2024 has been a record-breaking year for data breaches, with billions of personal records compromised. No matter how secure you think your information is, chances are your data is part of this year's massive leak. In this blog, we’ll explore the most significant data breaches of 2024, what went wrong, who’s affected, and how you can protect your personal information moving forward.
1. National Public Data (2 Billion-Plus Records Compromised)
What Happened: In December 2023, hackers infiltrated the systems of National Public Data, a background-check company. By April 2024, 2.7 billion records tied to 170 million individuals were leaked onto the dark web, exposing highly sensitive information.
Who Was Exposed: This breach affected people in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., making it one of the most far-reaching attacks in recent memory.
Data Compromised:
- Full names
- Current and past addresses
- Social Security numbers
- Dates of birth
- Phone numbers
This breach highlights the danger of centralized data collection and the risk posed by background-check firms, which often hold vast amounts of personal data.
2. Change Healthcare (38 Million Records Exposed)
What Happened: In February 2024, a Russian ransomware gang exploited Change Healthcare’s unprotected systems. Without multifactor authentication (MFA) in place, the attackers gained access and caused significant downtime for healthcare institutions nationwide. UnitedHealth paid a $22 million ransom to avoid data leaks, but another hacker group claimed to have retained stolen data.
Who Was Exposed: Roughly one-third of the American population was affected by this breach, though the true number may be higher.
Data Compromised:
- Payment information
- Social Security numbers
- Medical data, including test results, diagnoses, and medical images
This attack underscores the importance of MFA and the vulnerabilities present in healthcare technology, where patient data is a prime target for ransomware gangs.
3. AT&T (Two Separate Hacks in 2024)
What Happened: AT&T faced not one but two breaches in 2024. In March, hackers exposed the data of 73 million customers, with records dating back to 2019. Just a few months later, in July, hackers breached an AT&T account on Snowflake’s cloud storage system. Reportedly, AT&T paid a ransom to prevent data from being leaked, but trust in their security measures was significantly shaken.
Who Was Exposed: More than 110 million past and current AT&T customers were affected, along with anyone called by an AT&T customer, potentially exposing non-customers as well.
Data Compromised:
- Personal information
- Social Security numbers
- Phone numbers
This breach illustrates the dangers of cloud storage misconfigurations and the vulnerability of telecom giants that store vast amounts of customer data.
4. Synnovis (300 Million Patient Interactions Compromised)
What Happened: In June 2024, a Russian ransomware gang targeted Synnovis, a pathology lab in the U.K. The attack led to widespread outages in London’s healthcare system, affecting hospitals and clinics alike. Synnovis refused to pay the $50 million ransom, but the attack’s impact on healthcare services was significant.
Who Was Exposed: Patients in the U.K. who had used the services of the Synnovis pathology lab were affected.
Data Compromised:
- Blood test results (including HIV and cancer tests)
- Medical interactions with healthcare providers
This breach highlights the dangers of attacks on healthcare systems and the growing reliance on third-party providers for essential health services.
5. Snowflake (600 Million-Plus Records Stolen)
What Happened: In May 2024, hackers used stolen employee credentials to infiltrate Snowflake’s cloud data system. As a result, customer records from several large companies were stolen. Among those affected were Ticketmaster (560 million records), Advance Auto Parts (79 million records), and TEG (30 million records). Other affected clients included Neiman Marcus, Santander Bank, and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Who Was Exposed: Customers of any of Snowflake’s 165 corporate clients may have been impacted. Millions of individual records were affected, with data spanning across multiple industries.
Data Compromised:
- Customer records from large corporate clients
The Snowflake breach highlights the risk of shared cloud environments. Even if your company’s security measures are strong, breaches at service providers can still put you at risk.
How to Protect Yourself from Data Breaches
While you can’t prevent companies from getting hacked, you can protect your personal information from further exploitation. Here’s what you should do:
1. Review Your Health-Related Communications If you receive explanations of benefits (EOBs) or billing statements, read them carefully. Look for unfamiliar services or charges. If you spot something unusual, report it to your healthcare provider and insurance company immediately.
2. Freeze Your Credit If your Social Security number is leaked, criminals can open loans or credit cards in your name. By freezing your credit with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), you can block unauthorized access to your credit.
3. Update Your Login Credentials Change the passwords for any accounts affected by a breach. Even if the breached company’s data isn't directly tied to your login credentials, hackers often attempt to reuse credentials across multiple sites. Use strong, unique passwords for each account and enable multifactor authentication (MFA) where possible.
4. Be Wary of Phishing Emails After a breach, scammers may send emails that appear legitimate but are intended to steal your personal information. If you receive a message from a company affected by a breach, do not click on links or attachments. Verify requests directly through the company's website or customer service.
5. Monitor Your Financial Accounts Keep an eye on bank and credit card statements for suspicious charges. Most banks allow you to set up transaction alerts so you’re notified of any unusual activity.
6. Check for Identity Theft If you suspect that your information has been used to open fraudulent accounts, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. You can also request a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com to check for unfamiliar accounts.
Conclusion The data breaches of 2024 have shown just how vulnerable our personal information is in an increasingly digital world. From healthcare institutions to telecom giants, no sector is immune to cyberattacks. While you can’t control what happens to corporate data, you can take steps to protect yourself. Monitor your accounts, freeze your credit, and stay alert for phishing emails. The sooner you act, the better protected you'll be against the aftermath of a breach.
