Data Breach

A data breach is an instance where public information stored on a company database has been stolen or leaked by someone. This information can vary from a person's name, age, phone number, home address and other private information.

An example of this is the royal mail data breach where ransomware was used to withhold stored information from the royal mail unless they paid the attacker money, this prevented the royal mail from doing international deliveries.

Not only did this attack on royal mail prevent them from delivering internationally, it also put their customer's data at risk.

Companies are advised to report these kinds of data breaches as soon as possible in order to keep customers safe and prevent fines from the information commissioner's office.