Final answer:
A data breach is when information stored in a database is released unintentionally, which is true. Such breaches can lead to severe consequences like identity theft, financial losses, and national security threats. Preventative measures, employee training, and understanding human factors are crucial to mitigate the risks of data breaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a data breach is when information stored in a database is released unintentionally. Whether it's from a corporate database like iCloud or governments, the effects of a data breach can be devastating. Hackers may steal personal, financial, or national security information, leading to identity theft, financial losses, and threats to national security. The leaked information can be used for various malicious activities, including election interference and power shutdowns. Following awareness of a breach, affected organizations need to take immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent future incidents. Preventing data breaches requires a combination of cybersecurity measures, employee training, and robust policies.
Studies such as the one by Bruno & Abrahão (2012) show how increased cognitive demands on security operators can lead to mistakes in identifying false security breaches, which highlights the human factors involved in data security. The Target data breach of 2013 is an example where security signals were misinterpreted, allowing the breach to continue, indicating the importance of proper training and response protocols within security teams.