Data leak is the unauthorized and unintentional release of sensitive information from an environment where it is supposed to remain secure. This happens due to a variety of reasons, including human error, hardware or software vulnerabilities, insider threats, and cyber-attacks. Regardless of the cause, data leaks pose a significant risk to individuals and organizations, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and possible penalties from regulatory bodies.
The most common types of data that appear in a data leak include personally identifiable information (PII), credit card details, medical records, passwords and other forms of private communication. These assets provide valuable information to criminals, who can use them for fraud, identity theft, and other malicious activities.
After a successful data breach, cybercriminals usually put the leaked data up for sale on various dark web forums. This is why it’s crucial to continuously monitor dark web marketplaces as part of a comprehensive data leak detection strategy. If your company’s passwords or other sensitive information appears on a marketplace, this is a clear indication that a data leak has occurred.
Once a password appears in a data leak, it’s crucial to change the passwords of all related accounts immediately. In addition, you should consider setting up “unusual activity” alerts on your account to receive notifications if there’s a suspicious or unusual activity. This will allow you to quickly detect and respond to a data leak, and potentially prevent financial loss or other serious consequences.