Blog

-Opinion-
 

The Ticketfly data breach of 2018 sent shockwaves across the internet when the ticket-buying site confirmed its website had been breached and that some customers' names, addresses, and phone numbers were affected. A hacker called "IsHaKdZ" gained access to a "backstage" database that contained client information for all the venues and promoters that use Ticketfly's services.

 

When the hacker's ransom was not paid, the hacker posted user data online. The site went offline for three days and engaged cyber security experts to investigate the issue. It was estimated that more than 26 million accounts were affected. The situation left promoters in music and comedy clubs shook and created headaches for venues that rely on digital ticketing. One venue, the 9:30 Club, asked customers to print their tickets if possible and told people with will call tickets that they would have tickets available at the door. Many ticket merchants suffered substantial losses due to loss of revenue while the website was down. A 2018 study by the Ponemon Institute estimated the total cost of the data breach to be around $3.86 million. 

 

This is why cyber security is totes important, not just for businesses but for the average internet user. 

 

Cybersecurity keeps us safe from hackers and cybercriminals. It helps protect our personal information. And not just our names and phone numbers or other personal identifying information. It protects our personal health information and intellectual property, which is a fancy way of saying ideas, writing, art, or anything we create. On a grander scale, it protects industry secrets and government information. 

 

Cybersecurity protects computer systems, programs, and devices. We are a technology-reliant society, and the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches will continue to increase. Sites like Dropbox and Google Drive store info such as our Social Security numbers, bank information, and credit card information. Anything on the cloud is at risk of being stolen. "Information theft is the most expensive and fastest-growing segment of cybercrime."  

 

Today's cybercriminals are very sophisticated and will change what and how they target and its effect on an organization depending on the security system in place. That's why it's so important to protect your stuff. 

 

The best way to manage data security is to keep your apps and devices up-to-date, implement two-factor authentication, create strong passwords, limit the amount of personal information you share online, and back up any critical files. Additionally, think before you click. If you do not recognize a person emailing you or texting you, don't click on any link provided. It could be a phishing scam where they are tricking you into getting your passwords or other sensitive information.  

 

Pay attention to what you sign up for online and what information you are freely putting in someone's hands. Know who you are dealing with. Read the fine print. Make sure they are taking all necessary measures to protect your information. If it's sus, let it go.  

 

The Ticketfly breach taught us how important it is to protect ourselves. Tom's Guide stated that the site encouraged all registered users to "make a strong, new password for each account from now on." That's secure advice we can all live by.