What’s driving the explosion of spending? Experts say the fear of cyber crime is fueling exceptional market growth.
Cyber crime damages will cost organizations, governments and businesses across the world about $1 trillion annually by 2021, according to the Cybersecurity Ventures marketing firm.
» RELATED: Local startup grows in cyber security industry
Here are seven major data breaches that occurred in 2017:
1. Equifax
In September, Equifax Inc. — one of the biggest consumer credit reporting agencies — acknowledged it suffered a “cybersecurity incident” that could affect about 143 million U.S. consumers. Unauthorized access to the company’s data took place from mid-May through July this year, Equifax said in a statement.
Learn more here.
2. Arby’s
Arby's investigated a major data breach that could impact more than 350,000 credit and debit cards used at the chain restaurant's locations. Arby's discovered in mid-January that it suffered a data breach that impacted about 1,000 corporate restaurants, according to a report from cyber-security reporter Brian Krebs. Both Visa and Mastercard users were impacted.
Learn more here.
3. Whole Foods
Whole Foods started investigating a possible data breach in September. “Whole Foods Market recently received information regarding unauthorized access of payment card information used at certain venues such as taprooms and full table-service restaurants located within some stores. These venues use a different point of sale system than the company’s primary store checkout systems, and payment cards used at the primary store checkout systems were not affected,” the company said in a statement.
The grocery chain was recently acquired by Amazon. Learn more here.
4. Forever 21
The company reported in November that some of its customers may have been impacted by a potential data breach. The company recently received a report from a third party that suggested there may have been unauthorized access to data from credit cards used to pay at certain FOREVER 21 stores, according to a statement from the company.
Learn more here.
5. Uber
Uber reportedly paid hackers $100,000 to remove the data of 57 million customers they stole in a massive 2016 data breach, according to Bloomberg. Names, phone numbers and email address were among the data stolen. Around 600,000 driver's license numbers belonging to Uber drivers were also compromised in the October 2016 breach.
Learn more here.
6. Sonic
A reported data breach at Sonic Drive-In fast food chain could impact “millions” of credit cards used by customers. A reported five million credit and debit card accounts went on sale on an illicit website, according to journalist Jordan Krebs, who reports on data breaches. The leaked financial information could include cards from nearly all states across the country.
Learn more here.
7. Kmart
Customer credit card information has been hacked from Kmart’s payment system, the company announced. The retailer became aware of a security incident “involving unauthorized credit card activity” after customer purchases at some stores. The company launched an investigation to review and secure the impacted parts of the store network.
Learn more here.
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