In a recent data breach targeting one of India's leading audio brands, boAt, reports indicate that the threat actor has exposed approximately 2 gigabytes of personally identifiable information (PII) of boAt users on dark web forums.The company primarily derives its revenues from the sale of audio devices, including wired earphones, wireless earphones, headphones, speakers, wired headphones, and soundbars. As a market leader in India's audio product industry, boAt achieved a significant milestone with Rs 4,000 crore ($500 million) in net sales for FY 2022-23.
A data breach exposes confidential, sensitive, or protected information to an unauthorised person. Organisations of all sizes and types are vulnerable to breaches, including large and small businesses, public and private companies, federal, state, and local governments, as well as non-profit organisations.Data breaches, whether caused by internal or external threat actors, typically follow a similar sequence of steps:
Research: Hackers identify a target and search for weaknesses in the target's computer system or employees. They may also acquire previously stolen information or malware to gain access to the target's network.
Attack: Once a target and method are identified, the hacker launches the attack. This may involve social engineering campaigns, direct exploitation of vulnerabilities, use of stolen credentials, or other common data breach attack vectors.
Compromise Data: The hacker locates the desired data and takes action, which could involve exfiltrating data for use or sale, destroying data, or deploying ransomware to lock up data and demand payment.
Implementing standard security measures such as regular vulnerability assessments, scheduled backups, encryption of data at rest and in transit, proper database configurations, and timely application of system and software updates can help prevent data breaches and mitigate their impact. Additionally, organisations may adopt more specific data security controls, technologies, and best practices to enhance prevention efforts and minimise damage from potential breaches.

A flawed software update sent out by a cybersecurity company caused major computer outages around the world on Friday. The chaos stemmed from an update sent by CrowdStrike to businesses that use its software to protect against hackers and online intruders. But when CrowdStrike’s new code reached computers that run Microsoft Windows software, the machines began to crash and the Blue Screen of Death Appeared. The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a critical error screen that shows up on Windows operating systems. It happens when the system crashes due to a severe issue that prevents it from working safely. When this error occurs, the computer restarts unexpectedly, and unsaved data is likely to be lost.Airlines and businesses struggle to recover following this  global Microsoft outage. The financial sector however remains intact as stated by the RBI.The cascading effects highlighted the world’s reliance on Microsoft and a handful of cybersecurity firms like CrowdStrike that provide the world’s technological backbone. When a single flawed piece of software is released over the internet, it can almost instantly damage countless companies and organisations that depend on those software providers to conduct everyday business.

Anushka Pandey

Articles by Anushka

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