Complete history of cyber attacks, key threat analysis, and essential resources to check if your data has been compromised
Understanding the cyber threat landscape is crucial for protecting yourself and your organization
U.S. losses to online crime hit $16+ billion in 2024, up 33% year-over-year according to the FBI's IC3 report.
View FBI ReportThe global average cost of a data breach reaches into the multi-million-dollar range, with healthcare and financial sectors hit hardest.
IBM Cost ReportRansomware and mass-exploitation campaigns like MOVEit and Log4Shell show how one flaw can ripple through thousands of organizations.
MOVEit AnalysisCISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog is the definitive list of threats being actively used by attackers right now.
View KEV CatalogA cyber attack is any deliberate attempt to disrupt, disable, steal from, or gain unauthorized control of a computer system or network. This includes phishing, malware and ransomware, supply-chain compromises, DDoS, zero-day exploitation, data exfiltration, and attacks on industrial control systems (ICS).
View ENISA Threat LandscapeKey incidents that shaped the cyber threat landscape and evolved attack tactics
First major Internet-scale worm affects 6,000+ computers (10% of Internet). Leads to the first felony conviction under the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
FBI Case StudyPrecision malware sabotages Iran's Natanz nuclear centrifuges. A watershed moment for ICS-focused attacks and cyber-physical warfare.
CFR AnalysisGlobal ransomware outbreak disrupts 200,000+ systems across 150+ countries, including England's NHS healthcare system.
NHS Case StudyDestructive malware masquerading as ransomware causes >$10B in global damages, hitting Maersk, Merck, and countless others.
WIRED InvestigationSupply-chain compromise of Orion software hits multiple U.S. federal agencies and thousands of enterprises worldwide.
CISA AdvisoryDarkSide ransomware halts fuel supply across the U.S. East Coast. Ransom paid, with partial recovery later by DOJ.
CISA AnalysisCritical vulnerability in ubiquitous Apache Log4j logging library leads to mass exploitation across the internet.
CISA GuidanceCl0p ransomware group exploits MOVEit file transfer software, compromising 1,000+ organizations and 60+ million individuals.
TechCrunch AnalysisSocial engineering attacks target major casino operations. Caesars reportedly paid ~$15M ransom; MGM faced ~$100M impact.
Attack OverviewRansomware attack triggers nationwide healthcare disruption. ~$22M ransom reportedly paid with multibillion-dollar fallout.
WIRED ReportUnderstanding the most common and dangerous cyber attack methods in plain English
Sophisticated social engineering attacks that trick users into sending money, credentials, or sensitive information. BEC attacks alone cause billions in losses annually and are a major driver of FBI IC3 reported crimes.
Malicious software that encrypts systems and/or threatens to leak stolen data unless ransom is paid. Modern variants often combine encryption with data theft for double extortion.
Attacks that abuse trusted software updates or vendor relationships to gain widespread access. These attacks are particularly dangerous because they leverage existing trust relationships.
Attacks targeting previously unknown vulnerabilities or widely-used components before or just after public disclosure. These create massive exposure windows across the internet.
Distributed attacks that flood services with traffic to make them unavailable to legitimate users. Often used as cover for other attacks or for extortion purposes.
Essential tools and resources to check if your information appears in known data breaches
The most comprehensive database for checking if your email or phone number appears in known data breaches. Also includes "Pwned Passwords" to check if your passwords have been compromised.
Searchable database of data breach notifications filed with the California Attorney General. Includes downloadable CSV data for comprehensive analysis.
Official U.S. Department of Health and Human Services database of HIPAA breaches affecting 500 or more individuals at healthcare entities.
Official site for free credit reports from all three major bureaus. Now available weekly instead of annually.
Free service to block new credit accounts from being opened in your name. The most effective protection against identity theft.
Official FTC site to report identity theft and receive a personalized recovery plan with step-by-step guidance.
If a company notifies you of a breach, use the official channels in that notice (free credit monitoring, PINs, dedicated hotlines) and be wary of phishing emails that imitate breach notifications.
