What happened in the massive Uber and Marriott data breaches?
In an increasingly interconnected world, data breaches can have devastating consequences for both companies and users. This is the case with the massive Uber and Marriott leaks, incidents that affected millions of people around the world. Let's take a look at how these breaches occurred, their implications and what we can learn from them.
How did Uber's data leak?
In October 2016, Uber suffered one of the largest data breaches in its history, affecting 57 million customers and drivers. This breach included critical information such as customer routes, weekly driver payments, license numbers and license plates.
- Attack method: hackers gained access to the GitHub credentials of some of Uber's internal programmers. GitHub, a popular online platform among programmers, allowed the attackers to gain unauthorized access.
- Critical human error: It is common for programmers to include credentials in code. This oversight allowed hackers to access databases hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), where the stolen information was stored.
- Consequences: The attackers sent an email extorting Uber's Chief Security Officer, threatening to publish the data if they did not receive a payment.
This leak generated outrage and the intervention of several government entities and data protection laws, such as the GDPR in Europe.
What was the impact of the Marriott case?
In November 2018, another massive breach was announced that affected Marriott, compromising the personal data of 500 million guests. This incident is one of the largest in the digital age.
- Detection of the problem: Marriott discovered the flaw in September 2018 through Penetration Testing, an internal security testing technique. However, the patch could have happened much earlier as the problem had persisted since 2014.
- In plain sight for years: Attackers managed to gain access to sensitive information such as passwords. To hide their actions, they encrypted and deleted old data, making early detection of the attack difficult.
- Audit measures: Marriott hired an external auditor to investigate the incident, revealing that the hackers had access for four years without being detected.
These leaks evidence the importance of cybersecurity and the risks associated with lack of maintenance and security updates in large organizations.
What can we learn from these incidents?
The protection of personal data has become a critical priority in the face of the growing number of digital users. There are several valuable lessons to be learned from these cases:
- Password security: Proper credential management and the use of strong passwords is critical to protecting sensitive data.
- Frequent audits: Implementing regular security audits can help identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
- Security education and training: Training employees to handle information securely helps mitigate potential risks.
- Transparency and timely response: In the event of a breach, it is crucial to act quickly and transparently to minimize damage and restore user confidence.
Addressing these challenges is an ongoing and vital task in business. By learning from the Uber and Marriott cases, we can be better prepared to protect both privacy and information security in the future. As technologies advance, it is vital to adapt and strengthen our defenses against evolving cyber attacks.
Want to see more contributions, questions and answers from the community?