Payment card data breaches are on the rise, with over 1,500 data breaches reported in 2020 alone. This is a disturbing trend that affects millions of people worldwide.
In 2020, hackers stole over 1.4 billion records, including payment card numbers, making it the worst year on record for data breaches. The average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million, which is a staggering amount that can have long-lasting effects on individuals and businesses.
One of the most significant data breaches in recent history was the Equifax breach, which exposed the sensitive information of over 147 million people. This breach was particularly devastating because it included social security numbers, birth dates, and addresses, making it a treasure trove for identity thieves.
Related reading: Three Digit Number on the Back of Credit Card
Payment Card Data Breaches
Payment card data breaches have been making headlines in recent years. Oregon Zoo warned that 117,815 customers may have had their payment card information compromised by cybercriminals in August 2024.
Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland warned customers who carried out financial transactions on its website between 12 May and 27 August to cancel their credit or debit cards after a cyber-attack. American Express told customers in March that their credit card details may have been compromised following a third-party data breach.
Cathay Pacific's data breach lasted for three months, affecting millions of customers. The breach included passport numbers and credit card information.
Cathay Pacific Data Leak
The Cathay Pacific data leak is a stark reminder of the severity of data breaches. It affected 9.4 million customers, including passport numbers and credit card details.
The breach lasted for three months, with the airline admitting to a sustained cyber attack. This prolonged attack highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting sensitive information.
Cathay Pacific took five months to admit the breach, sparking questions about the delay. This raises concerns about transparency and promptness in addressing data breaches.
If you're a victim of a data breach, it's essential to take action. This includes checking the vendor's advice, changing your password, and enabling two-factor authentication.
Here are some steps to take if you suspect you've been affected by a data breach:
- Check the vendor's advice.
- Change your password and consider using a password manager.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) using a FIDO2-compliant device.
- Watch out for fake vendors and phishing attacks.
- Consider not storing your card details on websites.
- Set up identity monitoring to alert you if your personal information is being traded illegally online.
A Stolen Costs $7
In the US, a stolen identity can cost you $7. This is the estimated cost of replacing a driver's license in the state of California.
You'll need to pay a $30 fee for a new license, plus $15 for a new ID card.
Payment Card Security
People are more likely to trust machines than humans with their private information, including financial data. This shift in trust could lead to a decrease in the use of human customer support for sensitive transactions.
Machines are often seen as more secure and less prone to errors than humans, which is why some people may feel more comfortable sharing their payment card information with a machine than with a person.
Penn State researchers have found that this trend is especially true when it comes to accessing financial data.
Payment Card Industry
Cathay Pacific's delay in admitting the data leak has raised questions about the airline's handling of sensitive customer information.
The compromised data included passport numbers and credit card details for 9.4 million customers.
This incident highlights the importance of timely disclosure in the event of a data breach.
Cathay Pacific Data Leak Delay
Cathay Pacific's data leak was the result of a sustained cyber attack that lasted for three months.
The airline's customers, including 9.4 million individuals, had their passport numbers and credit card information compromised.
Cathay Pacific took five months to admit it had been hacked, which is a significant delay in reporting a data breach.
This delay raises questions about the airline's alertness and preparedness to handle cyber attacks.
The data breach was described by Cathay Pacific as the "most intense" period of hacking it had experienced.
Bank Card
A credit card number has a specific internal structure, following the ISO/IEC 7812 numbering scheme.
The first part of a credit card number is the Major Industry Identifier (MII), a single-digit code that identifies the industry the card belongs to.
The next part is the Issuer Identification Number (IIN), a six-digit code that identifies the bank or issuer of the card.
The account number is the middle part of the credit card number, and it's the unique identifier for the account.
A single-digit check sum, calculated using the Luhn algorithm, is the last part of the credit card number, and it's used to verify the card number.
If you've stayed at a Starwood hotel in recent years, your credit card information might have been compromised in a data breach.
Cathay Pacific's data leak, which affected 9.4 million customers, included credit card information among the compromised data.
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Sources
- https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cyber-attack-exposes-credit-card/
- https://phys.org/tags/credit+card+numbers/
- https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/09/payment-provider-data-breach-exposes-credit-card-information-of-1-7-million-customers
- https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/a-stolen-payment-card-number-costs-just-7-on-the-dark-web
- https://www.cio.com/article/296663/security0-global-payments-only-1-5m-credit-card-numbers-stolen.html
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