Here are the top 10 most dangerous hacker attacks with significant losses:
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| Top 10 Most Dangerous Hackers Attack |
Hacking has become one of the most serious threats to businesses, governments, and individuals alike. The sophistication of hacker attacks has increased in recent years, leading to large-scale data breaches, financial losses, and even endangering human lives.
Equifax Data Breach - In 2017, hackers stole sensitive information from Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the US. The breach resulted in the theft of personal data, including social security numbers, birth dates, and addresses, of over 145 million people. The estimated losses are in the billions of dollars.
WannaCry Ransomware Attack - The WannaCry ransomware attack occurred in May 2017, infecting more than 230,000 computers in over 150 countries. The ransomware demanded payment in bitcoin to decrypt the files, causing massive disruptions in hospitals, government agencies, and businesses worldwide. The total losses are estimated at over $4 billion.
Sony Pictures Hack - In 2014, hackers breached Sony Pictures, stealing confidential information and embarrassing emails. The cyberattack was believed to be in retaliation for the release of a movie that was critical of North Korea. The estimated losses are in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Yahoo Data Breach - Yahoo suffered two massive data breaches in 2013 and 2014, affecting over 1 billion user accounts. The hackers stole email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and passwords, among other personal data. The estimated losses are in the billions of dollars.
Target Data Breach - In 2013, hackers stole credit and debit card information from 40 million Target customers during the holiday shopping season. The breach was caused by a vulnerability in Target's payment system, resulting in millions of dollars in losses for the company.
JPMorgan Chase Data Breach - In 2014, hackers stole the personal data of over 76 million households and 7 million small businesses from JPMorgan Chase. The breach was one of the largest in history and resulted in losses of over $100 million.
Dyn DDoS Attack - In 2016, hackers launched a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Dyn, a domain name system (DNS) provider. The attack caused widespread internet disruption, affecting popular websites such as Twitter, Netflix, and Amazon. The losses are estimated at over $100 million.
NotPetya Ransomware Attack - The NotPetya ransomware attack occurred in 2017, infecting computers in over 60 countries. The ransomware was spread through a Ukrainian accounting software update, causing massive damage to businesses worldwide. The total losses are estimated at over $10 billion.
Marriott International Data Breach - In 2018, hackers breached Marriott International, stealing the personal data of over 500 million guests. The data included passport numbers, phone numbers, and email addresses. The estimated losses are in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack - The SolarWinds supply chain attack was discovered in December 2020, affecting several US government agencies and major corporations. The hackers inserted malicious code into SolarWinds software updates, allowing them to gain access to sensitive data. The total losses are still being assessed but are expected to be in the billions of dollars.