitoring, risk-based vulnerability management, and incident response solutions to protect critical systems and data.
In conclusion, the data breaches and cyberattacks of 2024 served as a stark reminder of the ever-present cybersecurity threats faced by organizations worldwide. The incidents underscored the need for strong security measures, including multi-factor authentication, employee training, proactive vulnerability management, and timely patching to mitigate risks and strengthen defenses against evolving cyber threats. As we move forward, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in their approach to cybersecurity to safeguard sensitive data and protect against potential threats.