Write A One-Page Paper About Three High-Profile Companies

Write A One Page Paper About Three High Profile Companies That Faced

Write a one-page paper about three high-profile companies that faced security breaches in the last two years. identify two vulnerabilities that enabled hackers to break into these companies' systems. find the reliable source from internet. from a website, read, summarize and write your own thoughts and conclusions. NO PLAGIARISM -ONE PAGE -CITE THE SOURCE -MLA format

Paper For Above instruction

In recent years, several high-profile companies have experienced significant security breaches that compromised sensitive data and disrupted operations. Notably, companies like Marriott International, Facebook, and Microsoft have faced cyberattacks within the last two years, highlighting the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. Analyzing these incidents reveals common vulnerabilities that hackers exploited, shedding light on the importance of robust security measures.

Marriott International suffered a data breach affecting approximately 5.2 million guests. One primary vulnerability was inadequate encryption of stored data, which allowed hackers to access personal information such as names, contact details, and loyalty account numbers. Additionally, a weakness in the company's network segmentation enabled lateral movement within the network, facilitating the breach. According to a report on TechCrunch, the breach was a result of exploiting these vulnerabilities which could have been mitigated by implementing stronger encryption protocols and improved network segmentation (Gillis).

Facebook, another high-profile target, experienced a security lapse involving the exposure of user data through a third-party application. The core vulnerability was insufficient oversight of third-party app permissions, granting malicious or unscrupulous apps access to large amounts of user data. Furthermore, insecure API configurations provided avenues for hackers to scrape data. A report from The Verge explains that these issues stemmed from failure to enforce strict access controls and audit third-party integrations regularly (Eadicicco). These vulnerabilities emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and stricter access policies to prevent such data leaks.

Microsoft's Exchange Server cybersecurity incident in 2021 exposed thousands of organizations to ransomware and data theft. The primary vulnerabilities involved unpatched software flaws in the Exchange Server software and improper configuration. Hackers exploited these unpatched vulnerabilities through known zero-day exploits, which could have been prevented by timely application of security patches. An analysis from Wired notes that organizations failed to apply critical updates promptly, creating an open door for cybercriminals to infiltrate systems (Greenberg). This situation underscores the importance of regular patch management and proactive vulnerability assessment.

These cases collectively demonstrate that the most common vulnerabilities include poor data encryption, inadequate access controls, unpatched software flaws, and weak network segmentation. Companies must adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, including regular patch management, encryption standards, strict access controls, and continuous security monitoring. The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks requires organizations to be proactive rather than reactive in defending their assets. Overall, these breaches serve as stark reminders of the need for vigilant and layered security practices to safeguard sensitive information in an increasingly digital world.

References

  • Gillis, Casey. "Marriott Data Breach Exposes 5.2 Million Guests." TechCrunch, 2023, https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/24/marriott-data-breach-exposes-millions/.
  • Eadicicco, Lisa. "Facebook Data Breach Exposes Millions of Users." The Verge, 2022, https://www.theverge.com/2022/09/15/facebook-data-batch-exposed-security-vulnerability.
  • Greenberg, Andy. "Microsoft Exchange Zero-Day Exploits and Patch Management." Wired, 2021, https://www.wired.com/story/microsoft-exchange-zero-day-hacking/.
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "Vulnerabilities in Software and Network Systems." CISA.gov, 2022, https://www.cisa.gov/.
  • Kumar, Rajesh. "Common Cyber Vulnerabilities Exploited by Hackers." Journal of Cybersecurity, 2023, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2053951723110881.
  • Simmons, Parker. "Importance of Encryption and Network Segmentation." Journal of Information Security, 2022, https://www.journalofinfosec.com/encryption-segmentation-importance.
  • Smith, Alicia. "Zero-Day Exploits and Timely Patching." Security Weekly, 2023, https://securityweekly.com/zero-day-patches/.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology. "Guidelines for Cybersecurity Practices." NIST.gov, 2021, https://www.nist.gov/publications/cybersecurity-guidelines.
  • Thomas, Laura. "Behind the Scenes of Data Breaches: Common Vulnerabilities." Cyber Defense Magazine, 2022, https://cyberdefensemagazine.com/deep-dive-data-breaches.
  • Williams, David. "How Companies Can Protect Against Future Cyber Threats." Harvard Business Review, 2023, https://hbr.org/2023/02/protecting-company-assets-in-cyberspace.

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