Biggest Data Leaks In Recent History

Panama Papers are making headlines, but are you aware of other major data breaches in recent times?
Of all the ways the internet has changed the world, the rippling effect of mass document and data leaks has to be one of the most dramatic. Where once reporters and tipsters had to infiltrate internal networks using brute force or clandestine tactics, today the contents of a simple external hard drive, handed over via encrypted chat by a disgruntled employee or impassioned whistleblower, has the power to upend governments and power structures and really change the world.
With news of another major leak – this time of 11.5 million files from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm Mossack Fonseca – we’re reminded once again of the destabilizing power of the internet when it comes to powerful entities. Firms, organizations and governments that once operated shrouded in secrecy are finding it harder and harder to get away with nefarious activities in an age where information moves more freely and leaves a digital trail.
It’s not only that these leaks wouldn’t be possible without vulnerable systems like internal email servers and insecure cloud storage, but also that their impact would be much less significant if it weren’t for the amplifying power of the internet. In some cases, not only can readers and average citizens read news reports explaining and debriefing the documents, they can view the actual documents themselves. This has a huge impact on the way we view our governments, companies, and organizations and how we hold them accountable.
With this major new leak dominating headlines, here’s a look at some of the biggest leaks in recent history and the impact they had.
Panama Papers: The amount of material released with the Panama papers makes it history’s biggest leak ever. According to The Guardian, “The records were obtained from an anonymous source by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).” The material was then shared with journalists from all over the world, who sorted through information about offshore tax havens and secret banking operations. All in all, “12 national leaders are among 143 politicians, their families and close associates from around the world known to have been using offshore tax havens.” In the immediate aftermath, the Icelandic Prime Minister resigned due to his ties to the firm.
Edward Snowden & NSA leak: When NSA contractor Edward Snowden contacted journalists Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald in 2012 saying he had information about the American government spying on its own citizens, it almost sounded too outlandish to be true. But as subsequent bombshell reports from The Guardian detailed, the program was widespread and significant in its reach. His disclosures were the first time the world had heard about the mass surveillance programs the US government was running, and had ripple effects in other countries. For his deed, Snowden remains in exile in an undisclosed location in Russia, where he was granted asylum.
Chelsea Manning & WikiLeaks: In 2010, WikiLeaks and several media partners began releasing what became known as the Afghan & Iraq War Logs, based on data leaked by former US soldier Bradley Manning (now called Chelsea Manning). The leak was hugely controversial not only because of the shocking revelations it contained, but also because Julian Assange, the head of WikiLeaks, wanted to release portions of the material un-redacted, potentially putting the lives of innocent people at stake. This damaged his relationships with outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times, as they favored a journalistic approach of only releasing what was in the public interest. In any case, the release of the classified military documents was the first time we really saw the power of the information age in full force.
Ashley Madison:  When a secret group called “The Impact Effect” hacked the user data of the extra-marital affairs dating site Ashley Madison, 25 gigabytes of reputation-harming material was at stake. While the fallout from the Ashley madison leak wasn’t as political as others, it still served as a huge embarrassment for many of its users—some of whom were high profile individuals—as well as a reminder that our deepest secrets are far from secure on the internet.

Partner with a web host that you can trust – Learn more at VPS.NET