Data breaches can sometimes seem abstract or irrelevant until you realize that your own personal information—passwords, medical history, financial details—could be exposed and sold on the dark web. Whether it's stolen by hackers or held for ransom, this information can lead to devastating consequences for individuals and companies alike.WazirX Hackers Stole $230 Million, Company Distributes Losses Among UsersHere’s a look at some of the biggest data breaches of 2024 and the impact they’ve had.
In August 2024, WazirX, one of India's most prominent cryptocurrency trading platforms, faced a devastating cyberattack. Hackers managed to steal a staggering $230 million worth of cryptocurrency, impacting nearly half of the platform's reserves.
The breach forced WazirX to halt trading and stop all rupee and crypto withdrawals. While the company has yet to disclose the exact number of affected users, co-founder Nischal Shetty announced a plan to distribute losses among the platform’s users. According to this plan, users will only be able to trade or withdraw 55% of their crypto assets. For the remaining 45%, users can either continue to trade the funds or withdraw them later, though they will not receive priority if the stolen assets are recovered.
WazirX also took the step of undoing all trades between July 18 and July 21, restoring portfolios to their status on July 18, before the breach. This decision was made to rectify the damage caused by the attack, with all fees and referral earnings reversed during that time.
Millions of AT&T Customers Affected by Two Major Data Breaches
AT&T, one of the largest telecom companies in the United States, was hit by two significant data breaches in 2024, affecting millions of customers. In July, it was revealed that cybercriminals had stolen records of 110 million people over a period of six months. While the breach didn’t involve AT&T’s direct systems, the stolen data included sensitive information such as phone numbers and call records.
In a more alarming incident earlier in the year, hackers posted a data cache on a cybercrime forum containing 73 million customer records. This data included names, postal addresses, and encrypted passcodes for around 7.6 million users. Despite AT&T’s efforts, they have yet to determine how or where the data was leaked from.
Although the stolen data didn’t include the content of calls or messages, the breach exposed users' personal information and call logs, which can still be exploited by malicious actors.
Star Health Insurance Hack Potentially Affects 31 Million Customers
India's Star Health and Allied Insurance, one of the country's largest health insurers, also fell victim to a massive cyberattack in 2024. The breach allowed hackers to access and steal data belonging to 31 million policyholders. This included sensitive information such as phone numbers, tax details, identification cards, medical diagnoses, and more.
The hackers reportedly used Telegram chatbots to steal and sell the data. By August, around 5.8 million claims were made publicly accessible, with samples shared among potential buyers on the dark web.
Star Health has since filed a complaint against Telegram and US-based software company Cloudflare, accusing them of hosting platforms where the stolen data was sold. The full extent of the breach is still under investigation, but the compromised data poses a significant risk to the privacy of millions.
Snowflake Data Breach Affects Ticketmaster and 165 Companies
Snowflake, a major player in cloud data services, was also involved in a massive data breach in 2024. Hackers exploited compromised credentials of engineers to gain access to multiple company databases. The breach reportedly affected over 165 companies, with Ticketmaster alone losing 560 million records.
Advance Auto Parts and Australian ticket seller TEG were also impacted, losing 79 million and 30 million records, respectively. Despite the wide-reaching implications of this breach, many companies affected by the breach have yet to publicly acknowledge the incident.
This breach revealed a major weakness in cloud service security, particularly with Snowflake not enforcing mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for its customers—something that could have mitigated the attack.
Change Healthcare Breach Affects One-Third of Americans
One of the most concerning breaches of the year was the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a US-based healthcare technology company. After UnitedHealth Group acquired Change Healthcare in 2022, a ransomware attack targeted the company, disrupting data records and services for hospitals and pharmacies across the United States.
While the company has not released an exact figure, CEO Andrew Witty estimated that around one-third of Americans were affected by the breach. The stolen data included personal, medical, and billing information, much of which could be used for identity theft or insurance fraud. UnitedHealth Group reportedly paid the hackers to obtain a copy of the data, but the full impact of the breach remains to be seen.
2024’s Breaches Highlight the Need for Robust Cybersecurity
The sheer number and scale of cyberattacks in 2024 have raised significant concerns about the security of personal and corporate data. From stolen cryptocurrencies to exposed medical records, millions of people have been affected by these breaches, often without realizing the long-term consequences of their compromised information.
These incidents highlight the critical need for improved cybersecurity measures across industries. Companies must invest in stronger security protocols, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular vulnerability assessments to protect against future attacks. For individuals, staying vigilant about the security of their personal data—through the use of strong passwords, monitoring account activity, and being cautious of suspicious communications—has never been more important.
As we move further into the digital age, the question isn’t whether cyberattacks will continue to happen, but how prepared we are to prevent them and mitigate their damage. The breaches of 2024 serve as a reminder that our personal data is never entirely safe, and the responsibility for protecting it lies with both individuals and the organizations that store it.
Stay informed, stay secure, and be proactive in safeguarding your digital life.
