Major Data Breaches and What You Can Do Today to Protect Your Online Security

Companies today store huge amounts of data about their customers, from names and phone numbers to credit card information, and more. Unfortunately, while many firms do their best to keep that data safe, they don’t always succeed.

In recent months, we’ve seen multiple major brands – like Cartier and The North Face – fall victim to data leaks and breaches, losing massive amounts of their customers’ information and putting thousands of people at risk.

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This guide takes a closer look at those breaches, exploring how and why they occurred, and who was affected. We’ll also look at what these breaches mean for the wider world of digital safety, and how you can protect yourself and your data moving forward.

Breaches Upon Breaches

In only the last few months, several well-known brands have fallen victim to successful cyber-attacks, triggering large-scale data breaches.

Luxury jewelry brand Cartier, for example, informed customers in June 2025 about a data breach in which one or more hackers were able to access and steal Cartier's customer information. The stolen data included names, email addresses, and countries, but not credit card information or other sensitive data like passwords. Cartier said that it had enhanced its systems in the wake of the attack.

Around the same time, the outdoor apparel company The North Face also reported a data breach. It called the attack a “small-scale” incident and, similar to the Cartier case, admitted that customer names and email addresses were stolen, but not more sensitive pieces of information, such as passwords or payment details.

The North Face also explained how the attack on its data occurred, revealing that the hacker(s) used a technique called credential stuffing. This involves hackers trying to log in to accounts using usernames and passwords that were leaked or accessed via other big breaches. People who use the same passwords across multiple accounts are most at risk from this technique.

Even though the most sensitive data was not accessed, the fact that big brands such as these could be successfully targeted by hackers is cause for concern. What’s more, numerous other large brands and organizations have also been hacked in recent times, and there’s no sign that these attacks, leaks, and breaches will cease any time soon.

In May 2025, for example, major sportswear brand Adidas admitted that it was hit by a cyber attack. The company revealed that hackers had been able to obtain certain pieces of customer data, which was mainly limited to contact information. It said that no passwords or credit card numbers were leaked, and has since carried out an investigation to learn more and strengthen its data defenses.

In March 2025, meanwhile, a concerning breach occurred at the Cardiff Council in Wales. This involved details of at-risk children being compromised, representing a “potential safeguarding risk to children,” in the council’s own words. This shows how anyone, including children and vulnerable people, can be a victim of cyber-attacks targeting user data.

There are hundreds more stories of serious data breaches in recent times and stretching back over recent years, affecting the likes of major tech firms, online stores, fashion chains, online gaming services, social media companies, and even government agencies. And with so many people sharing their data with multiple entities these days, almost everyone is at risk.

The Risks You Face When Your Personal Data Is Leaked to the Dark Web

It’s not just big brands that pay the price when data breaches occur. The innocent individuals who had their data stolen often suffer the most, with the following risks and dangers:

Identity Theft: If hackers get access to pieces of personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number, they could effectively steal your identity. They could set up new accounts or even try to take out loans or credit cards using your details, or use the info they’ve gained to try logging into other accounts you might have on different platforms.
Financial Loss: In the worst data breaches, cybercriminals may even gain access to customers’ payment details, like credit card numbers. They could use those details in various ways, such as selling them on the dark web to other criminals or using them themselves to make unauthorized payments online, stealing money from their victims without warning.
Emotional Turmoil: It can also be very distressing for victims of data breaches and leaks, who often feel helpless and unsure about the best course of action to safeguard their data. Many experience stress, anxiety, and fear, wondering about which bits of their data might be in the hackers’ hands, and how it could be used against them.

Guard Against the Risks – Use Surfshark Alert

You may not be able to control what data companies collect about you, or how they store it. But you can still take steps to safeguard your accounts, information, and identity. One of the best tools to mitigate the risks of data breaches is Surfshark Alert.

This tool automatically alerts you if and when any of your personal information is part of a data leak or breach, so you can quickly take action by changing passwords and protecting your accounts. It’s quick, comprehensive, and reliable, and you can test it out right now to see if your data is at risk.

Note that this tool is completely private. We won’t collect your email or use your data for marketing purposes; it’s simply for you to check on the safety of your data. Give it a try:

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