What is a Data Leakage
Key Takeaways
- Data Leaks Are a Big Deal: When sensitive company info accidentally ends up in the wrong hands, through email, cloud storage, or even a USB drive, it’s considered a data leak, and it can cause major damage.
- Small Businesses Are Easy Targets: Many small companies don’t have strong cybersecurity, making them prime targets for breaches 43% of data breaches in 2018 hit small businesses.
- The Fallout Can Be Brutal: Leaked data can lead to lawsuits, heavy fines, and a major loss of trust from customers. In some cases, it’s enough to sink a business.
- There Are Steps You Can Take: Training employees, setting up strong security controls, and keeping an eye on your systems can go a long way in preventing leaks.
- Breaking the Rules Is Expensive: Failing to follow data protection laws like GDPR or HIPAA can result in millions in fines, on top of the damage from the breach itself.
Data leakage is the unauthorized or accidental release of information from a company to an outside source. Data leakage can occur through a variety of channels, including email, social media, cloud storage, and removable media. Data leakage can have severe consequences for a company, including loss of customer trust, regulatory penalties, and damage to its reputation. In some cases, data leakage can even lead to legal action.
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Why You Should Care
Data leakage is a serious problem that can have far-reaching consequences for your company. Here are some of the reasons why you should be concerned about data leakage and take steps to prevent it
- Data leakage can lead to a loss of customer trust.
- Data leakage can result in regulatory penalties.
- Data leakage can damage your company's reputation.
- In some cases, data leakage can even lead to legal action.
How Does Information Leakage Affect a Typical Small Business?
Information leakage is a severe issue for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). In fact, SMBs are particularly vulnerable to data breaches because they often lack the resources to invest in solid cybersecurity defences.According to the 2019 Cybersecurity Report from Symantec, 43 percent of all data breaches in 2018 involved SMBs.
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What Can You Do to Prevent Data Leakage?
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to prevent data leakage. Here are some of the most effective:
1. Educate your employees about the risks of data leakage.
2. Implement security controls to prevent data leakage.
3. Monitor your network for signs of data leakage.
4. Respond quickly if you suspect that data has leaked.
You can protect your company from the potentially devastating consequences of data leakage by taking these steps.
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The Severity of Cybercrime Today
The severity of cybercrime increases every year, and data leakage is a significant contributor to this problem. According to the 2019 Cybersecurity Report from Symantec, the total number of cybercrime victims increased by 12 percent in 2018, and the total cost of cybercrime rose to $2.7 trillion. Data leakage was responsible for some of the most costly and damaging data breaches in 2021, including the Equifax breach, which affected 147 million people and cost the company $4 billion. The WannaCry ransomware attack affected more than 230,000 people in 150 countries and cost organizations $4 billion.The Marriott breach affected 500 million people and cost the company $124 million.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Organizations that suffer data breaches can face significant financial penalties, especially if they are non-compliant with data protection regulations.For example, under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies can be fined up to 4 percent of their global annual revenue or €20 million (about $24 million), whichever is greater, for a data breach.In the United States, companies can also be subject to state laws and regulations and federal laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).SOX, for example, imposes fines of up to $5 million for companies that suffer data breaches, while HIPAA can result in penalties of up to $1.5 million.Data leakage is a serious problem with potentially devastating consequences. By taking steps to prevent it, you can protect your company from financial penalties, damage to its reputation, and loss of customer trust.
FAQs
How can I check if my data has already been leaked?
You can instantly find out if your email or phone number was exposed in a breach using Guardio's identity monitoring.
- Go to your Guardio dashboard and click on the “Leaks” or “Identity Monitoring” tab.
- Add multiple email addresses and your phone number to scan for past breaches.
- Verify each source to get alerts for future leaks tied to that information.
- Take action immediately if you see a leak, Guardio provides steps to secure each exposure.
Learn how to set up your monitoring list for maximum protection.
What should I do after a data leak alert?
Don’t panic, Guardio gives you the tools to recover fast and block further damage.
- Immediately change your passwords, especially if reused across sites.
- Turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible.
- Check Guardio’s alert details to see what was exposed (emails, passwords, etc.).
- Use the Guardio dashboard to track breach sources and resolve each issue.
Follow Guardio’s step-by-step post-leak guide.
What kind of scams can start from a simple data leak?
Leaked data is gold for scammers, especially phishing, impersonation, and account takeovers.
- Scammers use leaked emails and passwords to send hyper-personalized phishing attacks.
- You might get fake emails from companies you actually use.
- Data leaks often fuel identity theft, credit fraud, and fake subscription renewals.
- Guardio alerts you when scam attempts relate to breached data you own.
Avoid scams by reviewing our phishing threat breakdown.
How does Guardio alert me if my personal data leaks again?
Guardio provides real-time breach alerts based on your monitoring list.
- Enable real-time protection in your Guardio dashboard.
- Connect your Gmail and phone number for faster, more accurate alerts.
- Review the alert details to see what was leaked and when.
- Take immediate action using Guardio’s suggested next steps for each breach.
See exactly how Guardio tracks data leaks.
Can I get Guardio to protect my whole family from data leaks?
Yes, your Guardio Premium plan covers up to 5 people with full identity protection.
- Invite family members from your dashboard under “Manage Members.”
- Each person gets their own alerts and breach insights.
- You’ll all stay protected from identity theft and scams tied to personal data.
- Get notified if their data leaks, even if it happens on a site you’ve never used.
Start protecting others by inviting family to your plan.
