Provide five reasons why computer security breaches are so common today, and explain each based on examples from a peer-reviewed source. Cite all referenced material

 

A security breach is a disaster an organization's reputation and finances. We use Security Breach and Data breach interchangeably, but they are two different things. A security breach happens followed by a data breach.

What is security Breach?

When an intruder bypasses security measures to reach an organization's sensitive and protected systems data, it is referred to security breach. When they steals confidential information, a data breach has occurred. Security Breach leads to compromising of protected customer information, internal business data and other privileged information that no business wants to experience it.

There are different reasons for security breach:

Cause 1 : Human Error

One of the biggest sources of a data breach is human error. Some scenarios are:

• Using weak passwords
• Sending sensitive information to the wrong recipients.
• Sharing password or account information without proper security.
• Falling for phishing scams.

The only way to prevent human error is to make ensure that very tight procedures that are constantly checked by management are done. These are can be prevented by making sure employees follows their basic data security measures and standards. Enforce users to use good passwords that are difficult to guess and never share password with anyone. 

Cause 2: Malware

Cybercriminals often tricked user to download malicious software to break in to protected networks. Malware is not just a problem for employees personal computers, it's an ever-expanding threat aimed directly to his/her company's systems. Hackers plant malware programs into software When the user download the software, the malware infects the system and these malware are mostly unrecognizable to antivirus programs.

To avoid from these, always look for the name(extension) and scan the file before downloading and try to download software from trusted sites.

Cause 3: Missing Patches and updates of software

if operating systems (OS) and applications are not properly patched or updated, it vulnerable for intruders to access those system and other connected systems. Because outdate anti malware or application wont detect known malware, leaving your computer vulnerable to infection.

Always ensure that OS and applications used in the systems are up to date.

Cause 4: Insecure storage of sensitive information.

It is similar to human error where user/employees of the organization not maintained their information without encrypting or stored insecurely. For example, passwords and other sensitive information storing in a document or notepad without any password protection.

Cause 5: Physical theft of device that holds sensitive/Organization information

The physical theft of a device refers to stolen of devices such as laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, hard drives that holds organization sensitive information. The severity depends on the nature of the information stored on the device if its more sensitive information then more severe data breach occur