An Alarming New Milestone in Data Breaches

Over 1 billion people were victims of breaches in the first half of 2024

Does it seem as though every week brings a new report of a massive data breach at a large company? Has a data breach notice from one of these companies showed up in your mailbox lately?

You’re not imagining things—the problem is getting worse, and it’s just reached an unfortunate new milestone. The nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has released a report showing that in the first half of 2024, more than 1 billion people were victimized by data breaches. This represents an astonishing rise of 490% in the number of data breach victims compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the ITRC, in the first half of 2024:

• • There were 1,571 data breaches reported, affecting a total of 1,007,470,089 victims.
• • Cyberattacks were the leading cause of breaches (78% of all incidents).
• • Financial services companies were hit most often, followed by healthcare and professional services.

Among the biggest recent breach discoveries:

• • Ticketmaster—560 million customers worldwide were affected when the company’s customer database was hacked. Ticketmaster says that the breached information may include email addresses, phone numbers, and credit card information.
• • Advance Auto Parts—380 million customers were affected when information from the company’s cloud database was stolen. The breach may involve not only customer information but sensitive data from Advance Auto Parts’ own employees, including Social Security numbers.
• • AT&T—Call and text message records from a 6-month period in 2022 were recently found to have been stolen; the breach affects nearly all of AT&T’s cell phone customers during that period. AT&T says that the stolen data does not include the contents of calls or messages.

How to stay protected following a data breach

This unprecedented wave of major breach incidents has only amplified the need for data and identity protection. What can you do to stay safe in the aftermath of a data breach that has potentially compromised your personal information?

First, if you receive a breach notification letter, don’t panic. As you’ve already seen, it’s becoming increasingly common to get a notice like this in the mail. Take the time to understand what’s in the letter and prepare yourself for next steps. If the letter says you’re eligible to receive free identity monitoring through IDX, it’s easy to get started.

If you have an opportunity to enroll in a comprehensive privacy and identity protection service like IDX’s Complete Plan, take advantage of it. A plan like this can be invaluable in helping to prevent identity fraud.

For example, stolen information can often wind up on the dark web, an anonymous part of the web where cybercriminals buy and sell data for use in identity theft or fraud. IDX’s Complete Plan includes a proactive surveillance engine called CyberScan, which monitors all layers of the web to see if your personal data is being traded or sold. You’ll be notified immediately if your information turns up, so you can take early action to protect against identity fraud.

The Complete Plan also includes Credit Management Services, featuring 24/7 monitoring of your credit report and credit score, with notifications every time there’s new financial activity in your name. You’ll be able to act quickly if anything seems suspicious.

Remember, your personal information is likely stored with dozens—perhaps hundreds—of companies, organizations, and government entities; it’s virtually inevitable that one or more of those groups will suffer a data breach. Be sure to have a plan in place to limit any potential damage.