Lily Hay Newman, a renowned Wired writer specializing in information security, discusses the alarming rise in data breaches affecting companies like AT&T and Ticketmaster. She shares vital steps to take after a breach, beyond just credit monitoring. Newman also sheds light on the dark world of cybercriminals and their tactics. Adding to the intrigue, the conversation delves into how a PAC backed by Elon Musk exploits voter data, and explores the thrilling new sport of speed climbing making waves ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Data breaches are increasingly common, leading to heightened vulnerabilities, with individuals needing to actively monitor their accounts for exploitation signs.
Proactive steps like using unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication help individuals regain control over their sensitive information after a breach.
Deep dives
Understanding Data Breaches and Their Prevalence
Data breaches have become alarmingly common, affecting millions and leaving personal information vulnerable. The podcast highlights the increasing frequency of these incidents, noting that significant breaches from companies like AT&T have made headlines, impacting a range of services from retail to banking. It is suggested that the rise in breaches can be attributed to the growing value of data, prompting cybercriminals to employ various tactics, including data extortion. This leads to concerns about what individuals can do to protect themselves amidst this turbulent landscape.
Practical Steps for Protecting Personal Data
While acknowledging that there is no foolproof way to prevent data breaches, individuals can take proactive steps to bolster their security. Monitoring accounts for unusual activity is crucial, along with implementing measures like credit freezes or locks for added protection. Moreover, using strong, unique passwords for essential accounts, especially email and financial ones, and enabling two-factor authentication are highly recommended strategies. These actions provide users with a greater sense of control over their sensitive information and help mitigate potential fallout from breaches.
The Broader Implications and Uses of Compromised Data
The podcast discusses the various ramifications of compromised data, illustrating that stolen information can lead to identity theft as well as other forms of exploitation, such as espionage. Cybercriminals leverage sensitive information to execute scams, often impersonating organizations or individuals to deceive others. Notably, the conversation includes examples like the use of stolen data from the Snowflake incident, which underscores how obtaining access to one platform can yield extensive information across multiple companies. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the need for ongoing vigilance, as the landscape of cybercrime continues to evolve and present new challenges.
Another day, another data breach, am I right? Companies including AT&T,Ticketmaster, and UnitedHealth have all made headlines recently after hackers left millions of customers’ data vulnerable. Lily Hay Newman, a writer covering information security, digital privacy and hacking for Wired, says data breaches like these have been a growing issue for more than a decade. On the show today, Newman explains steps you can take after you’ve been impacted by a breach (beyond signing up for free credit monitoring) and what you can do proactively to protect your data. Plus, what cybercriminals actually do with your data and how cyberattacks have evolved.
Then, we’ll get into how a PAC funded by Elon Musk is collecting information on would-be voters. Plus, we’ll workshop a name for Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic platform and hear about Olympic speed climbing.