Most data breaches in the US tied to cyberattacks

Publicly reported data breaches across the U.S. during the first quarter of 2022 were 14% higher than during the same period last year, with 92% of data breaches associated by cyberattacks, TechHQ reports. Healthcare was the most compromised sector between January and March, followed by financial services, manufacturing and utilities, and professional services, an Identity Theft Resource Center report revealed. However, the number of breach victims declined by 41% compared with the previous quarter and 50% compared with the same period last year. Moreover, phishing and ransomware accounted for most of data compromises so far this year. "As we mentioned in our 2021 Annual Data Breach Report, we saw an alarming number of data breaches last year due to highly complex and sophisticated cyberattacks that are fueling the dramatic rise in identity fraud," said ITRC President and CEO Eva Velasquez. Meanwhile, a Surfshark study showed that the U.S. was the second-most breach hit country in the first quarter, only behind Russia.