In the News
Another enormous data exposure. In First American Financial exposed 16 years’ worth of mortgage paperwork, including bank accounts, Dieter Bohn at The Verge discusses how a shortcoming in URL security left over 800 million records exposed by First American Financial over more than a decade. Bohn explains that sensitive information, including Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and financial information, were included in the exposed data. Bohn furthers that the company is emphasizing the priority of customer privacy and has resolved the vulnerability. However, details regarding how such a significant exposure occurred are still under wraps.
Our Take
Data exposures involving sensitive information such as SSNs and financial information can have a detrimental impact on those whose data is shared without their consent. Although companies should take steps to encrypt and secure customer records with the best available technology, this practice is not universally followed. What results is enormous data exposures that threaten the privacy of too many individuals to count. First American Financial was able to correct the vulnerability quickly, but the question of how such an exposure was left untouched for 16 years is still at large. Consumers may not be able to force companies to secure their data all for the time, but they must take measures into their own hands and keep watch of their records to spot fraud before it becomes damaging.
Recommendations
How can you protect the privacy of your personal information?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Use safe password practices, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible
- Stay up to date on the news regarding recent data breaches and exposures to see if you may have been affected