Data Breaches

The Biggest Password Mistakes of 2018

The federal government made the list this year.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

The Equifax Breach Affecting Nearly Half of Americans Was 'Entirely Preventable'

The credit bureau breach remains one of the biggest known data thefts.

  • By John Detrixhe, Quartz

Congress Demands Answers on NRCC, Marriott Data Breaches

Strengthening the nation’s cyber stance was top of mind, with a new House Energy and Commerce Committee cyber report, and bills to improve connected devices and cyber education.

  • By Heather Kuldell and Jack Corrigan

Infosec Experts Buy Marriott-Related Sites to Prevent Criminal Spoofing

Not all heroes wear capes.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

South Bend’s Mayor on What Local Governments Can Learn From Estonia

The Indiana city’s new mobility-as-a-service pilot is helping low-income shift workers commute for free.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Senators Call For A Data Security Law

The Marriott breach—the latest of many mega-breaches—inspired some lawmakers to push for new privacy legislation.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

The Biggest Data Breaches Of All Time, Ranked

There's been quite a few.

  • By Nicolas Rivero, Quartz

Half a Billion People Now Have Reason to Be Furious with Marriott

Starwood Preferred Guest participants are highly likely to have very sensitive information compromised, including passport and payment numbers.

  • By Rosie Spinks

OPM to Rebid Identity Theft Protection Contract Affecting Millions of Hack Victims

The current contract, which cost the government $340 million over three years, is set to expire Dec. 31.

  • By Eric Katz

USPS Fixed Vulnerability That Exposed The Data of 60 Million People

Just in time for the mail deluge of the holidays.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

IRS Failed to Track 11,000 Breached Social Security Numbers for Tax Fraud

The tax agency also failed to review another 15,000 breached taxpayer ID numbers it received for possible fraud monitoring, an audit found.

  • By Joseph Marks

Critics Urge FTC to Crack Down on Facebook

This organization wants to see heavy fines imposed against the social media company.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

How Hackers Are Stealing High-Profile Instagram Accounts

In the Wild West of “influencer” marketing, there are few protections and plenty of easy marks.

  • By Taylor Lorenz, The Atlantic

Government Contractors Face New Data Breach Disclosure and Investigation Requirements

A planned rule would require contractors to save images of breached systems and allow agencies access.

  • By Joseph Marks

DJI Vulnerability Let Hackers Spy on Drones

The drone company has fixed the problem.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

GSA Took 800 Days to Notify Some Data Breach Victims

The agency also changed its rules in ways that could make notifications for breach victims less timely, an agency auditor found.

  • By Joseph Marks

Hackers Breach Healthcare.gov

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services acknowledged 75,000 people's records were accessed but haven’t disclosed who might be behind it.

  • By Frank Konkel

Report: Facebook Is Shopping for a Cybersecurity Company

They won't be able to find one on Facebook marketplace, however.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

Tim Cook Publicly Denies Apple Was Hacked by China’s Military

Cook doubles down.

  • By Mike Murphy, Quartz

The State of Cybersecurity

Federal agencies surge to combat ever-growing threats—but is it enough?

  • By Nextgov Staff