What is a “Data Breach”?
Data breach refers to the release of data from a system without the knowledge or consent of its owner. Common examples of data breaches include hackers accessing a business’ systems to steal information; an employee or ex-employee stealing customer information; or the theft of computer devices (like laptops or USB drives) with consumer information on them. Generally, hackers or thieves are looking for personally identifiable information (PII), financial information, and/or customer data.