Every year IT world come across some or other hacking or fraud problems to find the solution for. This year also the world has witnessed a series of international agencies experiencing serious hacking attacks that caused negative consequences for them and their clients such as Email marketing firm Epsilon, Computer Security Vendor RSA, Lockheed Martin, Sony Playstation and even Google. Just check out the most serious hacking attacks in 2011.
The Email Marketing Firm Epsilon:
This is the world’s largest Email Marketing Firm, which announced on March 4, 2011 that it was attacked by a group of hackers targeting its email lists to collect sensitive consumer data. The company has over 2,500 customer email lists from Capital One to Wal-Mart and has affected about 50 of its clients.
The Computer Security Vendor RSA
The computer security vendor RSA’s network was announced to be hit on March 17, 2011 by an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) that a highly skilled, well-funded group with a specific agenda performed. The company makes SecurID keys necessary to access many encrypted systems that are used by defense contractors in the U.S. government, intelligence agencies and Fortune 100 companies.
Lockheed Martin
Just after the two months of the computer security vendor RSA’s network was hit, the Lockheed Martin announced on May 28, 2011 that the jacked SecurId codes stolen by hackers from the RSA break-in to attack it. According to the defense contractor, no data was compromised (A Lockheed Martin Trident Missile).
Sony Playstation
On April 26, 2011 Sony Playstation announced that its network and Qriocity were attacked by hackers, accessing to 70 million user accounts between April 17 and April 19. The company was afraid that the credit card information might also have been compromised. The trespassers were able to collect a rich source including user names, addresses, birth dates, email addresses, passwords, logins, handles, profile data, purchase/billing history and password security answers.
The arts-and-crafts chain Michaels
The arts-and-crafts chain Michaels notified its customers early in May 2011 that at least 70 of its in-store PIN pads, from Washington D.C. to California, had been attacked by hackers, who recorded the users credit or debit card information, created duplicate cards with the same information, and made ATM withdrawals in Nevada and California.
Google’s gmail accounts of U.S. politicians
On June 2, 2011 Google announced that its gmail accounts of the U.S. Government’s selected members had been attacked by Chinese hackers, who hoped to gather sensitive information via emails on Department of Defense employees’ personal computer. However, China refused responsibility for the attack.
American multinational financial services company Citi
Citi announced on June 9, 2011 that Citi’s 200,000 accounts were hit in a cyber-attack that was discovered in early May by hackers, who accessed account holders’ names, email addresses, and account numbers. But, the safe side was that the social security numbers, credit card codes were maintained by bank officials and expiration dates weren’t violated. The American multinational financial services company ordered new credit cards for 100,000 customers, which cost at least $2 million.
Thus, software and web solutions companies are working hard to bring about innovative security system for virtual world in order to safeguard its users all over the world from such hacking.
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