2024 has been a busy year for cybercriminals, with major data breaches making headlines and costing companies millions. From healthcare to telecom giants, no industry has been spared. These incidents are a wake-up call for New Jersey businesses—if large corporations can be breached, smaller companies are even more at risk.
Cybercriminals know that many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) lack the same security as larger enterprises, making them easy targets. Don’t wait to act—because once you’re compromised, it’s not just your data on the line. It's your reputation, your operations, and your bottom line.
Let’s walk through the top 5 breaches of 2024 and what your business can do to avoid becoming the next target.
1. National Public Data – 2.7 Billion Records Exposed
Hackers stole 2.7 billion personal records from a background-checking and data-broker platform. Sensitive information like Social Security numbers, addresses, and more ended up on the dark web. Even though there’s debate about how accurate the data is, it’s clear many Social Security numbers were compromised.
What you can do: Protect your personal and business accounts by freezing your credit immediately. This makes it harder for criminals to open accounts in your name. Consider using credit monitoring tools and encourage your team to stay alert. See if you were breached here.
2. Ticketmaster – 560 Million Customers Compromised
In April and May 2024, Ticketmaster’s systems were breached, exposing personal information, including names, emails, phone numbers, and payment data. Many customers saw unauthorized charges on their accounts following this breach, and Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, is now under fire with multiple lawsuits.
Lesson for your business: No matter the size of your operation, you need to be ready. Poor security practices leave companies vulnerable. Make sure your systems are patched and monitored regularly—and teach your employees to recognize suspicious activity.
3. Change Healthcare – A Healthcare Giant Held Hostage
In one of the largest healthcare breaches in history, Change Healthcare was hit by ransomware that exposed the personal and medical information of 145 million people. The attack has forced many in the industry to rethink their security strategies.
How it affects you: While your company may not hold sensitive medical data, ransomware is a growing threat across all industries. Hackers often target businesses that lack strong defenses, locking systems and demanding payouts to restore access. Regular backups and proactive monitoring are critical to staying ahead.
4. AT&T – 73 Million Customers’ Data Leaked
AT&T faced a major breach that compromised Social Security numbers, account details, and passcodes from 73 million customers. Even worse, the data included older records from 2019, making it clear that no data is ever truly safe. AT&T’s response was swift, but the company still faces the potential for multiple class-action lawsuits.
Your takeaway: Even if you’re not as big as AT&T, you’re not immune. Training your employees to spot phishing attempts and maintaining up-to-date network security can stop a breach before it starts.
5. Dell – Hacker Breaks In Using Brute Force
Dell was hit when a hacker, using brute-force attacks, infiltrated a client portal through one of their resellers, exposing 49 million customer records. This breach raises concerns about Dell’s security protocols and highlights the risks of weak passwords and inadequate monitoring.
For your business: Hackers often get in through the simplest methods—weak passwords or lack of monitoring. It’s crucial to enforce strong password policies and use multi-factor authentication to secure access to your systems.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
These breaches are proof that every business is at risk—even small to midsize companies. Hackers know that many SMBs don’t have the same level of protection as large corporations. The result? You’re an easier target. A single breach can cost thousands in downtime, lost data, and damaged reputation.
Protect Your Business with a FREE Security Risk Assessment
Don’t wait to find out your systems have been compromised. The best defense is a proactive one. Monmouth Cyber is offering a FREE Security Risk Assessment to identify vulnerabilities in your network before hackers can exploit them.
Our expert team will evaluate your systems, patch any weaknesses, and make sure your business is fortified against cyberattacks. It only takes a few minutes to schedule—but it could save your business from becoming the next headline.
Get Your FREE Security Risk Assessment Today
Don’t leave your business exposed. Click here to schedule your free assessment, or call our office at (732) 681-2360. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s the best way to make sure your business is protected.
