Yahoo Data Breaches

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The Yahoo data breaches are among the most significant cyber attacks in history, impacting over 3 billion user accounts. The breaches occurred in 2013 and 2014, with the 2013 incident being the largest, affecting all Yahoo accounts. Hackers exploited vulnerabilities in Yahoo's systems, stealing names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, hashed passwords, and security questions and answers. The 2013 breach went undetected for three years before being disclosed in 2016. The breaches led to severe financial and reputational consequences for Yahoo. The company faced legal challenges, including a $117.5 million class-action settlement and a $35 million SEC fine. The breaches also impacted Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo, reducing the sale price by $350 million. The incidents highlighted weaknesses in Yahoo's security measures and raised concerns about transparency and response times. Despite these challenges, Yahoo implemented new security protocols to prevent future breaches.