In today’s digital age, no organization is safe from the threat of cyber-attacks. Hackers are continually advancing and becoming more sophisticated in their methods, leaving businesses vulnerable to severe consequences, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage. In this article, we will explore the ten most disastrous cyber hacks carried out on organizations in the 2020s (so far) and highlight the importance of investing in cybersecurity to protect against such threats.
The SolarWinds hack tops the list of significant cybersecurity breaches in recent history. Discovered in December 2020, the attack affected numerous organizations, including government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Russian hackers infiltrated the networks of SolarWinds’ customers by gaining access to Orion software, leaving an estimated 18,000 organizations affected.
In second place is the Colonial Pipeline hack that caused fuel shortages in the US. The hackers demanded a ransom payment after gaining access to the company’s IT systems, causing widespread panic and disrupting fuel supplies for several days. This attack was carried out by a Chinese state-sponsored group.
The Microsoft Exchange Server hack, discovered in early 2021, comes in third on the list. It affected tens of thousands of organizations worldwide, with the hackers, known as Hafnium, gaining access to the email servers of their targets and stealing sensitive information.
The Accellion hack comes in fourth place and affected multiple organizations. The hackers gained access to Accellion’s file-sharing software and stole sensitive information, impacting around 300 companies worldwide.
Fifth on the list is the T-Mobile hack, discovered in August 2021, which impacted around 50 million customers. The hackers gained access to the company’s databases and stole personal information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers. The attack was carried out by a group of hackers known as REvil.
The JBS hack affected meat production in the US, causing widespread panic and disrupting meat supplies for several days. The hackers gained access to the company’s IT systems and demanded a ransom payment. This attack was carried out by a Russian group known as REvil.
The Kaseya hack affected multiple managed service providers and was discovered in July 2021. The hackers gained access to Kaseya’s IT systems and demanded a ransom payment, impacting around 1,500 companies worldwide.
In eighth place is the EA hack, discovered in June 2021, which impacted around 780 GB of data. The hackers gained access to the company’s IT systems and stole sensitive information, including source code for games. The attack was carried out by a group of hackers known as APT28.
The CD Projekt Red hack exposed source code for Cyberpunk 2077. The hackers gained access to the company’s IT systems and demanded a ransom payment. The attack was discovered in February 2021 and is estimated to have affected around 1,000 employees.
Finally, the New York City Law Department hack exposed personal data of thousands of police officers. The hackers gained access to the department’s IT systems and stole sensitive information, impacting around 250,000 people.
The reputational harm of a data breach can be incalculable. High-profile data breaches have exposed millions of private information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers. Most businesses simply cannot afford a data breach. That’s why cybersecurity specialists are needed to develop and implement advanced security solutions.
It is crucial for businesses to establish and roll out a security strategy that encompasses office and remote working. As more processes are done digitally, hackers get more opportunities to steal private information. Utilizing a specialist cybersecurity recruiter can provide industry insight and save time in applications.
The escalating threat of cybercrime has led to a high demand for cybersecurity professionals. The Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP) is widely regarded as the ‘qualification of choice’ for IT professionals, while the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) certification is great for professionals starting in cybersecurity.
In conclusion, the hacks are ranked by their level of disaster, but all of them have caused significant harm to the organizations affected. ChatGPT, a new version of AI, is having a profound impact on the future, including data theft and aiding in malware development. It’s essential for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously and invest in the necessary resources to protect themselves and their customers from the devastating consequences of a cyber attack.
