Data breach

A data breach occurs when unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive, confidential, or protected information. This can happen due to hacking, weak security measures, insider threats, or accidental exposure.

Common types of data breaches include:

• Personal data leaks (names, addresses, passwords, financial information)
• Corporate data breaches (trade secrets, customer data, intellectual property)
• Government data breaches (classified documents, citizen records)

Data breaches can lead to identity theft, financial loss, reputational damage, and legal consequences. Organizations use encryption, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits to prevent breaches.