Updated
February 29, 2024
3M agreed to a multibillion-dollar settlement to resolve claims by U.S. public water systems over PFAS “forever chemicals” — here is the context on the deal and on protecting your personal data.
The Top Data Breaches in the United States
Data breaches have seemingly been making headlines more and more often. In this article we'll discuss some of the most significant data breaches and hacking incidents that have impacted the data and lives of nearly all individuals in the United States.
Status
Settlement Announced
3M's PFAS public water systems settlement
Claim Deadline
Ongoing
Estimated Payout
Varies
Proof Required
Yes
Data Breaches and Personal Information
Hackers often intend to steal personal data in order to make financial gain, such as stealing credit card information, committing identity theft and borrowing money, or even blackmailing individuals. Here are some of the most common pieces of data we should all protect, whether that data is kept in a third-party database, or if we handle it ourselves on our smartphones and computers:• Social Security Number,
• Driver's License,
• Federal Identification such as U.S. Passport and Employment Authorization Document,
• Financial Information such as credit card and banking account numbers,
• Protected Health Information such as diagnoses and prescribed medication,
• Other PII (Personally Identifiable Information)
Data breaches can also result in a long-term erosion of personal data privacy, as the hacked personally identifiable information may be traded or shared amongst cyber-criminals for years to come, on the internet, the dark web ,or elsewhere.. This significantly increases the risk of further identity theft, financial fraud and massive headaches for consumers and victims.
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