Despite the heightened cybersecurity defenses worldwide, data breaches and cyberattacks continue to be a thriving business.In the first quarter, data breaches saw a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year, as reported by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). This surge follows a 68 percent increase in breaches throughout 2021 compared to 2020, surpassing the previous record set in 2017 by 23 percent.

Below are the top 10 data breaches and cyberattacks in 2022, presented in no particular order.

These cases illustrate the substantial impact an attack can have and highlight preventive measures:

1. Crypto.com Crypto Theft: In January 2022, nearly 500 people fell victim to a crypto theft, with hackers bypassing two-factor authentication. The breach resulted in the theft of approximately $18 million worth of Bitcoin and $15 million worth of Ethereum. Crypto.com later confirmed the breach, reimbursed affected users, and improved its security measures.

2. Microsoft Data Breach: On March 20, 2022, the hacking group Lapsus$ claimed to have breached Microsoft, compromising Cortana, Bing, and other products. Microsoft quickly thwarted the attempt, with only one account compromised, and no customer data was stolen.

3. News Corp Server Breach: News Corp revealed server breaches dating back to February 2020. While no customer data was stolen, emails from its journalists were accessed, pointing to espionage as the motive.

4. Red Cross Data Breach: In January 2022, hackers attacked servers containing personal information for over 500,000 people linked to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The attack aimed to stop a suspected nation-state espionage attempt.

5. Ronin Crypto Theft: Between November 2021 and March 2022, Ronin's blockchain gaming platform experienced a breach, resulting in the theft of $625 million in cryptocurrency. This occurred after the platform relaxed security protocols to accommodate more players.

6. FlexBooker Data Breach: In late 2021 and early 2022, appointment management business FlexBooker suffered a massive attack, affecting three million users. Confidential data, including ID information and passwords, was stolen, leading to financial consequences for the company.

7. GiveSendGo Political Data Breach: In February 2022, GiveSendGo was breached by a hacker who redirected the site to condemn political protests. Personal information of 90,000 donors was exposed, emphasizing the need for robust security against political attacks.

8. Cash App Data Breach: In April 2022, a former employee breached Cash App's servers, accessing customer information. No account credentials were stolen, but sensitive financial data was compromised.

9. Marquard & Bahls Supply Chain Breach: In February 2022, this German energy giant faced a supply chain attack, leading to the closure of over 200 gas stations across Germany. Experts suggest the BlackHat gang, a Russian group, was responsible, highlighting the vulnerability of energy organizations.

10. PressReader Data Breach: In March 2022, an attack disrupted PressReader's publication of numerous news titles. Although the incident didn't involve ransomware, it affected more than 7,000 news sources and underscored the need for robust security measures.

Preventing Data Breaches:

1. Address Old Vulnerabilities: Neglecting to patch vulnerabilities after an initial breach leaves companies vulnerable to subsequent attacks.

2. Combat Human Error: Weak passwords and employee errors like clicking on malicious links can expose an organization to further breaches. Security training is vital to prevent repeated mistakes.

3. Monitor for Malware: Monitoring for malware is essential to prevent repeated attacks using malicious software.

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