The number of data compromises in Q3 decreased by eight (8) percent compared to Q2 and currently track behind the record pace set in 2023
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, released its U.S. data breach findings for the third quarter (Q3) of 2024. According to the Q3 2024 Data Breach Report analysis, there were 672 publicly reported data compromises in the Quarter, an eight (8) percent decrease compared to Q2 this year (732 compromises). The year-to-date (YTD) number of compromises (2,242) is 70 percent of the year-end total in 2023, making a record-high number of compromises unlikely in 2024.
The number of victims decreased 77 percent in Q3 2024 (241,889,316) compared to Q2 2024 (1,043,903,153), primarily due to the Ticketmaster and Advance Auto Parts data events in Q2, which accounted for 940 million victims alone. In Q3, MC2 Data, a data broker that primarily sells personal information for background checks, acknowledged a data leak impacting 100 million people. The compromise was not a data breach but a lower-risk event where a database of personal information was open to attack because of misconfigured security. There is no evidence the data was ever copied or removed by a bad actor.
Download the ITRC's Q3 2024 Data Breach Report & Analysis
"While we will likely not set a new record for the number of data compromises in a single year as we did in 2023, there are some interesting trends in the Q3 2024 Data Breach Report," said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "In particular, the number of businesses reporting multiple data breaches in the past 12 months and the return of mega-data breaches that impact more than 100 million people. These trends prove that businesses must continue to prioritize data and identity protection, and consumers must take the steps needed to make their information less valuable to criminals."
Other findings in the Q3 2024 Data Breach Report analysis include:
- After dropping in the first two quarters of 2024, 50 in Q1 and 30 in Q2, supply chain attacks rose 203 percent in Q3, with 91 organizations impacted by attacks against third-party vendors.
- Fifty (50) data compromises with no information as to the type or root cause of the event impacted more than 850,000 victims in Q3. A lack of information puts individuals and other businesses at risk from similar attacks.
To view our 2023 Annual Data Breach Report or H1 2024 Data Breach Analysis, click here. Anyone can receive free support and guidance from a knowledgeable live advisor by calling or texting 888.400.5530 or visiting idtheftcenter.org to live chat.
About the Identity Theft Resource Center
Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live chat, idtheftcenter.org, and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities.
Media Contact
Identity Theft Resource Center
Alex Achten
Director of Communications & Media Relations
888.400.5530 Ext. 3611
media@idtheftcenter.org
Media Contact
Alex Achten, Identity Theft Resource Center, 888-400-5530 x 3611, media@idtheftcenter.org, www.idtheftcenter.org
SOURCE Identity Theft Resource Center
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