Yahoo Confirming Enormous Data Breach Affecting Nearly 500 Million Accounts
Data privacy and security has been an issue that resides in the back of the minds of the masses even if they don't admit it. With a world that revolves around tech and data, the recent report that Yahoo has succumbed to a data breach affecting nearly 500 million accounts doesn't come as a surprise, yet it is a concerning matter for millions whose privacy is at risk.
Reportedly, what is believed to be a "state-sponsored actor," is responsible for hacking hundreds of millions of Yahoo accounts and then supposedly offering to sell off the data through the underground market. The breach is believed to have taken place late 2014.
Yahoo isn't the first tech monster to suffer a massive data breach, and unfortunately, they won't be the last. With a data breach that is reportedly "larger than initially thought," we could be witnessing nearly 500 million accounts being hacked to uncover Yahoo account credentials that may allow cybercrooks to log into those accounts and conduct malicious activities.
The news of Yahoo possibly being the brunt of a massive data breach is currently in its infancy stage as new information and reports are rolling in. Though, without Yahoo's official announcement to verify the breach, which is expected at any time now, there is no way of knowing how massive or far into Yahoo's account databases that hackers were able to reach.
As a customary reaction to a data breach, Yahoo has prompted some of their users to reset their passwords in the past 24 hours due to what they claim to be "suspicious activity" on their accounts. While the password reset prompts may not be directly related to the alleged data breach, it draws some speculation that we will likely see Yahoo acknowledge a breach that could cover as many as 500 million accounts, which some sources have speculated due to various unknown but supposedly trusted sources.
If the speculation of Yahoo having a major misstep in their security infrastructure allowing around 500 million accounts to be hacked, we could be witnessing one of the largest cybersecurity breaches in history. Before any sources outside of Yahoo verify the data breach taking place and actual account information being stolen, the authentic of the data breached will require verification. Though, with reports surrounding Yahoo making an official statement today, there will be no need for verification of the data as we get verification directly from the horse's mouth.
Yahoo has received much criticism as a tech giant and one of the highest trafficked sites that reached the pinnacle of the tech-mountain years ago and since they have been making their descent into the unknown. With Marissa Mayer at the helm attempting to keep the Yahoo ship afloat, there have been many perpetual hits to the ship that may have grounded it once and for all until some type of restructuring takes place by other purchasing entities. Regardless, Yahoo appears to have suffered a major blow that experts are wondering if it will temporarily sink their ship.
The coincidence of the Yahoo data breach comes at a bad time. Probably one of the worst times for the tech giant as the $4.8 billion sale of its core internet operations to Verizon is still being finalized but not yet approved by regulators.
The Yahoo security breach, if it turns out to be as massive as claimed with nearly 500 million accounts being hacked, will be a mark in the history books and a possible example of how important and essential iron clad security infrastructures are to any business.