From: Brookings | TechTank
Kevin C. Desouza and Kena Fedorschak
The public and private sectors use information technology (IT) every day to monitor, manage, and simplify their daily operations. The omnipresence of these technologies has introduced new vulnerabilities. Intelligence agencies, hackers, and other digital vandals can exploit security lapses and inflict extraordinary damage. The recent hacking of Sony Corporation, exposed authentication credentials for various internal systems, financial records, and private employee data including social security numbers and health records. Moreover, revelations that Sony’s IT director previously served as a marketing executive and stored confidential information in plaintext demonstrates a flagrant disregard for cybersecurity.
Cyber Threat Proliferation
Cyberattacks have increased dramatically in recent years. Last January, Target opened the year by announcing that hackers gained access to 40 million credit and debit card numbers. In August, J.P. Morgan Chase announced a breach that affected an estimated 76 million households. In September, Home Depot disclosed a payment system breach affecting 53 million individuals.
Leave a Reply