Top 2009 data breach incidents and gaffs named

2009-11-27

Perimeter E-Security has named its top ten data breach incidents and blunders for this year, with a leading payment processor at number one.

It noted that 130 million records were compromised, although the "bad guys" were caught, with Albert 'Segvec' Gonzalez and two Russian co-conspirators indicted by a federal grand jury in New Jersey.

Social networking sites were also named in the top ten list, with Twitter seeing numerous breaches, including one into the account of pop star and entertainer Britney Spears. Perimeter E-Security predicted that next year will also prove difficult for such services in terms of data breaches and blunders.

It also pointed to Google, which took third place, which it said is one of the most targeted online organisations by hackers and other malicious threats.

In fifth place was the University of California, which saw a security breach in which personal data of around 160,000 current and former students and alumni may have been compromised.

The company warned that organisations need to be aware of hackers making an IT intrusion into one or more of their systems.

"2009 was a banner year for negative information security news and as we enter 2010, we are seeing more regulations, more fines, and more lawsuit filings – all related to information security," commented chief technology officer at Perimeter E-Security Kevin Prince.

"Most companies actually know exactly where they lack security and where their gaps and exposures are. But knowing this, they still play with fire and hope that they won't get burned," Mr Prince commented, adding that data breach incidents should be avoided at any cost.

He claimed that all of the incidents in the top ten list could have been avoided.

Internet security experts F-Secure recently warned that scammers are likely to target the top Christmas gifts this festive season so that they can steal people's personal data.

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