Data breach

Though often used interchangeably, data breach and data leak describe two different scenarios: A data breach is usually the result of a deliberate action—such as hacking, phishing, or malware—that allows unauthorized access to data. A data leak , on the other hand, typically refers to data that is accidentally exposed due to misconfigurations or human error (e.g., a public S3 bucket or unprotected database). In short: Breach = forced entry Leak = accidental exposure Both put sensitive information at risk, but breaches often have more severe legal and regulatory implications.

Data breaches come in various forms, including: Hacking and malware attacks – Exploiting software vulnerabilities to access systems Phishing and social engineering – Tricking users into revealing credentials or access Insider threats – Disgruntled or negligent employees stealing or exposing data Lost or stolen devices – Laptops or drives containing unencrypted sensitive data Physical breaches – Unauthorized access to data centers or offices Cloud misconfigurations – Improperly secured cloud services exposing data publicly The method may vary, but the impact can include identity theft, regulatory fines, and business disruption ‍

A data breach is generally considered to have occurred when: Personal or confidential data is accessed by someone who shouldn’t have it Information is copied, transmitted, stolen, or used without authorization A system or database is compromised and data is at risk of exposure Under laws like the GDPR , CCPA , and others, organizations must often notify affected users and regulators within a set time after discovering a breach. Examples include: A hacker stealing customer credit card numbers A healthcare worker emailing patient records to the wrong recipient A company accidentally posting internal documents online If data that’s protected by law or considered sensitive is exposed— it likely qualifies as a breach. ‍