IT security is a major topic, as there are security breaches announced frequently that impact individuals and businesses. Using the following site, select a recent breach and review what took place and the impacts on individuals. On the site, click on any of the bubbles showing a breach and you will be taken directly to the article addressing the breach. In a 4-5 page APA-formatted paper, summarize the incident, focusing on the information that is breached rather than the technologies. Address why securing information is so important for individuals and businesses. Present 2-3 recommendations that you would make to better secure information and protect privacy.
Programming Question
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APA Format Guidelines:
- Title Page: Include the title, your name, course number, and date.
- Abstract: A brief summary of the paper's content.
- Introduction: Introduce the topic and provide a thesis statement.
- Body: Develop the main points, citing sources as needed.
- Conclusion: Summarize the key findings and reiterate the thesis.
- References: List all sources cited in the paper, following APA style.
Note: To ensure the most relevant and up-to-date information, please replace "[Insert the specific website URL here]" with the actual URL of the website you're using. Additionally, be sure to cite your sources appropriately throughout your paper.
Sample Answer
Proposed Approach:
1. Select a Recent Breach:
- Website: [Insert the specific website URL here]
- Criteria: Choose a breach that has occurred within the past few months and has significant implications for individuals.
2. Analyze the Breach:
- Key Information:
- What information was breached? (e.g., personal data, financial information, medical records)
- How many individuals were affected?
- What was the cause of the breach? (e.g., hacking, insider threat, social engineering)
- What steps did the organization take to respond to the breach?
- What were the consequences for individuals? (e.g., identity theft, financial loss, emotional distress)
3. Address the Importance of Securing Information:
- Personal Data: The value of personal data in today's digital age.
- Financial Loss: The potential financial consequences of a data breach, including identity theft, fraudulent charges, and damage to credit scores.
- Emotional Distress: The psychological impact of a data breach, such as anxiety, stress, and a sense of violation.
- Business Reputation: The damage a data breach can cause to a company's reputation and customer trust.
4. Present Recommendations:
- Stronger Security Measures: Suggest specific measures to enhance data security, such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and regular security audits.
- Employee Training: Emphasize the importance of employee training to prevent insider threats and promote awareness of security best practices.
- Incident Response Planning: Recommend the development of comprehensive incident response plans to mitigate the impact of data breaches.