Step-by-step checklist to protect yourself when your data has been compromised
Immediately change passwords for affected accounts and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), preferably app-based or hardware key authentication.
Sign out of all devices and sessions, then rotate API keys, app passwords, and access tokens that may have been compromised.
Place a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus and consider adding a fraud alert to your credit reports.
Freeze & alerts
Freeze & alerts
Freeze & alerts
Watch your bank statements, credit card bills, and credit reports weekly for any unauthorized activity or new accounts.
File reports with appropriate authorities to create an official record and help prevent future incidents.
Check Explanation of Benefits, contact your insurer/provider, and review HHS breach listings if uncertain about medical data exposure.
Keep these resources handy in case of a security incident
Contact all three to place freezes and alerts
IdentityTheft.gov for reporting and recovery
Report cyber crimes and online fraud
Get clear answers to the most frequently asked questions about cyber threats, breach responses, and protection strategies.
Evidence-based cybersecurity priorities that deliver maximum protection against the most common and damaging attack vectors.
Work from CISA's KEV catalog, not just CVSS scores. Prioritize vulnerabilities that attackers are actually using in the wild.
Reality Check: Log4Shell took many organizations weeks to patch completely. The faster you can identify and patch critical systems, the smaller your exposure window.
Most successful attacks exploit weak identity controls. Strong authentication and access management stop attacks before they start.
Success Story: Organizations with strong MFA see 99.9% reduction in account compromise attacks, according to Microsoft security research.
Ransomware groups specifically target backup systems. Your recovery capability is your last line of defense and negotiating position.
Critical: Many organizations discover their backups are corrupted or incomplete only during an actual attack. Test restores monthly, not annually.
Supply-chain attacks like SolarWinds and MOVEit show how vendor compromises can instantly become your problem.
Lesson Learned: MOVEit users had no warning before the mass exploitation. Your incident response plan must account for vendor-initiated breaches.
Assume breach will happen. Your ability to detect, contain, and recover determines the ultimate impact on your organization.
Information sharing helps the entire community defend against evolving threats. Your incident data helps protect other organizations.
Community Benefit: Shared threat intelligence helps identify attack patterns, attribute threat actors, and develop defensive countermeasures that protect the entire ecosystem.
Start with the highest-impact, lowest-effort improvements and build your cybersecurity program systematically over 12-18 months.
Bookmark-worthy resources for real-time threat intelligence, ongoing research, and authoritative cybersecurity data sources.
Authoritative threat intelligence and vulnerability data from government agencies and security organizations.
Known Exploited Vulnerabilities - actively exploited CVEs prioritized for patching
Internet Crime Complaint Center - annual statistics and consumer alerts
European Union Agency - comprehensive annual threat analysis and trends
Leading research organizations providing actionable cybersecurity intelligence and market analysis.
Annual study providing consistent, year-over-year cost benchmarks and industry analysis
Annual analysis of real-world breach data with detailed attack pattern analysis
Live dashboards and monitoring systems for tracking active threats, vulnerabilities, and global cybersecurity events.
Comprehensive vulnerability database with detailed CVE information
Internet scanning and attack tracking platform
Internet-connected device search engine and exposure tracking
Bookmark these essential cybersecurity monitoring resources for daily threat intelligence.
Take immediate action to assess your exposure to cyber threats. These tools can reveal if your data has already been compromised.
Find out if your email, phone, or passwords appear in known data breaches. This is the fastest way to assess your current exposure.
Search 12+ billion compromised accounts across 600+ breaches
State-mandated breach disclosures and healthcare incidents
Pro Tip: If you find your data in breaches, immediately change passwords for affected accounts and enable multi-factor authentication.
Set up monitoring and protection for your financial identity. Many breaches lead to identity theft and fraudulent credit accounts.
Block new credit accounts from being opened in your name
Official FTC site for reporting identity theft and recovery planning
Recovery PlanImportant: Credit freezes are free and the most effective protection against new account fraud. You can temporarily unfreeze when needed.
Take these immediate steps to minimize damage and protect yourself from further compromise.