Bitglass Security Spotlight: US Government Breaches Abound

By Jacob Serpa, Product Manager, Bitglass

Here are the top cybersecurity headlines of recent weeks:

—Healthcare.gov breached

—US weapons systems contain cybersecurity gaps

—Over 35 million US voter records for sale

—National Guard faces ransomware attack

Healthcare.gov breached 75,000 people had their personal details stolen when hackers breached a government system that is frequently used to help individuals sign up for healthcare plans. Obviously, the information contained in the system was highly sensitive; for example, Social Security numbers. There are plans in motion for helping those affected through services like credit protection. US weapons systems contain cybersecurity gaps A new report finds that American weapons systems contain cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The US Department of Defense is reported to have neglected best security practices in these systems. These security gaps are described as being "mission-critical." Over 35 million US voter records for sale An online forum that is well known for selling information exposed in data breaches was recently found to boast more than 35 million US voter records. Exposed data includes names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and much more belonging to residents of 19 states. Unfortunately, the accuracy of these private details was confirmed by experts. As such, anyone can purchase this sensitive information whenever they please. National Guard faces ransomware attack In Indiana, the National Guard was recently the victim of a ransomware attack. A system housing the personal details of military personnel and civilians was compromised in the event. The good news is that the attack is not believed to be a part of a coordinated assault on the National Guard – the organization was supposedly not specifically targeted. Regardless, information was exposed. To learn about cloud access security brokers (CASBs) and how they can protect your enterprise from ransomware, data leakage, misconfigurations, and more, download the Definitive Guide to CASBs.