foxex: What is a 'Data Breach'?

Sunday, August 4, 2019

What is a 'Data Breach'?

A data breach (also known as data spill or data leak) is an unauthorized access and retrieval of sensitive information by an individual, group, or software system. It is a cybersecurity mishap which happens when data, intentionally or unintentionally, falls into the wrong hands without the knowledge of the user or owner.

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Related Definitions

Identity Theft

Identity theft is the crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person for the sole purpose of assuming that person's name or identity in order to make transactions or purchases.

Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Personally identifiable information (PII) is information that, when used alone or with other relevant data, can identify an individual.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity refers to the measures taken to keep electronic information private, ranging from personal protection to complex government protection.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a model for delivering information technology services where resources are retrieved from the internet through web-based tools.